Dark Harbor (Stone Barrington 12)

“Seth, 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?”

“Easiest 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?”

“It’s landing at four o’clock,” Lance said.

“Then we’d better get started. You can make the three-thirty ferry, and you’ll be a few minutes late getting to Rockland.”

“They’ll wait for us,” Lance said. He turned to Holly. “Let’s get packed.”

Dino came into the room. “What’s going on?”

“Holly and I have to go back to New York.”

“Can you take me with you?”

“Sure. 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.”

“I 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.”

“Gotcha.”

A few minutes later they were standing beside the old Ford station wagon in front of the house.

“So much for a Maine vacation,” Holly said.

“You can come back later in the summer,” Stone said.

“Are you staying all summer?”

“I’m not planning to, but who knows? I’ve got a triple homicide on my hands and no suspects.”

“Good luck,” Holly said. “Call me on my cell if you want to bounce anything off me.”

“Will do.” Stone hugged Holly and shook Lance’s hand.

“I’m still on this,” Lance said, “and I’ll be i

n 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.

“Sure.” 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.”

“The church has a clothing drive every summer,” she said.

“That’s perfect.” Stone called Joan and told her to expect Dino. As he was hanging up, the doorbell rang. He opened it to find Caleb Stone standing on the doorstep.

“Come in, Caleb,” Stone said, offering his hand.

“Can I talk with you for a minute?” Caleb asked.

“Sure, come on into Dick’s study. You want a drink?”