Turbulence (Stone Barrington #46)(6)



“The thing looks monstrous,” Holly said, pointing at the TV. “Level five—it doesn’t get any worse than that.”

“I guess not. We’ll keep a close eye on it.”

“I’m a Florida girl, and I’ve been through a few hurricanes, but never a level five. And look what Harvey did to Houston last week!”

“I still can’t believe how much rain they got, but Irma isn’t going to be a factor for us.”

“Okay by me. I’m not a glutton for punishment. What time are Dino and Viv due in?”

“Three o’clock. I’ll go get them.”

“I’ll come with you. I like riding around in a convertible with my hair blowing in the wind.”

“That can be arranged.”

When they left the house for the airport, Anna was stacking steaks and other food into the freezer. They left her to it.

George came over as they were backing out of the garage. “Do you want me to take down the big awning over the outside living room?” he asked.

“Yes, but wait until Saturday morning; that’s when we’ll be leaving,” Stone replied. “What are your plans?”

“I’ll just ride it out,” George replied. “Not my first one.”

“You can fly out with us, if it looks too bad for you,” Stone said.

“I don’t think it will be necessary.”

Holly took off her scarf and let her hair blow free. “This is my disguise when I’m traveling,” she said. “Nobody ever recognizes me, unless my hair is up.”



* * *





THEY WERE PARKED across the road from the arrivals lounge when Dino Bacchetti and his wife, Vivian, arrived. Dino and Stone had been partners in the NYPD many years before. Viv was an ex-detective, too, now employed as chief operating officer of Strategic Services, the world’s second-largest security company; while Dino had risen to be the police commissioner of New York City. They deposited their bags in the trunk, and Dino whipped off his necktie before climbing into the back seat with Viv. Everybody kissed or hugged.

“What are you going to do about this hurricane?” Dino asked as Stone pulled out of the parking lot.

“Get the hell out twenty-four hours ahead of time,” he replied. “You can fly with us.”

“Good idea.”



* * *





    THE FOUR OF THEM had dinner at the yacht club, and Stone asked Cal and Stacy Waters to join them. There was a guitarist/singer entertaining, but all anybody was talking about was the hurricane.

“Are you still determined to ride it out, Cal?” Stone asked.

“Yep. If it gets too bad or the roof comes off, we’ve still got our boat as a backup. The storm tracks show Irma coming ashore at Key Largo, and that’s 133 miles from here. If the eye were coming over Key West, I’d think again.”

“It looks like Irma’s going to cover the whole state as it moves north,” Holly said. “I don’t think that’s ever happened before. It could be really awful.”

“Key West always seems to dodge the bullet,” Cal said. “Even back in ’35, when one blew a train off the tracks and killed a bunch of people, that was Islamorada, not down here.”

“I think everybody in Key West is crazy,” Viv said. “I’d run like a thief.”

“That’s what we’re doing,” Stone said, “except for the thief part.”

Holly suddenly squeezed Stone’s arm hard enough to make him wince.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, then he followed her gaze straight ahead toward the door.

“What’s he doing here?” Holly asked. Senator Joseph P. Box was walking in with a blonde and some other people.

“Joe Box?” Cal said. “He lives up in the Panhandle, but he’s got a place here, too. We see a fair amount of him.”

Stacy spoke up. “And a fair amount is too much. I don’t like that man.”

“You know,” Cal said, “it’s not a term I use often, but the sonofabitch is an asshole.”

“That works for me,” Holly said.

“Oh, that’s right, you work in Washington,” Stacy said. “What do you do up there?”

“Stacy,” Cal said, “Holly is the secretary of state.”

“Oh,” Stacy said, slapping both her cheeks. “I didn’t make the connection. I didn’t know you had so much hair. What does Washington think of Joe Box, Holly?”

“That he’s an asshole,” Holly replied.

“Then I’ll make it unanimous,” Dino said.

Box spotted Holly and headed straight for her table. “Well, good evening, Madame Secretary,” he said, giving her a broad smile.

“It was, until now,” Holly said.

The smile faded. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he said to the rest of the party. No one spoke. “I’ll leave you to your dinner,” he said.

“Thank you so much,” Stacy said.

When he had gone, Cal said, “You know, there’s got to be a reasonable excuse for us to throw that guy out of this yacht club.”

“What a good idea,” Stacy said.

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