Double Jeopardy (Stone Barrington #57)(61)

“Are you aware that the twins are extremely dangerous? Isn’t that why you sought to disarm them by offering them the opportunity to buy the house? You may be sure that they saw through that and they know who you are. They likely view you and Coco as replacements for Henry Lee and Grace. It is very unlikely that you would survive an attempt to kill them. Even if you did, it is even less likely that you would remain a free man. Think what that would mean to your wife. Even if she avoids conviction as an accessory, is she supposed to spend the rest of her life visiting you once a week and bringing you cakes with files baked into them?”

A very long pause. “You have a point,” Smith said.

“Thank you. Perhaps it would help to restrain your ardor if I told you that others—as well-trained and proficient as you—are interested in seeing the twins brought to justice.”

“Is that so?” Smith asked earnestly.

Stone nodded. “And they are much more likely to achieve that result without danger to themselves.”

“Who are these people?”

“They are better friends than you know, or need to know.” Stone stood up. “If you want to survive this episode in your life, it’s better that you start now. How did you travel here?”

“A friend in New York has a King Air. His pilot flew us directly to the island.”

“Can you recall the airplane?”

“Yes, if it’s not in use.”

“You should do so now. Do you have any clothing or personal effects at the inn?”

“No, we checked out a little while ago. We had planned to sleep here tonight.”

“Call about the airplane.”

Smith produced a phone and made the call, then hung up. “The airplane is in the air, returning to Teterboro from the Hamptons. They can divert and be here in an hour. I’d better explain things to Coco.”

“You can do that when you reach the airfield,” Stone said. “Let’s not waste any more time here.”

They locked the house and loaded their things, while Stone kept a watchful eye on the twins’ house.

Stone followed them to the airfield and waited with them, watching the perimeter. The King Air was late by ten minutes, but the pilot had no problem with the short field length. Stone helped them load their belongings.

“Listen,” Smith said, “we still want to close on the house. Once all this is cleared up, we can move in.”

“I’ll let you know when it’s safe,” Stone said.

They shook hands, then boarded the airplane. Five minutes later the pilot set the flaps for takeoff, revved the engines to full throttle, then, after a moment, released the brakes. The aircraft used all the runway, then lifted off and turned south.

Stone felt vastly relieved. He drove slowly back to his house and arrived to find Dino and Viv sitting in the living room, reading.

“Where are Primmy and Carly?” he asked.

“They left a few minutes ago,” Viv said.

“Left for where?”

“They didn’t say, but they took bathing suits with them.”

Outside, the skies darkened, and it began to rain. They could hear thunder in the distance, growing closer, and the rain became dense. The lights in the house went out, then came back on a few seconds later, as the generator kicked in.

“Not a good day for a swim,” Stone said.

“Thunderstorms don’t last long,” Viv said. Then, as if to confirm her judgment, the lights dimmed again, then came back bright, as the generator turned itself off. A moment later, the sun was shining again.

“Now,” Dino said quietly to Stone, “all we have to do is make sure the twins don’t kill us before Ed can kill them.”





54

Stone read for a while, then he went outside and looked at the skies. Cloudless. The sun was high. He went back inside and wondered where Primmy and Carly were. Finally, he got out his cell phone and called Primmy’s number. The call went directly to voicemail. He left her a message to call him, then hung up.

“You have no idea where they are?” he asked the Bacchettis.

“I know nothing,” Dino said, “just like you.”

“Viv, do you know where Primmy and Carly are?”

Viv ignored him. “Viv, can you hear me now?” Stone asked, raising his voice.

Viv lifted a finger to her lips for silence, then ignored him again.

Stone tried Primmy again: nothing.

Dino leaned over and said softly, “Try Ed Rawls. They could be with him.”

Stone called Rawls; no reply. “It’s as though everyone has gone on radio silence,” he said.

The phone rang, the landline. Stone picked it up, expecting to hear Primmy’s voice. “Hello?”

“Stone, it’s Billy. I just got a call from the mainland. Lightning struck the cell tower above Lincolnville, and service is out.”

“How long?” Stone asked.

“No one seems to know.”

“Thanks, Billy. Have you seen Primmy and Carly this afternoon?”

“Nope. It’s been pretty quiet around here. The rain drove everybody indoors.”

“Thanks, Billy,” Stone said, then hung up.

“What does Billy have to say for himself?” Dino asked.

“He says lightning struck the cell tower over at Lincolnville, and our service is out. Nobody knows how long.”