Stone Barrington 06-11

Ham?”
    “My father.”
    “Oh, God,” Stone said.
    “You don’t want to meet my father?”
    “The other guy on the steps is Herbie Fisher.”
    “Who?”
    “The guy Lance had me represent in court. I told you about him.”
    “What does he want?”
    “I dread to think.”

26
    H AM BARKER WAS taller than Stone, and skinnier. Stone stuck out his hand. “Hello, Ham, I’m Stone Barrington.”
    “Good to meet you,” Ham said gravely.
    “Herbie,” Stone said, “what the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in the Virgin Islands.”
    “I just thought I’d drop by,” Herbie said, offering his hand.
    Stone ignored it. “Don’t do that,” he said.
    “Do what?”
    “Drop by.”
    “Aw, Stone…”
    Ham spoke up. “Stone, there are two men in your block, watching this house.”
    “Oh, my God!” Stone said. “Herbie, they’re after you!” He stuck a hundred-dollar bill in Herbie’s hand. “Get out of here, quick!”
    “Where am I going to go?” Herbie wailed.
    “Go to your mother’s place, in Brooklyn. They’ll never think of looking for you there. Get out of here!”
    Herbie sprinted down the block and was gone.
    “Sorry about that,” Stone said to Ham. “Herbie’s a pest, hard to get rid of.”
    “Quick thinking, there,” Holly said. “Ham, what are you doing here?”
    Stone picked up Ham’s bag. “Let’s talk inside. The Feds may be able to read lips.”
    “Is that who those two guys are?” Ham asked as Stone unlocked the front door and turned off the burglar alarm.
    “Yep,” Stone said. “Holly’s boyfriend put them on us. Where are you staying, Ham?”
    “Haven’t figured that out.”
    “We’ve got room here.” He punched the elevator button and set Ham’s bag in the car. “Third floor, second door on your right.”
    “Why, thank you,” Ham said.
    “When you’re settled, come down and we’ll have some lunch.”
    Ham got onto the elevator and started upstairs.
    “Is your stuff out of my bedroom?” Stone asked Holly.
    “Mostly. There are some things drying in the bathroom. Why?”
    “Because if your father spots them, I’m dead. He’s a killer. You can see it in his eyes.”
    “Oh, stop it, Stone. Ham knows I’m a grown-up.”
    “He’s a father, and you’re his little girl; that’s all he knows. You’re sleeping in your own room while he’s here. Why is he here?”
    “I don’t know. When he comes downstairs, I’ll ask him.”

    “Why are you here, Ham?” Holly asked. They were eating pasta that Stone had prepared.
    “Somebody messed up your place,” Ham said.
    “What?”
    “I went by to check on the house, and the front door was off the hinges. The place had been ransacked.”
    “Anything missing?” Holly asked.
    “How would I know? They had a go at your safe, but didn’t get in.”
    “Not much in there—some papers and a couple of handguns.”
    “Oh,” Ham said, reaching into an inside pocket. “I brought you a piece; thought you might need it.” He handed her a small pistol.
    “Sig-Sauer P232,” she said, hefting it. “Nice. Thanks, Ham.”
    “The magazine’s full, and there’s one in the chamber. The rest of a box of cartridges is upstairs, when you need it.”
    “How’d you manage to get it here?”
    “I showed the airlines my badge and declared the weapons. They were locked in a little case inside my bag.”
    “What badge?” Stone asked.
    Ham put a wallet on the table.

    Stone opened it. “Lieutenant, Orchid Beach PD?”
    “Ham’s kind of a consultant,” Holly said. “Dollar-a-year man.”
    “Good idea. Makes carrying firearms easier, doesn’t it? What are you packing, Ham?”
    Ham reached under his tweed jacket and put a Beretta 9mm on the table.
    “Can you hit anything with that?” Stone asked.
    “I fired expert in the army with the old automatic,” Ham said.
    “I couldn’t hit a wall with that thing,” Stone said.
    “Ham fired expert with everything the army had,” Holly said. “He’s the best shot in the world.”
    Ham shook his head. “No, just the best shot you ever saw.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” Stone said, glancing at Holly, who made a face at him.
    “Be nice to my little girl,” Ham said.
    Stone turned to Holly. “See?”
    “Oh, Ham, shut up,” Holly said. “Don’t go scaring the men off.”
    “I’m just saying,” Ham said.
    “It’s all right, Ham,” Stone replied. “I understand.”
    “Good. Good spaghetti, too,” he said.
    “It’s penne,