Unnatural Acts (Stone Barrington 23)

Joan buzzed.

“Yes?”

“Dino on one.”

Stone pressed the button. “Hey, Dino.”

“We need to talk,” Dino said. “Elaine’s, eight-thirty?”

“Dino,” Stone said sadly, “take a deep breath. Elaine’s is no more, remember?” Stone could hear the sound of Dino smiting his forehead.

“Jesus, I’ve got to get my head on straight.”

“Where shall we go?” Stone asked.

“I have no idea,” Dino said.

“I know how you feel. How about P.J. Clarke’s?”

“Right,” Dino said, sounding relieved. “Eight-thirty.”

“You book,” Stone replied. “They don’t hold a table for us at Clarke’s.”

“Not yet,” Dino said, then hung up.

8

Herbie Fisher arrived at Mike Freeman’s Strategic Services office in exactly fifteen minutes and was shown in.

“Good afternoon, Herbie,” Mike said, shaking his hand and waving him to a seat.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Freeman.”

“Please call me Mike.”

“Yessir, Mike.”

Freeman consulted a computer monitor on his desk. “Well, let’s see: Dink Brennan managed to steal back his wallet and cash before departing the Winwood Farm van, by the simple device of opening a rear door and jumping out when the van stopped for a light. Dink, it seems, is fleet of foot.

“His roommate, Parker Mosely, who was returning to the dorm as Dink was driven away, followed the van and has confessed to picking him up upon his escape from the van.

“Dink’s most likely destination is his girlfriend’s parents’ country house in Washington, Connecticut. Mr. Mosely did not give us that information, but his mien on being asked about it gave my people to understand that that is where he might be. The girlfriend’s name is Carson Cullers, and her parents are Robert and Louise Cullers, of Ten-Ten Fifth Avenue, New York. They were apparently not aware of this spontaneous use of their country place.”

Herbie was in awe. “Jesus, you found out all that in fifteen minutes?”

“When you have good people in appropriate places it is remarkable what they can learn in fifteen minutes,” Freeman said. “Incidentally, Dink has already reported the loss of his credit cards to the various companies, and replacements have been overnighted to him. We were unable to ascertain the address to which they were sent-that would take us another day, at least-but it seems likely they went to the Kirby Road house in Washington. Two of my people are en route there from Hartford and should arrive in another hour or so.”

“There doesn’t seem to be much left for me to do, does there?”

“I suppose not. If my people find him in Washington, you may be sure that he will have been returned to Winwood Farm by dinnertime.”

“That’s great.”

“Herbie, judging from what I have learned, you did a very fine job today. Dink’s being returned to Winwood Farm is entirely due to the self-commitment letter you required him to sign. That was a very smart move, as was your obtaining a d

urable power of attorney. I’ll see that Bill Eggers is aware of that.”

“Thank you, Mike, that would be a load off my mind.”