“How about this, Agent Miles,” Stone said. “Why don’t you just tell us why the checking of this guy’s prints would raise a flag on the FBI’s computer system? It can’t be just this bank robbery.”
“If I told you that…” Miles stopped and thought better. “I can’t tell you that,” he said.
“Agent Miles,” Dino said, “I’m trying hard to see some reason why I should help out the FBI, which wouldn’t cross the street to help me out on an investigation.”
Miles produced his card. “Here’s my number,” he said, handing the card to Dino. “I’ll owe you one. A big one. Anytime you need a favor from the Bureau, you can call me.”
Dino took the card. “How about you, Agent Nevins? Are you going to owe me one, too?”
Nevins produced a card and handed it over. “Yes, yes, I am.”
“Well, now we’re getting somewhere,” Dino said. “Stone, tell the agents what you know about this guy.”
“His name-or at least, one of his names-is William Charles Danforth, of a P Street address in Washington, D.C., a town with which you are no doubt familiar. Some years ago his name was Paul Manning, and he was a well-known author.”
“Have you ever seen this man?” Miles asked.
“Yes, a couple of days ago.”
“Can you give me a description?”
“Late forties, six-three or -four, two hundred pounds, dark hair going gray.”
“Facial characteristics?”
“I haven’t a clue.”
“But you say you saw him a couple of days ago.”
“That’s right, but he had a big bandage right in the middle of his face. I had the distinct impression that he didn’t want me to know what he looked like. Maybe he was afraid I might be talking to the FBI.”
“Do you know his present whereabouts?”
“A man answering his description has been seen in Palm Beach, but I’ve no idea if it’s the same man.”
“Anything else you can tell me?”
“Nope.”
Miles and Nevins stood up. “Thank you very much, Mr. Barrington, Lieutenant Bacchetti. We owe you one.”
“You already said that,” Dino pointed out.
“We’ll be going, then,” Miles said.
“Don’t let the doorknob hit you in the ass on your way out,” Dino said.
Miles looked at the gangplank. “There isn’t a doorknob,” he said.
Dino looked at Stone. “You can’t fool the FBI, can you?”
“Nope,” Stone agreed. The two agents left.
When they had gone, Stone turned to Dino. “I’m surprised you cooperated. Why did you want me to tell them about Manning?”
“The sonofabitch set my yacht adrift,” Dino said.
58
No sooner had the FBI men left than Liz came out of the house and walked to the yacht. She came aboard and gave both Stone and Dino a big kiss. She was carrying an envelope and two gift wrapped boxes.
“I just want to thank you both so much,” she said, sitting down,
“You’re welcome,” Stone said. “Glad to be of service.”
“Same here,” Dino echoed. “Only I haven’t been of all that much service.”
“Of course you have,” Liz said. “And I want to thank you. First of all,” she said, handing Stone the envelope, “here’s a check for your legal services.”
Stone slipped the envelope into a pocket without looking inside. “Thank you, Liz.”
“Second,” she said, handing Stone the larger of the two packages, “this is to express my personal thanks for your friendship and your concern for me. Even though your job as my lawyer is done, I think of you as my friend.”
“Thank you again,” Stone said, accepting the box.
“And, Dino,” she said, handing him the smaller of the two boxes, “this is for you, for taking the time and trouble to come down here and help out Stone. And for stopping that horrible man from hurting anyone else in that restaurant shoot-out.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Dino said.
“Don’t open them yet,” she said, holding up a hand. “I’d be embarrassed.” She stood up. “I have to run, now. Callie and I are going to town to look for dresses for the wedding.” With a little wave, she departed the yacht and headed back toward the house.
“You first,” Dino said.
“No, you.”
Dino opened his gift. Inside was a handsome gold pen from Cartier. “Very nice,” he said. “I’ll be the envy of the precinct. What’d she get you?”
Stone opened the package to find a large, red Cartier box inside. He opened it and held the contents up for Dino to see.
Dino took the box from Stone and gave a low whistle. “Hey, now, that’s really nice.”
Stone took back the box and removed the wristwatch from it. “Certainly is,” he said. He took off his steel Rolex, put it into his pocket and slipped on the new watch.
Dino picked up the red booklet that came with the watch. “Cartier Tank Francaise,” he read. “You pick the best clients.”
“I guess I do.”
Juanito approached with the telephone. “For you, Mr. Barrington.”
“Hello?”
“Stone, it’s Dan Griggs. Did some FBI agents come see you?”
“Yes, they just left.”
“Now I’ve got a guy from the Houston PD wants to talk to you.”
“Houston, Texas?”
“One and the same. What the hell is going on down there?”
“I don’t have the foggiest, Dan.”
“I’m sending the guy to you right now. His name is Fritz Parker.”
“Okay. I’ll be here.” Stone hung up.
“What?” Dino asked.
“A Houston cop wants to talk to me.”
“You committed any crimes in Houston?”
“I’ve never even been to Houston.”
Twenty minutes later a middle-aged man in a seersucker suit walked up the gangplank. “Lieutenant Bacchetti?” he asked.
“That’s me,” Dino said.
“I’m Fritz Parker, Houston PD. Can I have a word with you?”
“Sure, pull up a chair. This is Stone Barrington.”
“How do you do?” Parker said, shaking hands. “Lieutenant, do you mind if we talk alone?”
“You can talk in front of Stone,” Dino said. “He used to be my partner, before he became a rich lawyer.”
“All right.” Parker sat down.
“In fact, Dan Griggs said you wanted to see Stone.”
“No, I wanted to see you. Chief Griggs told me you were Mr. Barrington’s guest.”
“Okay, what can I do for you?”
“A couple of days ago, your precinct ran some fingerprints that matched an unknown perpetrator from a bank robbery in Virginia, four years ago.”
“Jesus,” Dino said. “The FBI was just here about that.”
“They were? I asked for their help, but I didn’t know they were coming.”
“Typical,” Dino said. “They liked what you told them, so they’re poaching on your territory.”
“It’s what they do,” Stone said.
“What’s this about?” Dino asked. “Can’t be the bank robbery.”
“No. At least my department has no interest in that; the FBI might. I’m here about a possible homicide.”
Dino and Stone looked at each other.
“Manning has been a busy guy,” Stone said.
“Manning?” Parker asked.
“The fingerprint belongs to a man named Paul Manning. Or, at least, that used to be his name.”
“Tell us about the homicide,” Dino said.
“It was last year,” Parker said. “A Houston businessman died of an apparent heart attack, but our medical examiner wasn’t entirely satisfied with that as a cause of death.”
“What did he suspect?” Stone asked.
“Poisoning, of a very special kind. Apparently, there are two common household products which, when mixed, create a poison that can’t be analyzed.”
“I’ve heard about that poison,” Stone said, “but I don’t know what the household products are.”
“Neither do I," Parker said, “and the ME wouldn’t tell me. Said it’s not the sort of knowledge that should be spread around, and I think I agree. He did look around the house and said both products were present.”