Collateral Damage (Stone Barrington 25)

“Okay,” Stone said, “when’s the wedding?”

“Don’t rush me,” Dino said.

“Who’s rushing you?” Stone asked.

“Yeah, who’s rushing you?” Viv echoed. “How about a week from tomorrow in the police chapel?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Holly chipped in.

“What’s the hurry?” Dino asked. “I haven’t even gotten used to being engaged yet.”

“You’re not supposed to get used to it,” Holly said. “That way lies delay after delay.”

“She has a point, Dino,” Stone said, patting him on the shoulder in a fatherly manner.

“But where are we going to live?” Dino asked plaintively.

“Last time I checked,” Viv said, “and that was this morning, you have an apartment, I have an apartment. Take your pick.”

“Well, you know I’m not going to pick yours,” Dino said.

“Good, that leaves yours.”

“It’s not big enough—it’s a bachelor apartment, for God’s sake.”

“It’s plenty big,” Viv said.

“There’s not enough closet space for your underwear, let alone everything else.”

“I don’t intend to wear much underwear for a while,” Viv said. “That will leave room for my other stuff.”

“You could get rid of some of those old suits that are moldering away in your closets,” Stone said. “You’ve had some of them since high school.”

“Those are perfectly good clothes that I’ll wear again,” Dino protested.

“Not as long as the trousers won’t button,” Stone pointed out.

“There’s another alternative,” Viv said. “We could sell both our apartments and buy a bigger one.”

Dino seemed struck dumb.

“Aha, you’ve got him,” Holly said, giggling.

“I’m thinking it over,” Dino said.

The others stared at him, determined to wait him out. Dino squirmed.

—

Jasmine turned into the street and spotted the black SUV immediately. She took the 9mm silenced pistol from her handbag and shoved it between her legs. Habib would shortly be behind her.

She coasted to a stop inches from the SUV’s blackened windows, rolled her own window down, and yelled, “Excuse me!” Nothing happened. It must be very thick, armored glass, she thought. She reached out the window and rapped very hard on it with her ring. A moment later, the window slid halfway down.

“Yes?” a wary voice asked.

“Excuse me, could you direct me—” Then she took the silenced 9mm from between her legs and shot them both in the head.

—