Double Jeopardy (Stone Barrington #57)(48)

“Just tell me this: Are the girls going to get themselves killed while carrying out their plan?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Ed said.

“Are you going to have something to say about it?”

“You bet your sweet ass, I am,” Ed said, then hung up.

Stone called him back.

“Now, what?”

“I didn’t tell you about the Snickers bars.”

“You’re right. Why would you?”

“The twins bought two boxes of Snickers from Billy a few minutes ago.”

“I’m sorry, I’m drawing a blank on this one,” Ed said. “Why should anybody care if they’ve got a sweet tooth?”

“Remember when a certain lady of our acquaintance was kidnapped and held by their father?”

“Yes, I do.”

“All she was fed while he had her was Snickers bars.”

“Jesus Christ, is anybody missing?”

“Billy says no, and he usually knows what he’s talking about.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Ed said.

“I’ll keep you posted.”

They both hung up.





42

Stone stared at the phone, and his mind reeled. “Dino!” he shouted.

Dino came downstairs. “Yeah?”

“Where are Primmy and Carly?”

“They went out more than an hour ago in the MG. Don’t you remember?”

“Yes, and they’re not back?”

“Let’s have a look around,” Dino said, and they began searching the house and the property.

“Where’s Viv?” Stone asked, when they came back in after a fruitless search.

“In the bathtub.”

“For how long?”

“One never knows with Viv and the tub. Hours, sometimes.”

“Bring her ashore and get some clothes on her. We’re going to have to search the island, and I don’t want to leave her here alone.”



* * *



—

Stone pulled out of the driveway and drove through the village looking for the MG and the women. Nothing. He turned down the road toward Ed Rawls’s house, then called Ed’s cell.

“You again?”

“Primmy and Carly are missing.”

Ed digested that for a moment. “Where are you?”

“In the station wagon, pointed your way.”

“We’ll follow you as you pass. First stop has to be the twins’ house.”

Stone slowed down, and as they passed Ed’s front gate, the log rolled back, and Ed’s Range Rover fell in behind the wagon. Stone’s cell phone rang. “Yes?”

“Are you armed?” Ed asked.

“Handguns only.”

“Stop.”

Stone pulled over. Rawls got out of his car and walked to the station wagon, carrying two rifles and some magazines in a canvas bag. “Here,” he said, thrusting them through the Ford’s window. “I want them back when they’re dead.” He turned and walked back to his car.

Stone handed the weapons to Dino and Viv. “Load these,” he said, tossing the bag into the rear seat. They were coming up on the twins’ place now.

Ed flashed his lights, and Stone stopped and watched in the mirror as Rawls walked past his car, shoving a magazine into his rifle and working the action.

“Stay in the car,” Rawls said as he walked past, “but cover me.”

It seemed to be lunch hour for the workmen; all was quiet. Stone and Dino got out of the wagon with rifles and stood behind the car, looking toward Ed’s figure.

“I’m going in!” Rawls shouted back at them.

“Bad idea!” Stone called back, but he and Dino took up positions.

Rawls never slowed down. He marched up the front steps and stood in the open doorway. “Stone twins!” he shouted. “Show yourselves!”

“Don’t go in there,” Dino muttered to himself. “They’ll have an excuse to shoot you.”

Rawls disappeared into the house, and they stood waiting for something to happen. Rawls appeared on the second-floor balcony and walked its length, looking into rooms, then he disappeared back inside. He was gone for two or three minutes before he emerged on the front porch again, shaking his head. He walked over to where they stood. “Nobody home,” he said.

“Is there a basement?”

“Yeah, and I checked it. Empty, except for mechanicals. I think our next stop is the Jacksons’ place.”

They got back into their respective vehicles and turned down the Jacksons’ driveway. The front door was ajar.

“Where’s their car?” Dino asked.

“Billy put it in the barn,” Stone said.

They all left their cars and walked into the Jackson house. They searched room by room, upstairs and down but found nothing. The barn contained the Jacksons’ station wagon, but little else.

“The boathouse,” Rawls said.

“That’s where they kept her,” Stone replied.

The path had been cleared and the walkway repaired. As they approached, the boathouse looked inviting, with its fresh coat of paint.