Wild Card (Stone Barrington #49)(10)

“Let me give you some fresh intelligence, then you decide. Vanessa Pym is Craig’s houseguest.”

“Oh, shit!” Felicity said.

“That was very unladylike.”

“Perhaps, but it was heartfelt. If I go anywhere near that little bitch, she’ll make the most awful noises.”

“I’m told she does that anyway, but not at dinner.”

“Well, it’s beans on toast at home for me, then,” Felicity said. “Goodbye.” She hung up.

“Felicity says hello,” Stone said to the Bacchettis.

“Is she coming to dinner?” Viv asked.

“Craig already has a date, and Felicity can’t be in the same house with her.”

“Anyone we might have heard of?”

“Vanessa Pym.”

“Oh, my God! Two movie stars!”

Dino spoke up. “Put me next to Vanessa Pym at dinner,” he said.

“Dino,” Viv said, “you’re too short to see down her dress.”

“I’ll sit on a phone book,” Dino replied.



* * *



? ? ?

At the front door there was a line of six security officers to greet their boss from New York. Viv flattered them by asking each questions about what they were doing.

“I winged one of ’em,” one officer said.

“Oh, good,” Viv said, “is his hide nailed to the barn door?”

“Next time,” the man replied.



* * *



? ? ?

    Craig Calvert did appear at lunch, to the delight of Viv, but Vanessa Pym wasn’t up yet, disappointing Dino. They were just finishing lunch when Major Bugg entered the kitchen and whispered to Stone, “Detective Chief Inspector Holmes to see you. I put him in the library.”

Stone excused himself and walked down the hall, wondering how he should handle this. He decided to let Holmes, whom he knew, tell him.

“Good afternoon, Chief Inspector,” Stone said as Holmes rose to greet him. “Can I get you something?”

“Well, I know it’s five o’clock somewhere, but not in the South of England, old fellow.” Holmes sat down again.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I’ve just had a call from immigrations warning me of an assassination team on my patch. Is someone after you again, Stone?”

“Possibly,” Stone said.

“I’m sorry you didn’t think to call me.”

“Strategic Services in London handled it. I left it to them to call you, but apparently they didn’t. I’m sorry.”

“No, they didn’t. I shall speak to them about that. Would you like to bring me up to date?”

“The short version or the long version?”

“The long version. I’ve plenty of time.”

Stone started at the beginning and gave him every detail. When he was finished, it was nearly the cocktail hour, and the chief inspector succumbed to a scotch.





8


Rance Damien put down the phone and went looking for Henry Thomas, who didn’t like to wait for news. Henry’s grandson, Hank, was with him. It was the first time Damien had seen Hank since the fire.

“Come in, Rance,” Henry said.

Hank turned in his chair to look at him. “Good God, man,” he said, when he saw his cousin’s face.

“It will get better,” Damien replied, taking the indicated chair.

“You have news from England?” Henry asked.

“What’s in England?” Hank wanted to know.

“Stone Barrington,” Henry replied. “Damien sent a party to greet him.”

“I just had a call,” Damien said, trying hard to meet Henry’s gaze.

“Let’s have it.”

“First of all, Tony Farmer has been shot.”

“Was the body disposed of?” Henry asked.

“He’s not dead. He took a bullet to his backside, but he received the proper medical attention. Problem is, the immigration people have discovered that he’s in their country. We paid his way through Heathrow, but now immigration is putting all three of them on a plane to New York.”

“That’s better than being in a British jail,” Hank said.

“The Brits put them in coach. There’s going to be a lot of bitching and moaning about that, and they’ll also be met by the NYPD at the gate.”

“There are no charges against them here, are there?” Henry inquired.

“No. Anthony has an arrest record, but no convictions, and he has a good passport.”

“Then they’ll just get a ride home, won’t they?”

“Problem is: I’m not going to be able to speak to them before the police pick them up at the airport. They’re going to have to wing it, until a lawyer can see them. He’ll be waiting for them, but I think the boys in blue are going to take the opportunity to question them. I got word that Dino Bacchetti and his wife are at Barrington’s place in England, and I’m sure he’s made a call or two.”

“Is there a plan? Will they know what to say?” Hank asked.

“I’m afraid not. I hadn’t anticipated this turn of events. However, they know enough to shut up until the lawyer finds them.”