Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 12

The poor guy has also learned that he’s not inheriting any money from his brother.”
    â€œDoes he know how much he’s not inheriting?”
    â€œHe probably has some idea.”
    â€œIs he going to sue?”
    â€œIf he can think of grounds. Turns out, he’s an estate attorney, with a Boston firm, I suppose.”
    â€œYou’d better file that will for probate as soon as possible.”
    â€œI intend to. I have to get a death certificate, though. There’s a state trooper coming this afternoon; maybe he can help me with that. How much do you know about Dick’s affairs, Lance? Did he have a residence in Washington?”
    â€œNot yet. I learned from the DDO’s office that they were house shopping in Georgetown, but they hadn’t found anything yet.”
    â€œHow long had they been back in Washington?”
    â€œLess than a week. They sold the house in London, apparently.”
    â€œI guess that means this house was Dick’s only residence, so I can go to the local probate court. Mabel, what’s the name of this county?”
    â€œWaldo.”
    â€œAnd what’s the county seat?”
    â€œBelfast, up the coast.”
    â€œHow long a drive?”
    â€œFrom Lincolnville, half an hour, forty-five minutes.”
    â€œThanks. I guess I’ll go up there first thing tomorrow.”
    A lunch of shrimp and rice was served, and everyone ate quietly until Mabel left the room.
    â€œWhat did you learn from Seth this morning?” Lance asked.
    â€œThe two women were sleeping in Esme’s room and took two shots in the head, each. Dick was sitting at his desk downstairs and suffered a contact wound to the left temple.”
    â€œDick was right-handed,” Lance said.
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    â€œI worked for him for four years.”
    â€œSeth said that he had a very small pistol with a silencer in his hand when he was found.”
    â€œSounds like a Keltec .380; it’s one of a number of handguns issued by Agency technical services.”
    â€œDo you have any insight into Dick’s state of mind the past few weeks?”
    â€œI spoke to his deputy, who’s replacing him in London. He said Dick was his usual cheerful self, and he was excited about the new job. He said that he’d had a farewell dinner with Dick and Barbara the night before they left London, and they were in great form.”
    Dino spoke up. “Is anybody ready to say this wasn’t a murder-suicide yet?”
    â€œLet’s talk to the trooper first,” Stone said.
    Â 
    AFTER LUNCH THEY went into the study. Lance pointed at a door near Dick’s desk, which sported a dead-bolt lock. “I think I know what that is,” he said. “Let’s find a key.”
    Stone fished Dick’s keys out of his pocket and found one that fit the lock. He opened the door to find what appeared to be a small office, containing a computer, a large fax machine and an odd-looking telephone, along with a filing cabinet. “This is strange,” Stone said.
    â€œNo, it isn’t. Dick spent a month or so here every year, and this is Agency equipment. The computer is linked to the Agency mainframe, and the phone and fax are scrambled.”
    â€œI take it you know how to use such a computer?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œDo you think you could get me some background on Caleb Stone?”
    Lance sat down at the computer. “Sure.”
    â€œI’d particularly like a credit report and any other financial information you can dig up. Also, any criminal record.”
    â€œGive me a couple of minutes,” Lance said, switching on the machine. He picked up the scrambled phone and dialed a number. “Give me your supervisor,” he said. “This is Lance Cabot. I’m authorized by the DDO to conduct an investigation into the death of Richard Stone; that office will confirm. I’m at Stone’s Maine residence now, using his scrambled phone and his computer. I want to use my own access card in the computer. Thank you.” Lance hung up. “It’ll be a few minutes while the necessary checks and setup are done.”
    â€œLet’s lock up this room, then; the trooper will be here soon, and I doubt if you want him looking in here.” He locked the room, and they sat down to wait.
    â€œThis is a beautiful house, Stone,” Holly said. “You’re lucky to have it.”
    â€œI haven’t gotten