D.C. Dead (Stone Barrington 22)

“I’ll get on that this morning,” she said.

“It could be critical,” Dino said. “It often is.”

“I agree,” Stone echoed, “and while you’re scaring up that report, see if you can find out who neglected to include it. That could be very interesting to know.”

“I’ll do that,” Holly said.

AFTER BREAKFAST, Holly got dressed, and Stone noted that she wore an outfit different from the one the night before. Holly had planned ahead.

He kissed her good-bye at the door. “Thank you,” he said, “for last night. You were correct in all your observations.”

“I’m glad you agree,” she said. “Will I see you tonight?”

“Book a table at your favorite restaurant, and come here for a drink first, say, six-thirty?”

“You’re on,” she said, and she was gone.

6

THEY ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION DESK, AND Stone and Dino flashed their IDs. “We have an appointment with Tim Coleman,” Stone said to the receptionist.

A call was made. “Someone will be out for you in a moment,” the receptionist said.

“We know the way,” Stone replied.

“Someone will be out for you in a moment.”

In not much more than a moment a young male staffer materialized in the reception area and introduced himself. Everybody shook hands. “Right this way.”

They were led almost to the Oval Office and then were turned into a small waiting room outside the chief of staff’s office. They could see him inside, feet on his desk, talking into two telephones, a secretary waiting with a stack of papers.

Coleman hung up one of the phones and waved them into his office. “Good,” he said, “you caught me on a slow day.” The phone that he had hung up rang, but he ignored it and pressed the other to his chest. He pushed a button on a console. “Fair. Come in here,” he said.

A moment later, a very tall woman in a short dress entered through another door. “Stone Barrington, Dino Bacchetti, this is one of my two deputies, Fair Sutherlin.”

Everybody shook hands. Stone noticed a very firm grip.

“Gentlemen,” Fair said, “it’s a pleasure to meet you. We all appreciate your taking the time to come down here and look into this for us.”

“We’re glad to be here,” Stone said.

“That go for you, too, Lieutenant?” she asked.

“Yep, and call me Dino. He’s Stone.”

“I’m yours for the morning. What do you want to see, and who do you want to talk with?”

“We’d like to walk the route that Mrs. Kendrick took from the tennis court to the place where her body was found,” Stone said.

“Of course. Come with u iwme.”

Stone and Dino said good-bye to Tim Coleman, then followed Fair Sutherlin, which Stone found to be a pleasant experience. She led them past the Oval Office and down a hallway, through a couple of doors, and out onto a walkway, then stopped after a few steps.

“This is where I found Mimi Kendrick,” Fair said.

“You found her?” Stone asked. “What were you doing out here?”

Fair looked a little embarrassed. “I had just finished a very heated phone conversation with a member of Congress, and when I hung up I was still angry. I came out here to get a little air and calm down.”