Читать книгу BAD MOOD DRIVE - Douglas Alan Captain - Страница 4
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ОглавлениеThat's the reality, if you want life to be as it was.
Donald asked, "Did you realize that we're being
followed, Mr. Stanley?"
"Yes." He already had noticed of them for the past
twenty-four hours.
The two men and the woman were dressed casually,
attempting to blend in with the summer tourists strolling
along the cobbled streets in the early morning, but it was
difficult to remain inconspicuous in a place like Monte
Carlo. It is a worldwide well known city with its Casinos,
Museums and Gardens.
Robert Stanley had first become aware of them
because they were too casual, trying too hard not to look at
him. Wherever he turned, one of them was in his
background. Robert Stanley was an easy target to follow.
He was six feet tall, with white hair lapping over his collar
and an aristocratic, almost imperious face. He was
accompanied by a strikingly lovely young blonde girl, a
pure-black German shepherd, and Donald Herman, a six-
foot four-inch bodyguard with a bulging neck and sloping
forehead. Hard to lose us, Stanley thought. He knew who
had sent them and why, and he was filled with a sense of
imminent danger. He had learned long ago to trust his
instincts. Instinct and intuition had helped make him one of
the wealthiest men in the world.
Forbes magazine estimated the value of Stanley
Enterprises at seven billion dollars, while the Fortune 500
appraised it at nine billion. The Wall Street Journal,
Barron's, and The Financial Times had all done profiles on
Robert Stanley, trying to explain his mystique, his amazing
sense of timing, the great ability that had to create the giant
Stanley Enterprises. None of them had fully succeeded to
give adequate explanation. What they all agree on was that he
had a real and substantially big manic energy. He was
inexhaustible. His philosophy was simple: A day without
making a deal was a day wasted without making money. He
was able to eliminate his competitors, his staff, and
everyone else who came in contact with him. He was a
psychic phenomenon. He was his own man, after all. He was
a religious man. He believed in God, and the God he
believed in wanted him to be rich and successful, and his
enemies dead. Robert Stanley was a public figure, and the
press knew everything about him. Robert Stanley was a
private figure, and the press knew nothing about him. They
had written about his charisma, his lavish life-style, his
private plane and his yacht, and his legendary homes in
Hawaii, Morocco, Long Island, London, the South of France,
and of course his magnificent estate, Bell Air, in West Los
Angeles. But the real Robert Stanley remained a mystery.
"Where are we going?" the woman asked. 11
He was too preoccupied to answer. The couple on the
other side of the street was using the cross switch
technique, and they had just changed partners again. Along
with his sense of danger, Stanley felt a deep anger that they
were invading his privacy. They had dared to come to his
place, his secret haven from the rest of the world.
Monaco is the second smallest independent state in the
world (after the Vatican) and is almost entirely urban.
Monte Carlo is not the capital of Monaco but a government
district. The country is divided into four areas: Monaco-Ville
(the old city), the Condamine (port quarter), Monte-Carlo
(business and recreation), and Fontvieille (recreation and
light industry). With no natural resources to exploit other
than its location and climate, the principality has become a
resort for tourists and a tax haven for businesses. Monaco is
six times the size of the Vatican and still remains the
world's most densely populated independent country.
The nearest airport is the Nice Côte-d'Azur
International, which is around 40 kilometers (24.85 miles)
away from the city-center in neighboring France. It operates
daily flights to nearly all of Europe's main cities, such as
London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels, Frankfurt and
Zurich. There are regular Rapides Cote D’Azur buses
connecting Monte Carlo with both the terminals at Nice
Cote-D'Azur airport, and taxis are always available outside
the terminal buildings.
Monte Carlo is easily accessed by its land borders from
France or Italy by a network of highways, most commonly
used of which is the A8 which runs west from Monte Carlo
to Nice and Marseilles, and east towards the Italian border.
Monaco-Ville is known as “le rocher” or “the rock.” It is
still a medieval village at heart and an astonishingly
picturesque site. It is made up almost entirely of pedestrian
streets and passageways and most previous century houses
still remain. There a number of hotels, restaurant and
souvenir shops tourists can stay, eat and shop at. Everybody
can also visit the Prince's Palace, the Cathedral, the
Oceanographic Museum, the City Hall, and the Saint Martin
Gardens.
The Palais Princier (Prince's Palace) is in old Monaco-
Ville. There are guided tours of the palace each day and
usually run around the clock. The Palace also offers a
breathtaking panoramic view overlooking the Port and
Monte-Carlo. Every day in front of the Palace's main
entrance visitors can watch the changing of the guard
ceremony performed by the "Carabiniers." “Carabiniers”
are not only in charge of the Princes’ security but they offer
Him a Guard of Honor and on special occasions, are His
escorts. The “Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince” has a
military band (Fanfare), which performs at public concerts,
official occasions, sports events and international military
music festivals.
