Morning-Noon-and-Night - By Sidney Sheldon Page 0,3

pilot spoke into the microphone. ', Boeing eight nine five Papa is with you, climbing out of flight level one nine zero for flight level two three zero.".' The R ' reached San Remb shortly after dawn. Harry Stanford 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 shirtsleeves. The Renault was approaching the harbor, twelve miles from the French-Italian border. There were two marinas at the harbor, Marina Porto Sole to the east, and Porto Communale to the west. In Porto Sole, a 16 marine attendant directed the berthing. In Porto Communale, there was no attendant. ' one?" Dmitri asked. ' Communale,' Stanford directed. Ae fewer people around, the better. ', sir.' A few minutes later, the Renault pulled up next to the Blue Skies, a sleek hundred-and7zghty-foot motor yacht.

Captain Vacarro and the crew of twelve were lined UP on deck. The captain burned down the gangplank to greet the new arrivals. ' morning, Signor Stanford,' Captain Vacarro said. ''ll take your luggage, and .. ' luggage. Let's shove off.", sir." a minute.' Stanford was studying the crew. He frowned. ' man on the end. He's new, isn't he?", sir. Our cabin boy got sick in Capri, and we took on this one. He's highly -" rid of him,' Stanford ordered. The captain looked at him, puzzled. ' ... ?" him off.

Let's get out of here.' Captain Vacaffo nodded. ', sir.' Looking around, Harry Stanford was filled with an increasing -sense of foreboding. He could almost reach out and touch it. He did not want any strangers near him. Captain Vacarro, and his crew had been with him for years. He could trust them. He turned to look at the girl. Since Dmitri had picked her up at random, 17 here was no danger there. And as for Dmitri, his faithful bodyguard had saved his life. more than once.

Stanford turned to Dmitri.-'Stay close to me.", sir.' Stanford took Sophia's arm. ''s go aboard, my dear.' - Dmitri Kaminsky 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 weigh. The captain approached Harry Stanford.

"You didn't say where we were heading, Signor Stanford.' ,, I didn't, did 1, captaint He thought for a moment. '.", sir." the way, I want you to maintain strict radio silence.' Captain Vacarro frowned. ' silence? Yes, sir, but what if ... T Harry Stanford said, "Don't worry about'it. Just do it. And I don't want anyone using the satellite phones.", sir. Will we be laying over in Portofinot "I'll let you know, captain.' Harry Stanford took Sophia on a tour of the yacht. It was one of his prized possessions, and he enjoyed 18 vessel. It had a 91 Sbowm' it off. It was a breathtaking luxuriously appointed master suite with a sitting room and an office. The office was spacious and comfortably hirnished with a couch, several easy chairs, and a desk, , 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 tea k railing ran along the outside. On balmy days, it was Stanford'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 could seat 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. Harry Stanford had one of the world's greatest libraries of pornographic movies. T"he furnishings throughout the vessel were exquisite, and the paintings -would have made any museum proud- ', now you've seen most of it,' Stanford told Sophia at the end of the tour. ''ll show you the rest tomorrow.1 She was awed.