“I put out an APB after I talked to you, but you didn’t give me much to go on.”
“So that’s a no.”
“Perceptive as always.”
Stone motioned toward the hallway where the techs were working. “You’re not going to need me to stay in town because of all this, are you?”
“I don’t know. Could be fun to let Detective Morris spend a little more time with you.”
“I’m supposed to meet Holly in Santa Fe tomorrow night.” Stone checked his watch. It was almost three a.m. “Make that tonight.”
“Far be it from me to stand in the way of the president and her boy toy.”
“Promise me you’ll never say that again.”
“I don’t know. I kind of like it. Hey, maybe the Secret Service can use it as your code name.”
“Don’t even think about suggesting it.”
“Would I do you dirty like that?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“If going to Santa Fe will keep you from being so cranky, go with my blessing. I’ll let you know if we need you back here.”
“Thanks, Dino.”
“Dinner’s on you when Viv and I see you in Los Angeles.”
“It will be my pleasure.”
Twenty minutes earlier, Nico paced his office, wondering what was going on. Toby had sent him a text, telling Nico he and his crew were going in, and then nothing.
How long did it take to rip up a few paintings?
“Screw this,” he said, and headed to his car.
Driving by Barrington’s place was probably not the best idea in the world, but what could it hurt? It wasn’t like Nico was going to stop and get out. He’d just cruise by and make sure everything was quiet.
The moment he turned onto Barrington’s street, the bottom dropped out of his stomach.
In front of the lawyer’s home were a half dozen police cars, lights flashing, and what looked like an ambulance.
It’s okay, he told himself. Barrington contacting the police after Toby and his team finished the job was to be expected.
As Nico neared the house, two men carried a stretcher out the front door. The sheet covering the person on the stretcher from head to toe could only mean one thing. Someone had died.
Barrington?
Maybe that was why Toby hadn’t called in yet. Killing the lawyer hadn’t been part of the plan, not that Nico’s boss would be too upset.
Nico turned at the next intersection, then found a place to double park. He returned to the corner on foot and found a spot in the shadows from where he could watch the action at Barrington’s house.
Not much happened for the next quarter hour, and then a man in street clothes stepped outside. He looked back toward the door and seemed to be talking to someone inside.
Stone Barrington moved into the doorway.
Nico swore under his breath.
The lawyer smiled at something the other guy said. He then gave him a wave and reentered the house. He did not look like a person whose most prized possessions had just been destroyed.
“Oh, shit.”
Toby had failed.
Nico’s boss was not going to happy.
Chapter 8
The last of the police left as Joan arrived in the morning.
“What did I miss?” she asked Stone.
“A few unexpected visitors. I’m surprised they didn’t wake you.”
Stone owned the house next door, which had been divided into apartments, one of which Joan called home.
“I didn’t hear a thing,” she said.
“What is the name of that service that specializes in cleaning up crime scenes?”
“JN Associates?”
“That’s the one. See if they can come this morning and take care of the blood at the bottom of the stairs. I’d rather Helene didn’t have to deal with it.”
Joan arched an eyebrow.
“One of the intruders took a bullet to the chest,” he explained.
“You shot someone without me?”
“Sorry. There wasn’t time to call you first.”
“Likely story.”
“Get ahold of Mike Freeman, too. I doubt whoever they were will be back, but it wouldn’t hurt to have Strategic Services watch the place for a few days.”
“What about your trip?”
“What about it?”
“Are you still going?”
“I’ve been given permission to leave by the commissioner himself. You’ll have to carry on without me.”
“Thank God.”
Stone had been hoping to sit left seat when his G-500 took off from Teterboro so that he could log some flight time, but having been up a good part of the night, he opted for a reclined seat in the back and let Faith handle the duties.
This turned out to be a sound decision, as he was out before they reached cruising altitude and didn’t wake again until they began their descent into Santa Fe.
By the time he drove up to the Lees’ front gates in his rental car, it was early afternoon.
Two Secret Service agents searched his vehicle while a third looked on from the other side of the fence. After he’d been given the okay, the gate slid open, and he headed up to the house that had once been his. He had swapped it several years ago with the Lees for their townhome in D.C., which Stone had then let Holly use when she was secretary of state.
Will Lee was out front waiting for him when he climbed out of the car. Stone grabbed his luggage and headed over.
“So glad you could fly out,” the former president said. “It’s been too long.”
Will pulled him into a bear hug.
“You’re looking well,” Stone said.
“That is a damn lie, and you know it. But thank you.”
A Secret Service agent appeared from seemingly nowhere. “Let me take that for you, sir,” he said, reaching for Stone’s suitcase.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it.”
“I must insist.”
Will leaned toward Stone and whispered, “He needs to run it through their X-ray machine. That’s the downside of being friends with us.”
“If that’s the only downside, then I’d say it’s worth it.”
Stone handed over his luggage, then followed Will inside.
“I guess we can forgo the tour,” Will said. “We’re putting you in the larger guest room. I assume you remember where it is.”
“I do.”
“How about something to drink? Just whipped up a pitcher of margaritas.”
“I will not say no to that.”
Will led him into the kitchen, where a woman was cutting fruit into bite-size pieces. A wide smile appeared on her face when she saw Stone.
“Hello, Martha,” Stone said. “How have you been?” Martha had occasionally worked for Stone when the place had been his, and had been brought on full-time by the Lees.
“I am good, Mr. Barrington. But you...” She looked him up and down, then tsked. “Too skinny. You need to eat more.”
Stone had neither lost nor gained a pound since the last time he’d seen her. “I only accepted the invitation to come here because I missed your cooking.”
“Don’t try to sweet-talk me,” she said, blushing.
“Martha, what happened to the margaritas?” Will asked.
Pointing with her knife, she said, “I put them in the refrigerator so the ice would not melt.” Then she started chopping again.
Will retrieved the pitcher and pulled three margarita glasses from a cupboard.
“You carry these,” he said, handing the glasses to Stone. “Kate’s at the pool, and Billy is down for a nap.” Billy was their son.
They headed outside and joined Kate at the poolside patio table.
Once the margaritas had been handed out and tasted, Kate asked how the flight was.
“You’d have to ask Faith,” Stone said. “I slept the whole way.”