Hit List (Stone Barrington #53)(27)

“How about the crew?”

“Faith can fly with us, then go back for the crew. They’ll be in the guesthouse.”

Without stopping, the G-500 turned onto the runway and accelerated. Moments later, they were airborne.

“That’s a relief,” Dino said, as they banked and turned on course.

The satphone next to Stone rang, and he picked it up.

“It’s Rick. I take it you’re in flight. Your cell phone didn’t work.”

“You take it correctly.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Presque Isle, Maine, on the Canadian border, where we’ll clear, then to my house in Dark Harbor.”

“You think he’ll follow?”

“If he does, he’ll have to fly to Boston, change for Dark Harbor, rent a car, then drive to Lincolnville, where he will have missed the last ferry. And that’s only if he can figure out where we’re going.”

“I approve of your escape plan,” Rick said. “I wish I were going with you. It’s pretty dull around here.”

“Then go help the Paris police capture Sigmund Larkin. That would make my escape plan perfect.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Rick said. “Bon voyage.” He hung up.

Immediately, the satphone rang again, and Stone answered.

“It’s Lance. I heard. Where are you?”

“In the air.” Stone related his escape plan.

“I’m on the way to Boston as we speak,” Lance said. “I’m giving a speech at Harvard. I may drop in on you afterward.”

“We’d be glad to have you,” Stone said.

“Remember, you encouraged me.” Lance hung up.

“Suppose the guy finds us,” Dino said. “What’s your escape plan then?”

“I don’t know. Oh, the yacht, I guess. It’s berthed at Rockland.”

“A little sea air never hurts,” Dino said.

Vanessa spoke up. “Tell me about the house in Maine,” she said.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be a surprise, and you’ve already got the clothes for it,” Stone said.





22


Stone called Joan in New York.

“Yes, sir?”

“We’re airborne, en route from Paris to the Maine house, be there sixish.”

“Got it.”

“Anybody try to kill you?”

“Not yet. I’ve got my .45 loaded and cocked.”

“Good. Let Mike Freeman know where we’ll be.”

“Will do.”

Stone hung up and settled into his comfortable seat, and the stewardess served sandwiches and beer.

“Everything all right?” Stone asked Vanessa.

“Yes, oddly enough.”

“Why oddly?”

“Well, since the night I met you I’ve been poisoned nearly to death, lost my mother, fled the country ahead of a homicidal maniac, and now I’m fleeing France for Maine, a place I’ve never been.”

“I can understand how you might feel a little rattled,” Stone said.

“Strangely, I’m perfectly calm, and I’m getting used to following your orders without protest. And, I’m getting nearly all the sex I want.”

“There’s a bed in the rear compartment, if you’d like to catch up.”

“Perhaps a little later,” she said. “I’d like a nap right now.” She reclined her seat and pulled a cashmere throw over her.

Dino motioned Stone to follow him to a seat a row back. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going to have to put an end to this.”

“I’m all for that,” Stone said. “What’s your plan?”

“We’re going to have to kill the son of a bitch.”

Stone blinked. “Just like that?”

“Yeah, and very soon, if possible. Nobody on the planet would fault us for it, let alone arrest us.”

“We’re not in your jurisdiction, you know,” Stone said.

“That’s okay, Maine is even better. We have only to satisfy that state cop who runs things there.”

“If Larkin were standing here pointing a gun at us, I wouldn’t hesitate, but what you’re talking about is pretty cold-blooded.”

“No matter what your blood temperature is, the result is the same, isn’t it?”

“Not if the result includes prison. I have an aversion to small rooms with bars.”

“Am I going to have to do this myself?”

“I wish you would,” Stone said. “Anything I can do besides shooting first?”

“I’ll work it out and let you know.”

“I’d like some notice, but not too much, as that would smack of premeditation.”

“Stop thinking like a lawyer and start thinking like a victim.”

“I can’t help it. I am a lawyer, and I’m not a victim yet.”

“You’re a target, and we can prove it. That’s good enough.”

“I’ll think about that,” Stone said. He found himself a throw, stretched out next to Vanessa and let his mind drift.



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