The Monaco Cathedral was built in 1875 and stands on
the site of a 13th century earlier church. It is a Romanesque-
Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Nicolas and houses the
remains of former Princes of Monaco and Princess Grace.
The church square also contains some of Monaco-Ville's
finest restaurants.
The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium is a world-
renowned attraction. Located above sea level, the museum
contains stunning collections of marine fauna, numerous
specimens of sea creatures (stuffed or in skeleton form),
models of Prince Albert’s laboratory ships, and craft ware
made from the sea’s natural products. On the ground floor,
exhibitions and film projections are presented daily in the
Conference room. In the basement, visitors can take
pleasure in watching spectacular shows of marine flora and
fauna. With 4,000 species of fish and over 200 families of
invertebrates, the aquarium is now an authority on the
presentation of the Mediterranean and tropical marine
ecosystem. Finally, visitors can have lunch in “La Terrasse”
and visit the museum gift shop.
The Jardin Exotique (Exotic Gardens) is one of the many
gardens Monaco has to offer. It is also one of Monaco’s
finest tourist attractions. Several thousand rare plants from
around the world are presented in a walking tour that is
quite memorable for the views as well as the flora and
plants. Due to the rise in altitude, not only are there many
displays of desert plants but there are a handful of
subtropical flora displays as well. There is also a grotto
(cave) that has scheduled guided tours.
The Monaco Opera House or Salle Garnier was built by
the famous architect Charles Garnier. The auditorium of the
opera house is decorated in red and gold and has frescoes
and sculptures all around the auditorium. Looking up to the
ceiling of the auditorium, the visitor will be blown away by
the superb paintings. The opera house is flamboyant but at
the same time very beautiful. There have been some of the
most superior international performances of ballet, opera
and concerts held in the opera house for more than a
century.
The Marlborough Fine Arts Gallery was founded in
London by Frank Lloyd and Harry Fischer. A second gallery
was opened in Rome, another in New York, and one more
in Monaco. The gallery holds a grand collection of post-
World War II artists and even paintings by Pablo Picasso,
Joan Miró, Jules Brassai, Louise Bourgeois, Dale Chihuly,
David Hockney and Henri Matisse.
The Grimaldi Forum is the Monaco convention center.
The Princes car collection has everything, from carriges
and old cars, to formula 1 race cars.
The Old Casino in Monte Carlo try your luck in the Grand
Casino and gamble alongside the world's richest and often
most famous. You'll need your passport to enter (as
Monégasque citizens are prohibited from gambling at the
casino), and the fees for entry range enormously depending
on what room you are going to - often from 30€ right up
into the hundreds. You can also visit the casino without
gambling, but also for a nominal fee. The dress code inside
is extremely strict - men are required to wear coats and ties.
The gaming rooms themselves are spectacular, with stained
glass, paintings, and sculptures everywhere. There are two
other more Americanized casinos in Monte Carlo. Neither
of these has an admission fee, and the dress code is more
casual.
Monaco's streets host the best known Formula 1 Grand
Prix. It is also one of Europe's premier social highlights of
the year. The Automobile Club of Monaco organizes this
spectacular Formula 1 race each year. The Grand Prix is 77
laps around 263-kilometers of Monte Carlo's narrowest and
twisted streets. The main attraction of the Monaco Grand
Prix is the proximity of the speeding Formula One cars to
the race spectators. The thrill of screaming engines,
smoking tires and determined drivers also makes the
Monaco Grand Prix one of the most exciting races in the
world.
Aquavision: Discover Monaco from the sea during this
fascinating boat tour! “Aquavision” is a catamaran-type boat
equipped with two windows in the hull for underwater vision,
thus allowing the passengers to explore the natural seabed
of the coast in an unusual way.
In the summer time, Monte-Carlo is illuminated with
dazzling concerts at the exclusive Monte-Carlo Sporting
Club. The club has featured such artist as Natalie Cole,
Andrea Bocelli, the Beach Boys, Lionel Richie and Julio
Iglesias among others. The club also hosts a small casino
which includes basic casino games.
Shopping in Monte Carlo is usually quite exclusive.
There are plenty of places to melt the credit card alongside
Europe's high rollers. The chic clothes shops are in the
Golden Circle, framed by Avenue Monte Carlo, Avenue des
Beaux-Arts and Allees Lumieres, where Hermes, Christian
Dior, Gucci and Prada all have a presence. The area on and
around Place du Casino is home to high-end jewelers such
as Bulgari, Cartier and Chopard.
For more shopping in Monte Carlo is the Condamine
Market. The market, which can be found in the Place
d’Armes, has been in existence since 1880 and is lively and
attractive - many hours can be spent simply wandering
around, bargaining for souvenirs from the many tiny shops,
boutiques and friendly locals. If however you like more
modern shopping, just take a short walk along the
esplanade to the rue Princess Caroline pedestrian mall.
