“He made the call?”
“From his cell phone. He waited for us in the lobby.”
“Then maybe he isn’t such a good fit,” Stone said.
“You got any other theories about who might have done this?” Padgett asked. “Anything she said to you ... at lunch give you any clues?”
Stone shook his head. “Nobody comes to mind from what she said. I don’t have a name for you.”
“You think this killing might somehow be related to your investigation?” Padgett asked.
“I don’t have any evidence to support that theory.”
“All right,” Padgett said, and the two cops stood up. He handed Stone a card. “If you think of anything, you know the drill.”
“I do,” Stone said. “And I’ll call.” He showed the cops out.
“Well,” Dino said, “you didn’t actually lie to them.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“But you do think the killing is related to our investigation?”
“I have that hunch,” Stone said. “I think somebody thought Milly might tell us something and wanted to shut her up. But, as I told the cops, I don’t have any evidence to support that.”
“You don’t have any evidence to support anything,” Dino said.
“Don’t rub it in.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think your hunch is right, and I think your theory about a lover inside the White House is looking better, too.”
“Thank you, Dino.”
“Why don’t you make that call and set up the meeting with the maids who clean the family quarters?”
Stone picked up the phone and called Fair Sutherlin’s direct line.
“Ms. Sutherlin’s office, this is Charlotte Kirby,” a woman said.
“This is Stone Barrington, Ms. Kirby. Is Ms. Sutherlin available?”
“She’s got somebody in there at the moment,” the secretary said.
“Would you tell h
er that I’d be grateful if she would set up a meeting with the staff who clean the president’s family quarters?”
“Certainly, I will.”
“Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“I’ll tell her that, and I’ll probably be the one setting up the meeting. May I reach you at the Hay-Adams, Mr. Barrington?”
“Yes. And thank you, Ms. Kirby.”
“You’re very welcome, Mr. Barrington.” She hung up.
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