“Relax, Holly,” Stone said. “It doesn’t sound like Trini’s going anywhere.”
“Oh, all right,” Holly sighed.
Ed drove them through the village of Tesuque, north of Santa Fe, and up into the hills above the village, then turned into a driveway marked by a large stone eagle perched on a big boulder.
The house was spacious and comfortable, and the guest bedroom was inviting.
“Freshen up. There’s a drink waiting for you, and dinner in a few minutes,” Ed said.
Stone splashed some water on his face and brushed his hair. “You ready?” he asked Holly.
“You go get us a drink. I’ll be along in a minute.”
Stone found Ed in the kitchen, where there were sizzling noises coming from a skillet.
“Booze is over there in that cabinet,” Ed said, pointing. “Help yourself.”
Stone found a selection of half a dozen bourbons and poured Holly and himself some Knob Creek.
“That lady of yours sounds hot for this guy,” Ed said.
“That’s putting it mildly. She’s going at him with reckless abandon. We had the guy nailed in New York last night, only to find a bunch of FBI agents guarding him.”
“How’d you find out he went to Santa Fe?”
“We followed them to Teterboro and a friend got a report on their flight plan. That’s when I called you.”
“Stone, I don’t know what your relationship is to this lady, but I can guess. Are you sure you’re not following your dick around?”
“No, I’m not sure,” Stone replied. “I keep asking myself that question, but I just got caught up in this business, and I’d like to help her see it through.”
“I’m happy to help you as much as I can, Stone, but see that I don’t get mixed up in a kidnapping.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you out of it, Ed. How’s life these days?”
“Life is very good. I got married a few years back, but she’s at a spa in California this week, toning up and all that good stuff.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet her.”
“Another time.”
Holly joined them, and Stone handed her her drink. “Is there any way we can find out tonight who owns that house?” she asked. “That’s been worrying me.”
Ed picked up a phone and dialed a number. “Sharon? Ed Eagle. You remember the house you built out on Tano Norte? . . . That’s the one. Any idea who owns it now? . . . No kidding? Since when? . . . Just curious. Thanks very much.” He hung up. “That was the lady who was the contractor on the house. She says it’s owned now by Byron Miller.”
“Who’s he?” Holly asked.
“He’s the U.S. Attorney for our district, and I’d advise you not to try to take your man off his property. He could do bad things to you.”
“Swell,” Holly said, pulling on her bourbon.
39
ED EAGLE WAS waiting when Stone and Holly came into the kitchen for breakfast. “You’re on the move early,” Stone said.
“I’ve got a hearing at nine o’clock, and I didn’t have time to prepare fully for it yesterday,” Ed said. He spread a map over the kitchen table. “I want to show you exactly where the house on Tano Norte is,” he said, pointing. “You go back into Tesuque, then take the main highway south. There’s a lot of construction, and they’ve sealed off the old entrance to Tano Road, so you’ll have to go this route and turn right at the first exit.” He drew a line on the map with a Hi-Liter. “Tano Norte turns off Tano Road right here, and the house is another mile and a quarter down the road. You’ll be able to see the house from a hill right here, but when you get to the place you’ll just see a wall. My man is still out there, and I’m going to pull him off the surveillance this morning, unless you want to fork out three hundred bucks a day for his time.”
“Pull him off, and I’ll reimburse you for his time so far,” Holly said. “My department has discretionary funds for this sort of thing.”