Monte Carlo is a pretty and interesting in an old-
fashioned way, medieval village, weaving its ancient magic
on a hilltop in the Alpes Maritimes.It is surrounded by a
spectacular and enchanting landscape of hills and valleys
covered with flowers, orchards, and pine forests. Monte
Carlo itself, has a plenty of artists' studios, galleries, and
wonderful antiques shops, is a magnet for tourists from all
over the world.
Robert Stanley was one of them. He and his group
turned onto the Rue du Portier. Stanley talked to the woman,
"Sophia, do you like museums?"
"Yes, my dear." She was very excited to please him. She
had never met anyone like Robert Stanley. Wait until I tell
my opinion about him. I didn't think there was anything left
for me to learn about sex, but my God, he's so creative! He's
so fantastic, clever and stimulating. He has the ability to use
his imagination to produce new sex ideas and make orgasm
happen. He makes me feel tired and exhausted!
They went up the hill to the Chapel of the Visitation
Museum, which has been built in baroque style during the
17th century. The Museum collection includes
masterpieces by Rubens, Zurbaran, Ribera and the Italian
baroque masters. Robert Stanley browsed through the
renowned collection of paintings. When he casually glanced
around, he saw the woman at the other end of the gallery,
carefully studying a painting.
Stanley turned to Sophia. "Hungry?"
"Yes. If you are." Must not be pushy, she thought.
"Good.We'll have lunch at Cafe de Paris, Place du
Casino."
Cafe de Paris was one of Stanley's favorite places. The
nerve center of Monte Carlo, where people go to see and be
seen, buzzing with the feel of old time Monte Carlo, circa
early 1900s.It is a meeting point for all of Monte-Carlo. With
its new futuristic decor, this casino invites you on a journey
through the galaxy. An innovative place where slot
machines and systems exclusive in Europe sit side by side
and the American table games are out of this world…
Stanley and Sophia take a place at a table.
Carl, the black German shepherd, lay at his feet, ever
watchful. The dog was Robert Stanley's trademark. Where
Stanley went, Carl went with him like as his best friend. It
was rumored that at Robert Stanley's command, the animal
would tear out a person's throat. No one wanted to test that
rumor. Donald sat by himself at a table near the entrance,
carefully observing the other patrons as they came and
went. Stanley turned to Sophia.
"Shall I order for you, my dear?"
"Yes, please."
Robert Stanley prided himself on being a gourmet. He
ordered a green salad and fricassee de lotte for both of
them.
As they were being served their main course, Daniela
Ramon, who ran the Cafe with her husband, Frank,
approached the table and smiled. "Bonjour. Is everything all
right, Monsieur Stanley?"
"Wonderful, Madame Ramon."
And it was going to be. Sophia said, "I've never been
here before. It's such a lovely place."
Stanley turned his attention to her. Donald had picked
her up for him in Monte Carlo a day earlier.
"Mr. Stanley, I brought someone for you."
"Any problem?" Stanley had asked.
Donald had smiled broadly. "None." He had seen her in
the lobby of the Louis XV, Hôtel de Paris, Place du Casino.
In one of the finest hotels in the world, this Michelin 3
star rated restaurant serves dining perfection amongst
luxurious glitterati. Sophia was in Monte Carlo for a few
days just to take a short vacation and enjoy the place.
"Excuse me, do you speak English?"
"Yes." She had a lilting Italian accent.
"The man I work for would like you to have dinner with
him."
She had been angry and surprised because she feels
insulted and unfairly treated. "I'm not a hooker! I'm an
actress," she was unbearably arrogant. In fact, she had had a
walk-on part in Paul Agati's last film, and a role with two
lines of dialogue in a Giuseppe Tornadore film.
"Why should I have dinner with a stranger?"
Donald had taken out a thick pile of hundred-dollar bills.
He pushed five of them into her hand. "My friend is very
generous. He has a yacht, and he is lonely." He had watched
her expression go through a series of changes from anger,
to curiosity, to interest.
"As it happens, I'm between pictures." She smiled.
"It would probably do not cause any harm to me if I have
dinner with your friend."
"Yes, of cause. He will be pleased."
"Where is he?"
"In Monte Carlo."
Donald had chosen well. Italian. In her late twenties.
She was a sensuous and attractive in a sexual way young
girl. She has full sensuous lips. She is a beautiful and
sensuous. She was sexually exciting and very attractive.
"Don’t you think she’s sexy?" Donald asked. Yes, it is. She
is a sexy girl and very attractive one. This type of attraction
often occurs amongst individuals. Donald has his own
preferences as an individual. These preferences come about
as a result of a complex variety of his genetic,
psychological, and cultural factors. The sexual attraction is
different from one person to another and depends on both -
Donald and Sophia. She has catlike face. Full-breasted
figure. Now, looking at her across the table, Robert Stanley
made a decision.
"Do you like to travel, Sophia?"
"I'm thrill."
"Good. We'll go on a little trip. Excuse me for a
moment."
