Hit List (Stone Barrington #53)(50)

“This is so sudden,” Stone replied, but did as he was told.

She swabbed the area and stabbed him. “More antibiotics,” she said. “Infection makes scars, and we wouldn’t want that.”

“So my ass is safe from infection now?”

“From infection, but nothing else.”

Stone hoisted trou and zipped up.

“This is very good whiskey,” she said, sipping her bourbon. “Why have I never heard of it?”

“They didn’t tell you about good bourbon in medical school?”

“No, we drank only stolen medical alcohol, since it was free.”

“This is better, because it’s aged in barrels for nine years.”

“That would explain it.”

“That and the corn. By law, bourbon has to be fifty-one percent corn whiskey.”

“Live and learn. Now, tell me why I locked all the windows and doors.”

“Because you have a neighbor who’s wanted for multiple murders, and he has a habit of breaking and entering.”

“Should I move out?”

“No, the police have searched, or are searching, all your neighbors’ houses. And I’m here and armed.”

“Well, it must be under your jacket. I’ve already checked out what’s under your trousers.” She slipped him out of his jacket. “I’d rather you were unarmed,” she said, “but not entirely.”

She kissed him. “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I saw your ass,” she said.

“You don’t need an excuse,” Stone said, kissing her back.

She stopped. “First, I have to cook.” She set about making dinner.





40


Dinner was good, and what came after was even better. “I’ve wanted to do that,” he said, “since I first got a look at your cleavage.”

“It’s better without the bra, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes.” He looked at his watch.

“Oh, do you have to be somewhere?”

“Not right now, but I have to be on an airplane at mid-morning.”

“An airplane to where?”

“Home, to New York. Here’s a thought: Why don’t you come with me and stay for a while?”

“You’re not joking, are you?”

He pulled her hand down. “Does this feel like I’m joking?”

“One moment, please.” She reached for the bedside phone and dialed a number. “Hi, Rex,” she said. “Do you think you can hold down the fort for a week or so? I’ve got the time coming, and I got a nice invitation. You’re a prince. You can explain it to the administrator in the morning. Good night.” She hung up.

“You’re on,” she said, “and you certainly feel that way.”

They had an encore.



* * *



—

The following morning, she packed, and Stone called Dino and asked him to throw his stuff into his bag.

“The Eagles are coming with us,” Dino said.

“Great!”

Stone and Jenna showered together, and she made breakfast, then he drove them to the airport.

“How little is your airplane?” Jenna asked.

“Not too little. You’ll be comfortable. Oh, Dino, who you saw at the hospital, will be with us, and the Eagles.”

“Susannah Eagle?”

“And Ed.”

“I know about them, but we’ve not met. I’m a huge fan of Susannah’s work.”

“Be sure and tell her that.”

They were buzzed through the gate at the airport; his friends were boarding. Stone turned over the rental car to the lineman and introduced Jenna to the Eagles, and they got aboard. The door was closed, and an engine started turning.

“This is not very little,” Jenna said, looking around. “I guess I was thinking of a plane with one engine.”

“Those are in my past,” Stone said. He adjusted the seating so that they and the Eagles were facing each other, while Dino sat across the aisle.

“What sort of airplane is this?” Jenna asked.

“It’s called a Gulfstream 500,” Stone replied.

“Will it fly us to New York nonstop?”

“It will fly us to London or Paris nonstop—or would, if we had taken on full fuel, but that would just have added a lot of weight for a flight to New York—or rather, Teterboro, New Jersey, which is the general aviation airport for New York.”

“My goodness.”

The airplane turned onto the runway without stopping, and shortly they were climbing out and turning east.

“How long a flight?”

“About three hours, depending on the winds.”

“How high will we fly?”

“Fifty-one thousand feet, which pilots call flight level five one zero.”

“Are we staying at your apartment?”

“At my house,” Stone replied

After that, Jenna fell into conversation with Susannah, and she was lost to him. Dino was on the satphone, and Ed was reading an aviation magazine article about the G-500. Finally, Dino hung up, and Stone moved across the aisle, facing him.

“Dino,” Stone said, “you look terrible; are you feeling all right?”