Stone Barrington 06-11

idea.”
    Callie spoke up. “The idea seems to be that Stone needs his hand held.” She took his hand and squeezed it.
    “That’s about it,” Dino said. “Stone has good instincts, but he never listens to them. He’s so curious that he doesn’t notice when people are trying to kill him.”
    “Tell us about Stone and women,” Callie said.
    Dino rolled his eyes. “Don’t get me started.”
    “No,” Stone said, “don’t get him started. You keep this up, Dino, and I’m going to start telling them the truth about you.”
    Dino held up a hand. “Peace,” he said. “Anything else you girls want to know about Stone, you’re going to have to ask him.”
    “Well, Stone,” Callie said. “Will you sit still for some personal questions?”
    “As long as you don’t expect an honest answer,” Stone replied.
    Juanito suddenly appeared, the cordless phone in his hands. “Miss Callie,” he said, then mouthed, “It’s for him,” pointing at Stone.
    Callie took the phone. “May I help you? And who is this? I’m sorry, Mr. Barrington left this morning. I believe he was headed for California somewhere, before returning to New York. No, I’m sorry, I don’t have his schedule. Why don’t you call his New York office? Goodbye.” She punched the off button.
    “Was it a woman?” Stone asked.
    “No, a man. He wouldn’t give his name. He sounded a little like Paul Bartlett, but I can’t be sure about that.”
    “That was a nice touch, about California,” Stone said. “I’ll have to remember what a good liar you are.”
    “I was lying for a good cause,” Callie replied. “Dino needs help in keeping you alive.”
    “Like Regis says, ‘I’m only one man,’” Dino said.
    The phone rang again while still in Callie’s hand. “Here we go again,” she said. “Hello? Oh, yes, Chief, I’ll put him on.” She handed the phone to Stone.
    “Hello, Dan.”
    “Hi, Stone. Our friend from the frozen tundra, Lieutenant Lundquist, has arrived. Could we have a word with you tonight?”
    “Sure,” Stone said. “Give me half an hour, then come over to the Shames house. We’re on the yacht moored out back.”
    “See you then.”
    Stone hung up. “Well, ladies, you’re going to have a couple more cops on your hands shortly.”
    “I’d better finish dessert,” Callie said, rising and heading toward the galley.
    “What cops?” Dino asked.
    Stone explained about Griggs and Lundquist, and about Paul Bartlett’s sojourn in Minneapolis.
    “God, I love catching murderers,” Dino said, “don’t you?”
    “Not as much as you, Dino, but I’ll admit, it’s satisfying. What I don’t like about murderers is that time after you’ve figured out what they did but before you arrest them. They tend to be touchy during that period.”
    “So you think Bartlett is dangerous?”
    “I certainly do. Griggs has assigned somebody to keep an eye on him, but Lundquist has asked us not to crowd him just yet.”
    “I hate not crowding them,” Dino said.
    Callie returned to the table, followed by Juanito carrying a tray of flaming desserts.
    “Something old-fashioned,” she said. “Baked Alaska. I thought, given the weather, we could use the extra warmth.”
    “Mmmmmmm,” Dino said, plunging into his. “We may keep you on here.”
    “Why, thank you, sir.”
    Liz was toying with her dessert. “Stone,” she said, “am I ever going to be able to leave this boat again?”
    “Sure you are, but right now is not a good time. Paul doesn’t know you’re here, at least not for sure.”
    “We could stake her out, like a goat for a lion,” Dino said.
    “Thank you, Dino,” Liz said. “That was so beautifully put.”
    “Don’t mention it,” Dino said, grinning.

29
    C HIEF DAN GRIGGS AND LIEUTENANT EBBE LUNDQUIST arrived, sharing a golf umbrella. They were both dripping wet.
    “Sorry to get you out this late, Chief,” Stone said. “Couldn’t this have waited for better weather?”
    “Lundquist, here, insisted,” Griggs replied.
    Lundquist looked around at the yacht. “You live pretty well, Mr. Barrington.”
    “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but, unfortunately, the yacht is not mine. And please call me Stone.” Stone introduced everybody, and Callie got the visitors a hot toddy, while everyone else had brandy.
    “It’s like this,” Lundquist said. “We dug Bartlett’s car out of a junkyard, where it was waiting to go into the compactor. Couple more days, it would have been gone. We have you