Sophia watched as he walked into the restaurant inside
the men's room. Stanley picks up his cellular phone and
dialed. "Marine operator, please."
Seconds later, a voice said, "C'est l'operatrice
maritime.”
"I want to place a call to the yacht Blue Skies. Whiskey
bravo lima nine eight zero ..."
The conversation lasted five minutes, and when Stanley
was finished, he dialed the airport at Nice. The conversation
was shorter this time.
When Stanley was through talking, he spoke to Donald,
who rapidly left the restaurant. Then he returned to Sophia.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Let's take a walk." He needed time to work out a plan.
It was a perfect day. The sun had splashed pink clouds
across the horizon and rivers of silver light ran through the
streets. They walked along the Rue du Portier, past the
Eglise, the beautiful twelfth-century church, and stopped at
the flower shop. When they came out, one of the three
watchers was standing outside, busily studying the church.
Donald was also waiting for them.
Robert Stanley handed the flower to Sophia. "Why don't
you take this up to the Hotel? I'll be along in a few minutes."
"All right." She smiled and said softly, "Hurry, my dear."
Stanley watched her leave, and then he turned to
Donald.
"What did you find out?"
"The woman and one of the men are staying at Rue du
Portier, on the road to Nice."
Robert Stanley knew the place. It was one of the streets in
Monte Carlo. "And the other one?"
"Around the corner." "What do you want me to do with
them, sir?"
"Nothing. I'll take care of them."
Robert Stanley’s Hôtel de Paris was on Avenue
D'ostende, close to the Place du Casino and Port Hercule.
When Stanley returned to the Hotel, Sophia was in his
bedroom, waiting for him. She was naked.
"What took you so long?" she whispered.
In order to survive, Sophia Loren often picked up money
as a call girl between film assignments, and she was used to
faking orgasms to please her clients, but with this man,
there was no need to pretend. He has insatiable desire, and she
found herself climaxing again and again. When they were
finally exhausted, Sophia put her arms around him, and
murmured happily, "I could stay here forever, my dear."
I wish I could, Stanley thought, cruelly.
They had dinner at the Hôtel de Paris restaurant. The
dinner was delicious, and for Stanley the waiter added spice
to the meal. When they were finished, they made their way
back to the hotel. Stanley walked slowly, to make certain his
pursuers followed.
At one A.M., a man standing across the street watched
the lights in the hotel being turned off, one by one. At four-
bedroom where Sophia slept. He shook her gently.
"Sophia...?"
She opened her eyes and looked up at him, a smile of
anticipation on her face, then frowned. He was fully
dressed. She sat up. "Is something wrong?"
"No, my dear. Everything is fine. You said you liked to
travel. Well, we're going to take a little trip."
She was fully awake and excited now. "At this hour?"
"Yes. We must be very quiet."
"But ..."
"Hurry."
Fifteen minutes later, Robert Stanley, Sophia, Donald,
and Carl were moving down with the elevator to the
basement garage where a blue Mercedes was parked.
Donald quietly opened the garage door and looked out
onto the street. Except for Stanley's white Corniche, parked
in front, it seemed deserted. "All clear." Stanley turned to
Sophia.
"We're going to play a little game. You and I are going
to get in the back of the Mercedes and lie down on the
floor."
Her eyes widened. "Why?"
"Some business competitors have been following me,"
he said very serious and sincere. "I'm about to close a very
large deal, and they're trying to find out about it. If they do, it
could cost me a lot of money."
"I understand," Sophia said. She had no idea what he
was talking about.
Five minutes later, they were driving past the gates of
the garage on the road to Nice. A man seated on a bench
watched the blue Mercedes as it sped through the gates. At
the wheel was Donald Herman and beside him was Carl. The
man hastily took out a cellular telephone and began
dialing...
"We may have a problem," he told the woman.
"What kind of problem?"
"A blue Mercedes just drove out of the gates. Donald
Herman was driving, and the dog was in the car, too."
"And Stanley wasn't in the car?"
"No."
"I don't believe it. His bodyguard never leaves him at
night, and that dog never leaves him, ever."
"Is his Corniche still parked in front of the hotel?" asked
the other man sent to follow Robert Stanley.
"Yes, but maybe he switched cars."
"Or it could be a trick! Call the airport."
Within minutes, they were talking to the tower.
"Monsieur Stanley's plane? Qui. It arrived an hour ago
and has already refueled."
Five minutes later, two members of the surveillance
team were on their way to the airport, while the third kept
watch on the hotel. As the blue Mercedes passed through
Boulevard Princesse Charlotte, Stanley moved onto the seat.
"It's all right to sit up, now," he told Sophia. He turned to
Donald, "Nice airport. Hurry."
Forty five minutes later, at the Nice airport, a converted
Boeing 727 slowly moves down the runway along the
ground to the takeoff point. Up in the tower, the flight
controller said,
"They certainly are in a hurry to get that plane off the
ground. The pilot has asked for a clearance four times."
