Collateral Damage (Stone Barrington 25)

“Terrific,” Dino said. “Place called The Albany, on New Providence. Lap of luxury.”

“You deserve it. How did Viv like the place?”

“She wants to live there.”

“I’ll bet she does.”

“How’s Holly?”

“Busier than you would believe.”

“Yeah, I caught the president’s speech on TV. Any leads on Jasmine?”

“Not yet, but the commissioner has really turned out the troops in the search for her. Something’s got to break soon.”

“I’ll see what I can do about that when I get to the office tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ve got some news.”

“Shoot.”

“Viv and I are going to get legal.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“I kid you not. She’s turning in her papers tomorrow. She’s got her twenty in, so she’ll get her pension.”

“How about you?”

“Me? Turn in my papers? You must be hallucinating.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“We’re working on that. It’ll be soon.”

“Why don’t the two of you come over here tomorrow night, and I’ll crack a bottle of champagne and cook dinner for us.”

“Deal, but it’ll have to be late. We’ve got something to do early. Nine be okay?”

“Nine it is. See you then.” Stone hung up and turned to Holly, who was just coming out of her dressing room, beautifully naked. “That was Dino. He and Viv are just back from the Bahamas, and they’re going to get married.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Neither did I, but they’re coming to dinner tomorrow night at nine, so you can grill them about it.”

“I’ll do that.” A phone began to ring in Holly’s dressing room. “I have to get that,” she said. She went back and answered her cell phone.

“Good evening. It’s Lance.”

“Hey, Lance, what’s up?”

“Quite a lot, actually.”

“You’re not going to get me out of bed, are you?”

“No, nothing like that. I had dinner with the president and first lady tonight. I just got in.”

“I saw them when they were in New York,” she said.

“They invited me over to watch him deliver his address to the nation, then dinner. Did you see it?”