Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 12

enough. I like to get home.”
    â€œMabel,” Stone said, “can you ever remember anyone getting into this house who shouldn’t have been here? Anyone outside the family?”
    Mabel shook her head. “Mr. Stone said that could never happen, because of steps he’d taken.”
    â€œHas either you or Seth ever lost a key?”
    â€œNo, we each have one; mine’s in my purse, and Seth’s is in his pocket. Why do you ask?”
    â€œI’m still trying to figure out everything.”
    They finished their breakfast, then Stone got out the MG and they drove north on the island.
    â€œI don’t know what our excuse is going to be for this visit,” Stone said.
    â€œWhy do we need an excuse?”
    â€œI don’t want to appear to be harassing the man,” he said.
    â€œLeave it to me.”
    They turned onto Hal Rhinehart’s drive and stopped next to the shop. Rhinehart was at his drawing table in his office, working on a set of plans. “Good morning,” he said.
    â€œMorning, Hal. I want you to meet Holly Barker, a friend of mine.”
    Rhinehart shook Holly’s hand. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked.
    â€œI wanted to ask you about something,” Holly said.
    â€œGo ahead.”
    â€œYou know the Stone house has Assa locks.”
    â€œYes, and they’re the best.”
    â€œIf you wanted to get past one of them, how would you do it?”
    â€œI’d find another way in,” he replied. “I wouldn’t waste my time working on an Assa.”
    â€œI’m talking about the Stone house, specifically,” she said.
    â€œThat’s a very tight house,” he replied. “If I really wanted to get in, I’d try and steal a key from somebody. Otherwise, I’d pass it up for something easier.”
    â€œCould you get a duplicate key made?” Holly asked.
    Rhinehart shrugged. “I’d try and bribe the locksmith who installed it. He’d have to order a key or a blank from Assa, in Sweden. The trouble is, there’s no locksmith on the island; Dick Stone would have to have found one in a larger city to come and do the work, and there’s no way to know which one.”
    â€œSuppose the bribery didn’t work. How would you get a key?”
    â€œIf I were in New York, I’d follow the maid to the subway and steal her handbag. As you can see, getting past an Assa would be a major pain in the ass.”
    â€œCould you pick it?”
    â€œI tried that once for two bloody hours and got nowhere. When you put the key into an Assa and turn it, something like ninety-two things have to happen inside the lock before it will open.”
    â€œCould you make a copy of a key?”
    â€œSure, if I could get a wax impression. Then it could be cut from a solid piece of metal. That’s also a major pain. There are simpler ways to make a living as a burglar.”
    A young woman carrying an infant came into the office. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy,” she said.
    â€œThis is my wife, Helene,” Rhinehart said, “and our baby, Dede. She’s nine months old.”
    Holly made the appropriate noises with the baby. “Thanks for your help,” she said. “We’d better be going.” They said their good-byes and went back to the car.
    â€œWell?” Stone said.
    â€œAll right,” she said, “Rhinehart sold me. He’s a reformed character.”
    â€œGood questions about the locks,” Stone said.
    â€œYeah, but no good answers. I’m stumped.”
    â€œSo am I.”
    â€œI guess we’ll have to pursue other leads.”
    â€œWhat other leads?” Stone asked.
    â€œWell, there is that,” she said.

36
    B ACK AT THE HOUSE, Holly came into the study where Stone was reading the New York Times.
    â€œHave you got the key to Dick’s secure office?”
    â€œSure.” Stone took the key off his ring and handed it to her. “I guess Lance wouldn’t mind.”
    â€œIt’s Lance I want to contact,” she said, unlocking the door. She went into the little office, inserted a data card into the computer and switched it on. When prompted, she entered her user name and password.
    â€œThat’s a lot of digits for a password,” Stone said.
    â€œBig-time encryption,” she said. She tapped in more keystrokes. “Ah,” she said. “I caught Lance at