"Whose plane is it?"
"Robert Stanley's."
"He's probably on his way to make another billion or
so."
The controller turned to monitor a Learjet taking off,
and then picked up the microphone. "Boeing eight nine five,
this is Nice departure control. You are cleared for takeoff.
Five left. After departure, turn right to a heading of one four
zero."
Robert Stanley's pilot and copilot exchanged a relieved
look. The pilot pressed the microphone button.
"Roger. Boeing eight nine five is cleared for takeoff. Will
turn right to one four zero."
A moment later, the huge plane thundered down the
runway and knifed into the blue sky. The copilot spoke into
the microphone again.
"Departure, Boeing eight nine five is climbing out of
three thousand for flight level seven zero."
The copilot turned to the pilot.
"Whew! Old Man Stanley was sure anxious for us to get
off the ground, wasn't he?"
The pilot shrugged.
"Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die. How's
he doing back there?"
The copilot rose and stepped to the door of the cockpit,
and looked into the cabin. "He's resting."
They telephoned the airport tower again from the car.
"Mr. Stanley's plane ... Is it still on the ground?"
"No, monsieur. It has departed."
"Did the pilot file a flight plan?"
"Of course, monsieur."
"To where?"
"The plane is headed for JFK."
"Thank you." He turned to his companion.
"Kennedy. We'll-have people there to meet him."
When the Mercedes passed the outskirts of Monte Carlo,
speeding toward the Italian border, Robert Stanley said,
"Donald, there’s no chance that we were followed?"
"No, sir. We've lost them."
"Good." Robert Stanley leaned back in his seat and
relaxed. There was nothing to worry about. They would be
tracking the plane. He reviewed the situation in his mind. It
was really a question of what they knew and when they
knew it. They were like jackals following the way of a lion,
hoping to bring him down. Robert Stanley smiled to himself.
They had underestimated the man they were dealing with.
Others who had made that mistake had paid dearly for it.
Someone would also pay this time. He was Robert Stanley,
the confidant of presidents and kings, powerful and rich
enough to break the economies of a few small countries.
Still...
The 727 was in the skies over. Marseilles. The pilot
spoke into the microphone. "Marseilles, Boeing eight nine
five is with you, climbing out of flight level one nine zero for
flight level two three zero."
"Roger."
The Mercedes reached Monte Carlo shortly after dawn.
Robert Stanley had fond memories of the city, but it had
changed drastically. He remembered a time when it had
been an elegant town with first-class hotels and
restaurants, and a casino where black tie was required and
where fortunes could be lost or won in an evening. Now it
had succumbed to tourism, with loud-mouthed patrons
gambling in their shirts.
The Mercedes was approaching the harbor - Port
Hercule. Five minutes later, the Mercedes pulled up next to
the Blue Skies, a hundred-and-eighty-foot motor yacht.
Captain Bargas and the crew of twelve were lined up on
deck. The captain hurried down the gangplank to greet the
new arrivals.
"Good morning, Signor Stanley," Captain Bargas said.
"We'll take your luggage, and ..."
"No luggage. Let's move."
"Yes, sir."
"Wait a minute." Stanley was studying the crew. He
looks at one of the crew member almost angry and this
change his mood. He obviously has a very bad mood. Most
of the similar situations make him to be arrogant. As a result
of this bad mood drive Stanley said:
"The man on the end. He's new, isn't he?"
"Yes, sir. Our cabin boy got sick in Capri, and we took on
this. He's highly..."
"Get rid of him," Stanley ordered.
The captain looked at him, puzzled. "Get ...?"
"Pay him off. Let's get out of here. Now!"
Captain Bargas nodded. "Right, sir."
Looking around, Robert Stanley was filled with a
renewed sense of foreboding. He could almost reach out
and touch the danger in the air. He did not want any strangers
near him. Captain Bargas and his crew had been with him
for years. He could trust them. He turned to look at the girl.
Since Donald had picked her up at random, there was no
danger there. And as for Donald, his faithful bodyguard
had saved his life more than once. Stanley turned to Donald.
"Stay close to me."
"Yes, sir."
Stanley took Sophia's arm. "Let's go aboard, my
sweetheart."
Donald Herman stood on deck, watching the crew
prepare to cast off. He scanned the harbor, but he saw
nothing to be alarmed about. At this time of the morning,
there was very little activity. The yacht's huge generators
burst into life, and the vessel got under way. The captain
approached Robert Stanley "You didn't say where we were
heading, Signor Stanley."
"No, I didn't, did I, Captain?" He thought for a moment.
"Ajaccio."
"Yes, sir."
"By the way, I want you to maintain strict radio silence."
Captain Bargas frowned at Robert Stanley. "Radio
silence? Yes, sir, but what if ...?"
Robert Stanley said, "Don't worry about it. Just do it.
And I don't want anyone using the satellite phones."
