Morning-Noon-and-Night - By Sidney Sheldon Page 0,4

''ve never seen anything like it! It's ... it's like a city!' Harry Stanford smiled at her enthusiasm. ' 19 steward will show you to your cabin. Make yourself comfortable. I have some work to do.' Harry Stanford 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. 7hey won't know where Fve gone, Stanford thought. They'll be waiting for me at JFK When we get to Portofino, F11 straighten everything out. Thirty-five thousand feet in the air, the pilot of the 727 was getting new instructions. ' eight nine five Papa, you are cleared directly to Delta India November upper route forty as filed.". Boeing eight nine five Papa is cleared direct Dinard upper route forty as filed.' He turned to the copilot. ' clear.' The pilot stretched, got up, and walked to the cockpit door. He looked into the cabin. "How's our passenger doing?' the copilot asked. ' looks hungry to me."
Chapter Three

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 @Wrkling waters contain the storied ports of Portofino, Vernazza, and beyond them Elba, -Sardinia, and Corsica. Blue Skies was approaching Portofino, which even from a distance was an impressive sight, its hillsides covered with olive trees, pines, cypresses and palms. Harry Stanford, Sopbia, and Dniitri were on deck, studying -the approaching coastline.

"Have you been to Portofino oftent Sophia asked. ' few times.' 619there is your main home?' Too personat ''ll enjoy Portofino, Sophia. It's really quite beautiful! Captain Vacarro, approached them. ' you be having lunch aboard, Signor Stanfordt ', we'll have lunch at the Splendido.' 21 ' good. And shall I be prepared to weigh anchor right after lunch?" think not. Let's enjoy the beauty of the place." Captain Vacarro, studied him, puzzled. One moment Harry Stanford was in a terrible hurry, and the next moment he seemed to have all the time in the world. And the radio shut down? Unheard of! Pazzo. When Blue Skies dropped anchor in the outer harbor, Stanford, Sophia and Dmitri took the yacht's launch ashore. The small seaport was charming, with a variety of amusing 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. Stanford turned to Sophia. ''ll be lunching at the hotel on top of the hill. There's a lovely view from there.' He nodded toward a taxi stopped beyond the docks. ' a taxi up there, and I'll meet you in a few minutes.' He handed her some lire. ' well, caro." His eyes followed her as she walked away; then he turned to Dmitri. ' have to make a call.' But notfrom the ship, Dmitri thought. The men went to the two phone booths at the side of the dock. Dmitri watched as Stanford stepped inside one of them, picked up the receiver, and inserted a token. 40perator, I would like to place a call to someone at the Union Bank of Switzerland in Geneva.' A woman was approaching the second phone booth. 22 Dhlitri stepped in front of it, blocking her way.

"Excuse me,' she said. ' .. ''m waiting for a call.' She looked at him in surprise. '.' She glanced hopefully at the phone booth Stanford was in. , wouldn't wait,' Dmitri grunted. ''s going to be -on the telephone for a long time., ' woman shrugged and walked. away.

6Hello?9 Dmitri was watching Stanford speaking into the mouthpiece. @Peter? We have a little problem.' Stanford closed the door to the booth. He was speaking very fast, and Dmitri could not hear what he was saying. At the end of the conversation, Stanford replaced the receiver and opened the door. ' everything -all right, Mr. Stanford?" Dmitri asked. ''s get some lunch.' The Splendido is the crown jewel of Portofino, a hotel with a magnificent panoramic view of the emerald bay below. The hotel caters to the very rich, and jealously guards its reputation. Harry Stariford and Sophia had lunch out on the terrace.

"Shall I order for yout Stanford asked. ' have some specialties here that I think you might enjoy.",' Sophia said. Stanford ordered the trenelle al pesto, the local pasta, veal, andfocaccia, the salted bread of the region. 23 '