Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

right away, and I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up. “That was Bill Pepper; Jim Tiptree went to the jail and effected the release of Bill and his wife, but now the police are holding Jim.”
    â€œWhy on earth would they do that?” Lance asked.
    â€œApparently, Jim was sitting on a park bench, talking with Colonel Croft, when his head exploded.”
    â€œSingle shot with an explosive-tipped bullet,” Lance mused.
    â€œYes, but the St. Marks police haven’t figured that out yet, and they’re holding Jim while they mull it over. I have to go back to my office and call the ambassador,” English said, standing. “Lance, did you have anything to do with Croft’s assassination?”
    â€œNothing whatever, Hugh; I give you my word. I certainly wouldn’t have done such a thing while he was sitting next to your station head, and I don’t have anyone on the island who could do it.”
    â€œI’ll speak to you later,” English said, and it sounded like a promise.

    H olly’s satphone rang. “Yes?”
    â€œScramble.”
    Holly did so. “Okay.”
    â€œI’ve just heard about Croft’s death in some detail. Apparently, Jim Tiptree, our station head down there, was sitting next to him when it happened. Of course, you didn’t have anything to do with this.”
    â€œOf course not; Teddy Fay did it.”
    â€œ What ?”
    â€œIt’s practically his trademark, isn’t it?”
    â€œWell, yes, but what possible motive would Teddy have for killing Croft?”
    â€œFrom what I’ve heard, anybody on the run who wants to live on this island and not be found has to pay off Croft. Maybe Teddy didn’t like him, or maybe he just did it on a whim, who knows?”
    â€œI’ve got to have time to figure this out,” Lance said, “but it’s just as well you’re being picked up tomorrow. I’m sending a larger airplane, and Bill Pepper and his wife are coming back with you.”
    â€œNo,” Holly said.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘no’?”
    â€œSir Winston Sutherland has shut down the island; nobody leaves, maybe for days, while Croft’s death is investigated, so you may as well cancel the airplane.”
    â€œSwell,” Lance said.
    â€œYeah, well…Do I have your permission to get in touch with Bill Pepper?”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œI want to find out if he got those housing applications of Robertson, Pemberton and Weatherby. They could help us identify Teddy.”
    â€œI suppose so. All right, go ahead and call him on his satphone. He should be home by now.”
    â€œHe’s been released?”
    â€œYes, but they’re holding Jim Tiptree; it’s a huge mess, and we’re trying to sort it out now. Let me know if you’re sending the photos.”
    â€œAll right; good-bye.” Holly hung up and called Bill Pepper’s number. No answer. She went back to the patio. “Stone, can I have the car keys?”
    Stone handed them to her. “Where are you going?”
    â€œWhere we were last night,” she said.
    â€œHang on, I’m going with you.”

36
    L ance presented himself in the director’s office for the second time that morning.
    â€œNow what, Lance?”
    â€œThere’s a bit of a flap in St. Marks.”
    Kate Lee massaged her temples. “Oh, God.”
    â€œLet me explain what’s happened.” Lance gave her the rundown on Croft’s murder and Tiptree’s detention.
    â€œWhat a mess,” Kate said.
    â€œIt gets worse,” Lance replied. “Holly Barker thinks Teddy Fay did it.”
    â€œI’m sorry, my mind just boggled; I’m unable to follow her logic.”
    â€œShe may have a point. First, Croft was shot in the head with an exploding bullet, apparently from outside the Markstown jail building, an expert shot, and that sounds like Teddy. Second, Holly points out that anyone hiding on the island would have to bribe Croft to remain safe, and that’s a motive for Teddy.”
    â€œCould Teddy know about Bill and Annie Pepper’s arrest?”
    â€œI don’t see how he could.”
    â€œI can see him being angry with Croft, if he knew.”
    â€œIf Holly is right, then that settles the question of whether Teddy is on the island. Now we have to find him.”
    â€œYou want to keep Holly there longer?”
    â€œNo, but I