"Right, sir. Will we be laying over in Ajaccio?"
"I let you know, Captain."
Robert Stanley took Sophia on a tour of the yacht. It was
one of his prized possessions, and he enjoyed showing it off.
It was a breathtaking vessel. It had a luxuriously appointed
master suite with a sitting room and an office. The office
was spacious and comfortably furnished with a couch,
several easy chairs, and a desk, behind which was enough
equipment to run a small town. On the wall was a large
electronic map with a small moving boat showing the
current position of the yacht. Sliding glass doors opened
from the master suite onto an outside veranda deck
furnished with a chaise longue and a table with four chairs.
A teak railing ran along the outside. On balmy days, it was
Stanley's custom to have breakfast on the veranda. There
were six guest staterooms, each with hand painted silk
panels, picture windows, and a bath with a Jacuzzi. The
large library was done in koa wood. The dining room has a
seating capacity for sixteen guests. A fully equipped fitness
salon was on the lower deck. The yacht also contained a
wine cellar and a theater that was ideal for running films.
Robert Stanley had one of the world's greatest libraries of
DVD movies, including pornographic. The furnishings
throughout the vessel were exquisite, and the paintings
would have made any museum proud.
"Well, now you've seen most of it," Stanley told Sophia
at the end of the tour. "I'll show you the rest tomorrow."
She was admired. "I've never seen anything like it! It's ...
it's like a city!"
Robert Stanley smiled at her enthusiasm. "The steward
will show you to your cabin. Make yourself comfortable. I
have some work to do."
Robert Stanley returned to his office and checked the
electronic map on the wall for the location of the yacht.
Blue Skies was in the Ligurian Sea, heading northeast. They
won't know where I've gone, Stanley thought. They'll be
waiting for me at JFK. When we get to Ajaccio, I'll straighten
everything out.
Thirty-five thousand feet in the air, the pilot of the 727
was getting new instructions. "Boeing eight nine five, you
are cleared directly to Delta India November upper route
forty as filed."
"Roger. Boeing eight nine five is cleared direct upper
route forty as filed." He turned to the copilot. "All clear."
The pilot stretched, got up, and walked to the cockpit
door. He looked into the cabin. The sky is of the blue of
summer day, with large, but not threatening, clouds of a
silvery whiteness. Place high up against open sky and
moving clouds and it is something else again. Celebration of
union of Earth and Sky. Blue, the color of the sky on a sunny
day. The sky is clear as glass. It was a murky, pinkish grey;
clouds swirled across it exposing higher, greyer banks of
cloud.
"How's our passenger doing?" the copilot asked.
"He looks hungry to me."
The Ligurian coast is the Italian Riviera, sweeping in a
semicircle from the French-Italian border around to Genoa,
and then continuing down to the Gulf of La Spezia. The
beautiful long ribbon of coast and its sparkling waters
contain the storied ports of Ajaccio, Vemazza, and beyond
them, Elba, Sardinia, and Corsica. Blue Skies was
approaching Ajaccio, which even from a distance was an
impressive sight, its hillsides covered with olive trees, pines,
cypresses, and palms.
Robert Stanley, Sophia, and Donald were on deck,
studying the approaching coastline.
"Have you been to Ajaccio often?" Sophia asked.
"A few times."
"Where is your main home?"
Too personal. "You'll enjoy Ajaccio, Sophia. It's really
quite beautiful."
Captain Bargas approached them. "Would you like to
have a lunch aboard, Signor Stanley?"
"No, we'll have lunch at the Palazzu U Domu."
"Fantastic. And shall I be prepared to weigh anchor right
after lunch?"
"I think not. Let's enjoy the beauty of the place."
Captain Bargas studied him, puzzled. Robert Stanley's
mood drive makes him to be in a terrible hurry, or it seems
that he has all the time in the world. And the radio to be
shut down? Unheard of it! Bull shit. Shit happens. There's
nothing that can be done about it.
When Blue Skies dropped anchor in the Quai de la
Citadelle, Stanley, Sophia, and Donald took the yacht's
launch ashore. The small seaport was charming, with a
variety of interesting shops and outdoor trattorie lining the
single road that led up to the hills. A dozen or so small
fishing boats were pulled up onto the pebbled beach.
Stanley turned to Sophia. "We'll have a lunch at the
hotel on top of the hill. There's a lovely view from there."
He nodded toward a taxi stopped beyond the docks. "Take a
taxi up there, and I'll meet you in a few minutes." He
handed her some money.
"Very well, dear."
His eyes followed her as she walked away; then he
turned to Donald. "I have to make a call."
But not from the ship, Donald thought. The men went
to the two phone booths at the side of the dock. Donald
watched as Stanley stepped inside one of them, picked up
the receiver, and inserted a token.
"Operator, I would like to place a call to the Union Bank
of Switzerland in Geneva."
A woman was approaching the second phone booth.
Donald stepped in front of it, blocking her way. "Excuse me,"
she said. "I ..."
