Hit List (Stone Barrington #53)(47)

“What baby?”

“There’s a sticker on your bumper.”

“Belongs to the last renter, I guess.”

Stone went back to his car, found his rental paperwork, then the two of them were introduced to the man and his wife, and they drove down the mountain together. Fortunately, they had rented from the same company.

Stone presented his paperwork at the desk.

“Where’s the car?” the clerk asked.

“It became part of the mountain, maybe a mile short of the ski area.”

The man looked at his form. “I don’t think that’s going to work for the company,” he said, still looking at the space on the form.

“I think the word you’re looking for,” Stone said, “is ‘totaled.’”

“Ah, yes. That works.”

“And I need another car.”

“Yeah sure. What would you like?”

“Something heavy, like a Suburban.”

“Right.”

In fifteen minutes both drivers were on their way in new cars.

“Well,” Dino said, “at least they won’t be looking for a Suburban.” He got on his cell phone again, spoke for a moment, then hung up. “The locals lost them. They weren’t in the house, the bakery had reported its van stolen, and Larkin and his buddies are nowhere to be seen.”

“What do you want to do?” Stone asked.

“I wonder if there’s anything left of that porterhouse from last night?”

“I don’t think so. Let’s go back to the Tesuque Market and have some green chili stew or a burger.”

“Sold,” Dino replied.



* * *



—

    While they waited for their food, Dino made more calls. “Your girlfriend, Frances, has been moved to a furnished apartment on Third Avenue, in the sixties. There’s a nurse on duty 24/7 and two cops sitting on her, so to speak.” Dino wrote down the address and phone number on the back of his business card and gave it to Stone. “Visiting hours are whenever you like.”

Stone called the number, and the nurse answered. “It’s Stone Barrington. May I speak to Frances, please?”

“Hello, Stone?”

“Yes, Frances. How are you feeling?”

“Safer,” she replied. “Where are you?”

“In Santa Fe. We think Sig is here, too, but we lost him.”

“Did you try his house?”

“Yes. Nobody home.”

“Does he know you’re looking for him?”

“Yes, I believe he does.”

“Well, you know what he does at times like this . . .”

“No, I don’t believe you told me.”

“He breaks into a house or an apartment and makes himself at home.”

“Good to know,” Stone said. “Would he have a preference of neighborhood in Santa Fe?”

“As near as possible to his house. He knows the neighborhood.”

“Thank you, Frances. Is there anything you need?”

“Dog food, but the cops are out shopping for that.”

“Take care. If you think of anything else that might help us, please call. You’ve got my number.”

They hung up. “She had something for you to pass on to the locals,” Stone said to Dino. He told him about Larkin’s propensity for breaking and entering, and Dino got on the phone.

Their margaritas came, followed in due course by their food.

They had just paid their check when Dino said, “You know, this is the second time Larkin and/or his people have come to this joint.”

“I can only remember one,” Stone said.

“The second time is right now,” Dino said, “and don’t look anywhere but at me. One of his heavies is sitting alone at a table in the corner right behind you. He’s just started on dessert.”

“You recognize him?”

“Why else would I say that? I’m not sure which one he is, but he has the haircut.”

“If I can’t turn my head, I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“Here’s my plan,” Dino said. “You’ve still got your honorary detective’s badge, right?”

“Right.”

Dino shifted his body a little to conceal his left side, then he pulled his pistol and held it under the table.

“That’s your plan?” Stone asked.

“Here’s the rest,” Dino said, and began to explain.





38


Stone resisted the temptation to turn his head. “Go ahead, Dino.”

“I want you to take out your badge, but not your gun. Go ahead.”

Stone reached inside his coat for the badge.

“Left hand,” Dino said.

Stone shifted the badge to his left. “Okay, now what?”

“I want you to get up and walk over to his table, staying on his left side. I’ll be right behind you, so he won’t see my gun.”

“Go on.”

“You hold up your badge with your left, move more to his right, so I can see his right hand, and tell him he’s under arrest and not to move.”

“Are we going to be legal, here?”