Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

best for a small country. I understand you now practice law; in fact, I’ve heard that you have actually practiced in St. Marks, on a previous visit.”
    So the colonel knew who he was; Stone was hardly surprised. “I had that honor,” he said, “but quite by happenstance. Your distinguished prime minister bested me handily in court.” Stone thought it best to spread the flattery on thick.
    â€œYes, your client was hanged, I believe.”
    â€œI’m afraid so.”
    â€œI was chief of police in Markstown at that time,” the colonel said, “so I was not involved in the investigation, but, of course, everyone knew of the incident.”
    â€œYes, I believe the trial gained some notoriety in the United States as well.” Couldn’t hurt to remind him that treating Americans badly engendered bad publicity. “I hope your tourist trade was not affected.”
    â€œOn the contrary,” the colonel said, “the notoriety seemed to give us a shot in the arm, as it were, and our tourist trade has grown steadily since then, benefitting many St. Marksians, as Thomas can readily testify.”
    â€œI can,” Thomas said. “My home island has been very good to me.”
    â€œI hear rumors of a big expansion in tourism to come,” Stone said, “with the arrival of casinos.”
    The colonel abruptly stopped smiling. “Oh? And where did you hear that?” he asked, and he seemed genuinely interested in an answer.
    â€œOh, just gossip on the beach. That couple who went home yesterday said something about it.” The colonel was silent, and Stone felt that his eyes might be boring into him from behind the reflective glasses. “I forget their names.”
    â€œIt is best not to repeat gossip, Mr. Barrington,” the colonel said, and it didn’t sound like a suggestion.
    â€œQuite right,” Stone said. “May I buy you a drink, Colonel?”
    The colonel looked at his watch. “I’m afraid I have an engagement,” he said. “Perhaps another time.” He stood up.
    â€œI hope so,” Stone said.
    â€œWill you be remaining in St. Marks for very long, Mr. Barrington?”
    â€œOnly until the weekend,” Stone said. “So much work waiting back in New York.”
    â€œWhat a pity,” the colonel replied. “It would have been interesting to get to know you better.”
    â€œPerhaps on some future visit,” Stone said. He offered his hand; the colonel shook it, then departed. When he had gone, Thomas sighed. “Stone, you want to be very careful of what you say to that gentleman.”
    â€œOh? Did I say something wrong?”
    â€œThat business about the casinos is very closely held information.”
    â€œThe colonel did give the impression that I wasn’t supposed to know about it.”
    â€œYou recovered well, but still…Where on earth did you hear that? Not from me, certainly.”
    â€œJust between you and me, it came up at dinner at Irene Foster’s house.”
    â€œAh.”
    Stone shrugged. As he recalled, it had been Harry Pitts who knew about it, but he didn’t say so. “I visited Leslie Hewitt this afternoon, and I heard about Colonel Croft from him. I was surprised you hadn’t mentioned such an important figure.”
    â€œIt was my hope that you could visit St. Marks and depart without encountering the colonel,” Thomas said. “But now that you have, you should avoid further contact with him, if at all possible.”
    â€œI think I would enjoy avoiding further contact with him,” Stone said. “He gives me the creeps.”
    â€œHe is the second most powerful man on the island, and he seems to derive a certain pleasure from making miserable the lives of people he dislikes. And it doesn’t take much to incur his dislike.”
    â€œYou seem to get on well with him.”
    â€œI have made a point of it,” Thomas said. “I have to make a living here, and that might be impossible if the colonel didn’t wish it to be so.”
    â€œThomas, we talked this morning about the means of escaping this island. I hope you have a way out, should it become necessary.”
    â€œYou needn’t concern yourself about me, Stone,” Thomas replied. “I have always been a survivor and, even though I am enjoying my success, I know very well that my position here could become untenable if I make the