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“A bullet from a Russian sniper into the right front tire did the job. I believe he was tracked down and dispatched a bit later. There will be more in your ministry’s files than I know.”
“And what became of the car?”
“I believe your ministry replaced it immediately.”
“Well, that was before my time. I might not have been so generous.”
“I’ll keep that in mind whenever I drive one of Dame Felicity’s cars.”
Geoffrey called them to dinner at the other end of the room. Later, when they were done with cognac, Stone saw Felicityand the Parkers to their cart and joined Vanessa and Lance inside.
“Vanessa,” Lance said, “could you excuse us for a moment, please? I’d like to speak to Stone about something.”
“Of course,” Vanessa replied. “I’m going to turn in.”
When she had gone, Lance waited a moment, apparently to be sure that she was not listening at the door. “Stone,” he said finally. “I want to bring you up to date on Jack Collins.”
“Please do.”
“Someone took a shot at him at the rear of your property, down by your dock.”
“To any effect?” Stone asked.
“Well, yes. The shooter slipped up and made his presence known to Ed Rawls, who was on your boat, and Ed shot the man in the head, as is his wont.”
“Any ID on the shooter?”
“No, before we could establish that, Ed had made the body disappear into Penobscot Bay. I would not have known about the incident had Jack not told me.”
“So Jack is now on the alert?”
“Yes, but elsewhere. He took off in his Bonanza at dawn the next morning and flew God-knows-where.”
“Well, at least he’s safe, and Ed has another notch on his rifle stock.”
“Yes, well, all’s well that ends well, isn’t it?”
“I expect that whoever sent the shooter may not think so. He might go on looking for Jack.”
“Or you,” Lance said.
“Why me?” Stone asked. “I was nowhere near there.”
“But the shooter’s employer doesn’t know that. I expect he’s curious to know.”
“That’s comforting,” Stone said.
“I just want you to remain alert,” Lance said, rising. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to bed.”
Stone followed him as far as the top of the stairs, then let himself into the master suite. Inside, it was pitch dark.
Stone groped his way to his bedside lamp and switched it on, finding Vanessa and Felicity in flagrante delicto in his bed.
“I lost an earring and had to come back for it,” Felicity said.
“Quite all right,” Stone said, working on his buttons.
“Will you join us?” Vanessa asked.