"I'm waiting for a call."
She looked at him in surprise. "Oh." She glanced
hopefully at the phone booth Stanley was in.
"I wouldn't wait." Donald said with a grunting sound.
"He's going to be on the telephone for a long time."
The woman shrugged and walked away.
"Hello?"
Donald was watching Stanley speaking into the
mouthpiece.
"Peter? We have a little problem." Stanley closed the
door to the booth. He was speaking very fast, and Donald
could not hear what he was saying. At the end of the
conversation, Stanley replaced the receiver and opened the
door.
"Is everything all right, Mr. Stanley?" Donald asked.
"Let's get some lunch."
The Palazzu U Domu is the crown jewel of Ajaccio,
a hotel with a magnificent panoramic view of the emerald bay
below. The hotel caters to the very rich, and jealously
guards its reputation. Robert Stanley and Sophia had lunch
out on the terrace.
"Shall I order for you?" Stanley asked. "They have some
specialties here that I think you might enjoy."
"Please," Sophia said.
Stanley ordered the trenette al pesto, the local pasta,
veal, and focaccia, the salted bread of the region.
"And bring us a bottle of Schram eighty-eight." He
turned to Sophia. "It received a gold medal in the
International WINE Challenge in London. I own the
vineyard."
She smiled. "You're lucky."
Luck had nothing to do with it. "I believe that man was
meant to enjoy the gustatory delights that have been put on
the earth." He took her hand in his. "And other delights, too."
"You're an amazing man."
"Thank you."
It excited Stanley to have beautiful women admiring
him. This one was young enough to be his daughter and that
excited him even more.
When they had finished lunch, Stanley looked at Sophia
and smiled. "Let's get back to the yacht."
"Oh, yes!"
Robert Stanley was a changeable lover, passionate and
skilled. His enormous ego made him more concerned about
satisfying a woman than about satisfying himself. He knew
how to excite a woman's erotic zones, and he orchestrated his
lovemaking providing pleasure through gratification of the
senses and symphony that brought his lovers to heights they
had never achieved before. They spent the afternoon in
Stanley's suite, and when they were finished making love,
Sophia was exhausted. Robert Stanley dressed and went to
the bridge to see Captain Bargas.
"Would you like to go on to Sardinia, Signor Stanley?"
the captain asked.
"Let's stop off at Elba first."
"Yes, sir. Is everything satisfactory?"
"I hope so," Stanley said. "Everything is satisfactory."
He was feeling aroused again. He went back to Sophia's
stateroom. They reached Elba the following afternoon, and
anchored at Portoferraio. Elba is a Mediterranean island in
Tuscany, Italy. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago,
Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan and the
third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia. It is
located between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Ligurian Sea, about
50 kilometers (30 mi) east of the French island of Corsica.
As the Boeing 727 entered North American airspace, the
pilot checked in with ground control.
"New York Center, Boeing eight nine-five is with you,
passing flight level two six zero for flight level two four
zero."
The voice of New York Center came on. "Roger, you are
cleared to one two thousand, direct JFK. Call approach on
one two seven point four."
From the back of the plane came a low growl. "Easy,
Prince. That's a good boy. Let's get this seat belt around
you."
There were four men waiting when the 727 landed.
They stood at different vantage points so they could watch
the passengers descend from the plane. They waited for
half an hour. The only passenger to come out was a black
German shepherd.
Portoferraio is the main shopping center of Elba. The
streets are lined with elegant, sophisticated shops, and
behind the harbor, the eighteenth-century buildings are
tucked under the craggy sixteenth-century citadel built by
the Duke of Florence.
Robert Stanley had visited the island many times, and in
a strange way, he felt at home here.
This was the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was
exiled by the Allied governments to Elba following his
abdication at Fontainebleau and landed on the island on 4
May 1814.
"We're going to look at Napoleon's villa," he told
Sophia. "I'll meet you there." He turned to Donald.
"Take her to the Villa del Mulini."
"Yes, sir."
Stanley watched Donald and Sophia leave. He looked at
his watch. Time was running out. His plane would already
have landed at JFKennedy. When they learned that he was
not aboard, the manhunt would begin again. It will take
them a while to pick up the trail, Stanley thought. By then,
everything will have been settled.
He stepped into a phone booth at the end of the dock.
"I want to place a call to London," Stanley told the
operator. "Barclay's Bank. One seven one ..."
Half an hour later, he picked up Sophia and brought her
back to the harbor.
"You go aboard," Stanley told her. "I have another call
to make."
She watched him stride over to the telephone booth
beside the dock. Why doesn't he use the telephones on the
yacht? Sophia wondered.
Inside the telephone booth, Robert Stanley was saying,
"The Sumitomo Bank in Tokyo ..."
Fifteen minutes later, when he returned to the yacht, he
was in a fury.
"Are we going to be anchoring here for the night?"
Captain Bargas asked.
