Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 14

served.

39
    T hey were eating dessert when a muffled ringing came from Holly’s handbag.
    â€œThat will be Lance,” Pepper said.
    â€œIt’s not our regular time,” Holly said, grabbing her handbag and coming up with the ringing satphone. She walked over to the window for better reception and punched on. “Hello?”
    â€œScramble,” Lance said.
    Holly punched the button. “Scrambled.”
    â€œHolly, first of all, I have news, then I have instructions.”
    â€œI’m listening.”
    â€œLess than an hour ago the director appointed me DDO, to succeed Hugh English, and with immediate effect.”
    â€œI congratulate you, Lance.”
    â€œThank you. Where are you at the moment?”
    â€œAt Bill and Annie Pepper’s house.”
    â€œHave you been discussing Agency business?”
    â€œYes, but Bill swept the house; it’s clean.”
    â€œCan they hear you now?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGo to another room.”
    Holly looked at the table. “Is that a bedroom?” she asked, pointing at a door.
    â€œYes,” Annie replied.
    â€œMay I use it for a few minutes?”
    â€œOf course.”
    Holly went into the bedroom, closed the door and stood by a window. “All right,” she said.
    â€œIt has become imperative that we identify and locate Teddy Fay immediately.”
    â€œBill has the photos downloaded from government computers on his laptop; it’s being delivered here sometime soon.”
    â€œI want them e-mailed to me instantly as soon as you have them,” Lance said.
    â€œI understand. Do you want me to tell Bill and Annie your news?”
    â€œI’ll tell them myself, when we’re done. Have you heard anything about when the travel embargo might be lifted?”
    â€œNo, nothing.”
    â€œI’m going to get you off that island if I have to send a submarine for you,” Lance said.
    â€œYou’re kidding.”
    â€œYes, I’m kidding, but getting you and the Peppers out is a top priority, right after identifying Teddy.”
    â€œIf we do identify him, what are my instructions then?”
    â€œYour instructions are to wait for further instructions, and only directly from me.”
    â€œWhat instructions are Bill and Annie likely to get from Hugh English?”
    â€œNone whatever; the director has effectively built a wall around Hugh, and he understands that there will be consequences if he breaches that wall. I want to know immediately if you hear that he has so much as spoken to anyone on the island.”
    Holly was silent.
    â€œDo you understand? This is critical.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œAll right; now let me speak to Bill Pepper.”
    Holly walked back into the living room and handed the phone to Pepper. “Lance wants to speak with you.”
    Pepper took the phone and walked to the window. “Yes, Lance?” His expression changed as he listened. “Congratulations,” he said, then resumed listening. “Of course; I hope it will be here soon. Tiptree is having it delivered here. No, I won’t be going back to the office; I’ve already told them that a family emergency requires me to resign and return to the States. Well, I’ll look forward to that. Of course. And again, my congratulations.” Pepper punched off and returned to the table.
    â€œWe have a new boss,” he said to Annie.
    â€œLance?”
    â€œHimself.”
    â€œWhat are our instructions?”
    â€œTo get the photos to him ASAP and to render Holly and Stone any assistance we can in identifying Teddy Fay.”
    â€œSo it’s true?” she asked. “Teddy is still alive?”
    â€œIt seems Lance thinks so,” Pepper said.
    â€œDid you ever meet Teddy?” Holly asked Annie.
    â€œOnce, in passing.”
    â€œDo you think you could recognize him?”
    â€œI doubt it, but anyway, I hear he uses a lot of disguises.”
    â€œI hear that, too,” Holly said. She turned to Pepper. “Bill, do you have any opinion on who might replace Croft?”
    Pepper shrugged. “Who knows? He has a Haitian assistant, but I don’t know if he has the weight to succeed his boss. His name is duBois.”
    â€œWhat do you know about him?”
    â€œHe came from Haiti with Croft, so my assumption is that he is of the same stripe.”
    â€œDo you think duBois is conducting the investigation into Croft’s