Double Jeopardy (Stone Barrington #57)(42)

“Pretty good field of fire from up here,” Rawls said, noting the relative positions of his house, porches, and dock.

They went back inside, and Ed opened a glass-fronted cabinet. Inside was a row of assault weapons and racks for handguns, plus shelves for ammunition, of which there was plenty.

“They’re prepared for a siege,” Stone said.

“More likely a slaughter,” Ed said.

They walked around the house once more, just to imprint the floor plan in their minds.

“How long you figure before they’re completely moved in?” Rawls asked.

“Well, let’s see,” Stone said. “The HVAC systems are working, the kitchen cabinets and appliances have been installed, and the plastering is complete, if not yet dry. The study cabinetwork has yet to be installed, and there will be at least a week of painting. I’d say two to three weeks, if they’re hurrying.”

“That’s about what I figure,” Rawls said.

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m opportunity oriented,” Ed said. “I look around me now, and what I see is opportunity, gradually vanishing as each job gets done.”

“Maybe the Maine cops have got something on them in the Jackson murders,” Stone said. “Something we missed when we walked around the crime scene.”

“I hope so,” Ed said. “That would sure make life easier for all of us.”

“I can’t hang around the whole summer waiting for a chance to exercise my right to self-defense,” Stone said.

“I’m less pressured and more patient than you,” Ed said back.

“I can’t argue with that. Do you have a plan?”

“Several. Outlines, of course; not fleshed in. Ways of approaching the job.”

“What do you think is the better plan?”

“I think we have to kill them before the house is finished,” Rawls said. “Can you stick around that long?”

“Probably not,” Stone said. “But I’ll do the best I can.”

“That’s good enough for me.”





37

Stone slept in Primmy’s arms, and they amused each other both at bedtime and on rising. They joined the others for breakfast, where Stone told them all of the previous evening’s events and their tour of the Stone twins’ house.

“Is it nice?” Primmy asked.

“It’s going to be, when they’re done.”

“Maybe I’ll buy it when they’re dead,” Primmy said.

“I think that’s a better plan than making an offer now. That way, you don’t have to deal with the twins, just Billy Hotchkiss.”

“Billy’s a piece of cake,” Primmy said. “Especially if his client is dead, like the twins are going to be.”

“Primmy,” Stone said, “do you know something I don’t know about the twins?”

“Perhaps.”

“Would you share it, please?”

“In due course,” she said. “I’ve already shared it with Carly.”

Stone looked across the table at Carly. She was looking smug, he thought.

“Don’t worry,” Carly said, “it’s a good thing.”

“As long as it isn’t detrimental to the health of the rest of us,” Stone said.

“Shouldn’t be,” Primmy said.

Stone’s phone rang. “Yes?”

“It’s Ed. The twins are still not back; you want to do a little nautical reconnaissance with me this morning?”

“Sure.”

“Come on over here as soon as you like.”

“Can I bring the others?”

“As many as you like.”

“See you in half an hour.” Stone hung up. “How many of you want to take a ride on Ed Rawls’s boat this morning?”

Primmy’s and Carly’s hands shot up. The Bacchettis exchanged a meaningful glance, which Stone knew meant sex. They wanted the place to themselves.

“I’ll come along,” Lance said.

“Fifteen minutes, in the station wagon.”



* * *



—

Thirty minutes later they were clambering aboard Ed’s motorboat as the morning sun warmed them. Stone took a seat next to Ed, who was at the helm.

Ed accelerated and turned north toward open water. When he had gone a couple of hundred yards, he spun the boat around and cut the throttles to idle, taking her out of gear.

“There,” Rawls said. “Nice view of my house, huh?”

“Very nice,” Stone said. “What are we doing here?”

“Assume we’re in the house, and the twins are out here: How could they best kill us?”

Stone peered at the house, then picked up some binoculars. “Day or night?”

“Make it easy on yourself.”

“Okay, if it’s night, I can probably see us sitting at the table or up and walking around.”

“In daylight?”

“I’d need us to come outside. Easy shot, if we’re outside in daylight.”

“I can’t argue with that. You see the porch table?”

“Sure.”