"Yes," Stanley snapped. "No! Let's head for Sardinia.
Now!"
Sardinia is the second largest island in the
Mediterranean Sea. The coasts of Sardinia are generally
high and rocky, with long, relatively straight stretches of
coastline, many outstanding headlands, a few wide, deep
bays, rias, and many inlets and with various smaller islands
off the coast.
The island has a typical Mediterranean climate. During
the year there are approximately 300 days of sunshine, with a
major concentration of rainfall in the winter and autumn,
some heavy showers in the spring and snowfalls in the
highlands.
Porto Cervo is a small town in Sardinia. It's one of the
most beautiful places along the Mediterranean coast. The
little town of Porto Cervo is a haven for the wealthy, with a
large part of the area dotted with villas built by Alan Kimbal.
The first thing Robert Stanley did when they docked was
to head for a telephone booth. Donald followed him,
standing guard outside the booth.
"I want to place a call to Banca d'ltalia in Rome.”
The phone booth door closed.
The conversation lasted for almost half an hour. When
Stanley came out of the phone booth, he was in serious
trouble. Donald wondered what was going on. Stanley and
Sophia had lunch at the beach of Porto Cervo. Stanley
ordered for them. "We'll start with malloreddus." Flakes of
dough made of hard-grain wheat. "Then the porceddu."
Little suckling pig, cooked with myrtle and bay leaves. "For
a wine, we'll have the Vernaccia, and for dessert, we'll have
sebadas." Fried fritters filled with fresh cheese and grated
lemon rind, dusted with bitter honey and sugar.
"Bene, signor." The waiter walked away, impressed. As
Stanley turned to talk to Sophia, his heart suddenly skipped a
beat. Near the entrance to the restaurant two men were seated
at a table, studying him. Dressed in dark suits in the summer
sun, they were not even bothering to pretend they were
tourists. Are they after me or are they innocent strangers? I
mustn't let my imagination run away with me, Stanley
thought. Sophia was speaking.
"I've never asked you before. What business are you
in?"
Stanley studied her. It was refreshing to be with
someone who knew nothing about him. "I'm retired," he
told her. "I just travel around, enjoying the world."
"And you're all by yourself?" Her voice was filled with
sympathy. "You must be very lonely."
It was all he could do not to laugh aloud. "Yes, I am. I'm
glad you're here with me."
She put her hand over his. "I, too, dear."
Out of the corner of his eye, Stanley saw the two men
leave.
When luncheon was over, Stanley and Sophia and
Donald returned to town. Stanley headed for a telephone
booth. "I want the Credit Lyonnais in Paris ..."
Watching him, Sophia spoke to Donald. "He's a
wonderful man, isn't he?"
"There's no one like him."
"How long have you been with him?"
"Two years," Donald said.
"You're lucky."
"I know." Donald walked over and stood as a guard right
outside the telephone booth. He heard Stanley saying,
"Ben? You know why I'm calling ... Yes ... Yes ... You will?
... That's wonderful" His voice was filled with relief. "No not
there. Let's meet in Corsica... That's perfect after our
meeting, I can return directly home. Thank you, Ben."
Stanley put down the receiver. He stood there a moment,
smiling, and then dialed a number in Los Angeles. A
secretary answered. "Mr. Frank Harold's office."
"This is Robert Stanley. Let me talk to him."
"Oh, Mr. Stanley! I'm sorry, Mr. Frank Harold is on
vacation. Can someone else ...?"
"No. I'm on my way back to the States. You tell him I
want him in Los Angeles at Bell Air at nine o'clock Monday
morning. Tell him to bring a copy of my will and a notary."
"I'll try to..."
"Don't try. Do it, my dear." He put down the receiver
and stood there, his mind racing, when he stepped out of
the telephone booth, his voice was calm. "I have a little
business to take care of, Sophia. Go to the Grand Hotel and
wait for me."
"All right," she said flirtatiously. "Don't be too long."
"I won't."
The two men watched her walk away.
"Let's get back to the yacht," Stanley told Donald. "We're
leaving."
Donald looked at him in surprise. "What about ...?"
"She can screw her smart ass way back home."
When they returned to the Blue Skies, Robert Stanley
went to see Captain Bargas. "We're heading for Corsica," he
said "Let's move."
"I just received an updated weather report, Signor
Stanley I'm afraid there's a bad storm. It would be better if
we waited it out and..."
"I want to leave now, Captain."
Captain Bargas hesitated. "It will be a rough voyage, sir.
It's a libeccio...the southwest wind. We'll have heavy seas
and squalls."
"I don't care about that." The meeting in Corsica was
going to solve all his problems. He turned to Donald. "I want
you to arrange for a helicopter to pick up us in Corsica and
take to Roma. Use the public telephone on the dock."
"Yes, sir."
Donald Herman walked back to the dock and entered
the telephone booth. Twenty minutes later, Blue Skies was
under weigh.