“Stone!”
He turned to see Sarah Buckminster walking toward him, dressed in tailored slacks and a silk blouse. She held out her arms to him, and he embraced and kissed her. She held him away from her and looked at him. “Dear God, the years have made you even more handsome.”
Stone blushed. “And you are even more beautiful.”
She turned and looked at the Matilda Stone. “I knew you’d find it immediately.”
“I haven’t seen it since I was, I don’t know, eleven or twelve.” He waved an arm. “Who owns all this?”
“Jack and Hillary Beacon,” she replied. “He’s the CEO of Celltell, the wireless-phone company. Do you know it?”
Stone nodded. “I bought some of the stock, as a matter of fact. I don’t have much, but it’s done well.”
“This is the heart of one of the country’s great private collections. The rest is scattered around the apartment, which runs to seventeen rooms, or on loan to museums.”
“It’s astonishing.”
William appeared with a tray holding the bottle of Krug, two lovely champagne flutes, some canapes, and something wrapped in a napkin.
“Come, let’s sit down,” Sarah said, drawing him to the sofa before the fireplace, in which a cheerful fire burned.
William poured them both a flute of the wine and nodded at the napkin on the tray. “Yours, I believe, Mr. Barrington.”
Stone winced.
“Something for me, I hope,” Sarah said.
“I’m afraid not,” Stone replied. “The Krug is for you.”
“William,” she said, “you and Martha may go, now; Mr. Barrington and I will take care of ourselves for the rest of the evening.”
“If you need anything, please ring, Miss Buckminster,” William said.
“I’ll do no such thing. You and Martha take the rest of the evening off.”
“Thank you, Miss, and good night. Good night, Mr. Barrington.”
“Good night, William, and thank you for…” He nodded toward the napkin. William left them alone.
“All right, I’m dying to know what’s in the napkin,” Sarah said.
“I’m afraid it’s rather embarrassing,” Stone said. “I forgot that I had put it in the bag with the wine.”
She slid the tray toward her and began unwrapping the napkin. “Jesus Christ!” she said, recoiling from the weapon. “You might as well have brought a rattlesnake!” She picked up the pistol by the barrel with thumb and forefinger and handed it to him. “Hide it somewhere,” she said.
Stone took the weapon and tucked it into his belt at the small of his back.
“I remember that you used to go armed, Stone, but that was when you were a policeman. What’s your excuse now?”
“I’m afraid I’m in a rather delicate position,” Stone said.
“An angry husband?”
“Hardly. You remember Dino.”
“How could I forget the ’orrible little man?”
“Some years ago, Dino and I sent someone to prison, and he’s apparently decided to make us pay for it.”
“Who is this person?”
“We don’t know, really. We only know that he’s… tried to harm people close to us.”
“Is
“Yes, it is. I was so glad to hear from you that I completely forgot that I have to be circumspect about whom I see. This started only very recently, and I’m still getting used to the idea that I shouldn’t endanger other people by associating with them.”
“Well, this is really very exciting, isn’t it?”
“I just don’t want it to get too exciting.”
“Surely, you don’t think you’re endangering me simply by having dinner.”
“I took some precautions to see that I wasn’t followed, and there are several police officers downstairs. One of them is operating your elevator.”
Sarah burst out laughing. “This is hilarious,” she said. “I must say, I’ve never had a gun served with champagne.” She sipped the wine. “And Krug! It’s delicious.” She leaned over and kissed him. “And so are you.”
“When did you get back?”
“Yesterday; I’m still not entirely over the jet lag. I came by way of London, saw my parents for a few days.”
“Are you going back to Tuscany?”
“I haven’t decided. I’m back for a show of my work that will open next week – all the work that I’ve done for the past six years.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Stone said.
“I’ll give you a preview; I promise. Now you know that all
“I’ll give you the short version. What exactly was I doing the last time we saw each other?”
“You were still on the police force, although I heard through friends that you left, and I remember that you had inherited that lovely old house from an aunt, I believe, and you were doing most of the remodeling work yourself.”
“A great aunt, and yes, I couldn’t afford to hire many people on my cop’s salary.”
“And you had gotten yourself shot and were recovering.”
“Right.”
“Where was it?”
“In the knee.”
“Oh, yes; no place important, then.”
Stone laughed. “So I retired from the force on a full-disability pension – I was nudged in that direction, if the truth be known. I was being awkward about a case I was working on, and somebody decided I shouldn’t be there anymore.”
“You were always the most unlikely policeman.” Sarah laughed.
“That’s pretty much what the NYPD thought.”
“So then what did you do? Live off the fat of the land?”
“I had my law degree, so I boned up and took the bar exam. I’m of counsel to Woodman and Weld.”
“I know that name; a prestigious firm, I believe. What does ‘of counsel’ mean?”
“It means I handle their clients’ more delicate problems. I work out of an office in my home rather than from the firm’s offices.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
“It sometimes is.”
“Are you prosperous, then?”
“More so than I had ever dreamed I would be. The house is finished and furnished; I live very nearly in the lap of luxury.”
“You’re certainly dressing better,” she said, stroking his jacket.
“I’d like to think I’m doing everything better,” he said.
“That remains to be seen.” She chuckled, her voice low. She stood up. “Come into the kitchen with me and watch me cook.”
“I’d love to,” he said. “May I make a phone call first? I promised I’d call Dino.”
“Of course; there’s a phone over there.” She pointed.
Stone went to the phone and dialed Dino’s number; he got an answering machine. “Dino, it’s Stone; I’m in Sarah’s apartment.” He repeated the number. “Everything seems all set downstairs; Anderson is running the elevator. Don’t call me unless it’s important.” He hung up, grabbed the champagne bottle, and followed Sarah toward the kitchen.
