Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

said. “Will Teddy recognize your voice?”
    â€œI don’t think there’s anything all that distinctive about my voice, do you?”
    â€œI suppose not,” Stone said.
    â€œFor what it’s worth,” Dino said, “I didn’t recognize her either, even when she spoke to me.”
    â€œThe transformation is remarkable,” Stone said. “Like two different women.”
    â€œFor better or worse?” Holly asked archly.
    â€œThey’re both gorgeous,” Stone replied, diplomatically.
    â€œI could get used to this,” Genevieve said waving an arm at the airplane’s interior.
    â€œDon’t,” Dino replied. “Stone’s airplane isn’t as nice as this, and I can’t afford the rental on jets.”
    â€œI’m going to get used to it, anyway,” she said, putting her head back and closing her eyes.
    The pilot’s voice came through an overhead speaker. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “we’re at our cruising altitude of forty-one thousand feet, making a little over four hundred knots. We’ll arrive at St. Marks in three hours and forty-one minutes. The toilet is forward, if you need it; please remember to close the curtain.”
    â€œWhat’s the cabin altitude?” Stone asked.
    â€œA thousand feet,” the pilot replied. “The pressurization is very good.”
    Stone picked up a magazine and read until he was drowsy, then he napped. He was awakened by the pilot’s voice in his head.
    â€œLanding at St. Marks in five minutes,” he said.
    In exactly five minutes, Stone felt the airplane touch softly down. A couple of minutes later they taxied to a stop, and the pilot shut down the engines and opened the door, which was forward of the wing, then he went back to the cockpit for something.
    Stone was first off the airplane, and he found himself facing half a dozen uniformed police officers, all black, pointing guns at him.
    â€œGet on the ground,” a man in plain clothes and sunglasses said.
    â€œWhat?” Stone asked.
    â€œ Get on the ground! ” There was the sound of guns being racked.
    Stone got on the ground.

6
    S tone heard the others being ordered down, then he felt cold steel pressed against the back of his neck.
    â€œIdentify yourself,” a voice said.
    Stone was about to do that when he heard a car screech to a halt and the door open and slam. “Stop that!” a man’s deep voice commanded.
    The barrel of the weapon left Stone’s neck.
    â€œHelp them up,” the driver of the car said.
    Someone put a hand under Stone’s elbow and helped him to his feet, along with the others.
    â€œThese people are my guests.”
    Stone turned and saw Thomas Hardy walking toward him, smiling, his hand out.
    â€œThomas, I’m very glad to see you,” Stone said.
    Thomas shook his hand and gave him a hug. “Let’s get your luggage into the car,” he said.
    The policeman wearing dark glasses stepped up. “I require to see their passports,” he said.
    â€œOf course, captain,” Thomas said. “Stone?”
    Everyone produced a passport and handed it over. The captain motioned to a policeman who ran over and made a desk of his back while the captain stamped each passport, then handed them back to their owners. “My apologies,” he said, then with a wave for his troops to follow, walked away toward the small terminal.
    â€œThomas, let me introduce my friends: this is Dino Bacchetti, who used to be my NYPD partner; his girlfriend, Genevieve James; and my friend, Holly Barker.” He felt an elbow in his ribs. “Oh, uh, I’m sorry, this is Ginny Heller.”
    â€œI’m very pleased to meet you all,” Thomas said. “Hop in, and I’ll drive you to the inn.” He leaned close to Stone’s ear. “Stone, you’d best learn the names of your women.”
    â€œRight,” Stone whispered back. “I’ll explain later.”
    The pilot finished loading the luggage into a Volvo station wagon. “Contact Mr. Cabot when you need me,” he said to Stone, “and on the way home you can fly right seat. That was my first solo flight in this airplane, and I didn’t want any witnesses.”
    â€œGreat job,” Stone said. Thomas started the car, and they drove away. “What was that all about, Thomas?” Stone asked.
    â€œYou’ll find that things