Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 12 by Dark Harbor Read Free Book Online Page A

inserted Dick’s key in the lock and opened the door. “That was spectacular,” Stone said.
    â€œPiece of cake,” Holly replied.
    Stone removed the contents of the safe—a couple of bundles of documents and envelopes—and placed them on the desk. Holly wrote down the combination to the safe and handed it to Stone. Stone went through the papers and found a deed to the house, a cancelled mortgage, the household insurance policies and some correspondence with the house’s architect. He also found two insurance policies with a face value of a million dollars each: the beneficiary of one was Dick’s parents, and the other, Caleb Stone. They had both been taken out on the same day, some twelve years before, with an agent in Camden. He opened the safe, put all the papers back inside and locked it.
    Lance came out of the little office reading a sheet of paper. “Uh-oh,” he said. “Holly and I have business back in New York; Langley is sending an airplane to Rockland for us.”
    Stone picked up the phone and paged Seth Hotchkiss, who came into the room a moment later. “What’s up?” he asked.
    â€œSeth, Mr. Cabot and Ms. Barker have to get to Rockland, where an airplane is meeting them this afternoon. Should I fly them over there, or is there another way, given the packed ferries today?”
    â€œEasiest thing is for them to take the ferry, and I’ll call a taxi from Camden to meet them on the other side,” Seth said. “What time’s the plane at Rockland?”
    â€œIt’s landing at four o’clock,” Lance said.
    â€œThen we’d better get started. You can make the three-thirty ferry, and you’ll be a few minutes late getting to Rockland.”
    â€œThey’ll wait for us,” Lance said. He turned to Holly. “Let’s get packed.”
    Dino came into the room. “What’s going on?”
    â€œHolly and I have to go back to New York.”
    â€œCan you take me with you?”
    â€œSure. Get packed.”
    Dino turned to Stone. “I just talked to Mary Ann. She’s hired a lawyer, and he wants a meeting, so I’d better get back down there.”
    â€œI guess you’d better,” Stone agreed. “You’ve got your key to my house and the alarm codes. I’ll tell Joan you’re coming, and the housekeeper will lay in some food for you. You’re going to need a lawyer, and I’m going to be tied up with this, so call Bill Eggers at Woodman & Weld and ask him to recommend somebody. Do not meet with them without your own lawyer present.”
    â€œGotcha.”
    A few minutes later they were standing beside the old Ford station wagon in front of the house.
    â€œSo much for a Maine vacation,” Holly said.
    â€œYou can come back later in the summer,” Stone said.
    â€œAre you staying all summer?”
    â€œI’m not planning to, but who knows? I’ve got a triple homicide on my hands and no suspects.”
    â€œGood luck,” Holly said. “Call me on my cell if you want to bounce anything off me.”
    â€œWill do.” Stone hugged Holly and shook Lance’s hand.
    â€œI’m still on this,” Lance said, “and I’ll be in touch if I come up with anything. Please keep Dick’s little office locked until I can get somebody up here to remove the equipment.” He handed Stone the key.
    â€œSure.” Stone shook Dino’s hand. “Let me know what’s happening, and give Elaine a kiss for me.”
    A moment later, they were driving away, and Stone went back into the house. It seemed suddenly very empty.
    Mabel came into the room. “Stone, what should I do about all the clothes upstairs?”
    Stone thought about it for a moment. “Take anything that you and Seth want, then pack it all up and give it to some local charity.”
    â€œThe church has a clothing drive every summer,” she