Unnatural Acts (Stone Barrington 23)

“Follow me,” Mike said, and led the way into the house, which was being enlarged to serve as the reception area and main restaurant. They walked down the central hallway and into the back garden, then around the swimming pool, to where a building was being framed.

“Here we are,” Mike said.

They walked through the rooms on plywood subflooring. The sound of electric hammers and saws was everywhere.

“This is good,” Stone said. In the original deal he had negotiated for Arrington to have her own house on the property. “It’s not as big as the old house, but it’s plenty big.”

“It’s your house now,” Mike said. “And Peter’s.”

“And yours, Mike, and yours, too, Dino, whenever you’re out here.”

“Free?” Dino asked, amazed.

“You can pay your own room service bill,” Stone said.

“That’s a pretty good deal,” Dino said, laughing. “How many bedrooms?”

“Four bedrooms, six baths, and two powder rooms, plus two staff rooms. Also, living room, dining room, kitchen, and a very nice study/library.”

“Are you going to let them rent it when you’re not here?” Mike asked.

“Maybe. It’s arranged so that the master suite can be locked off from paying guests.”

“That will help with the cash flow,” Mike pointed out. He found the architect and the construction foreman, and they began answering questions.

Later, they checked into a three-bedroom cottage at the Bel-Air Hotel.

“What did you think about how things are going?” Stone asked Mike.

“I was impressed,” Mike said. “Everything is on schedule. Frankly, I hadn’t expected that.”

There was a large bowl of fruit on the entrance hall table, and a note addressed to Stone, from the manager. He read it aloud to Mike and Dino. “The Bel-Air welcomes the competition,” it said. “We’ll do our best to show you how it’s done.”

Everybody had a good laugh.

On the living room coffee table was a large flower arrangement, with an envelope. Stone picked it up and handed it to Dino. “It’s addressed to you.”

“It can’t be,” Dino said. “Nobody knows I’m here.”

“Nevertheless, it has your name on it,” Stone replied.

&n

bsp; Dino took the envelope and opened it. His face fell.

“What?” Stone asked.

Dino handed him the note inside.

Stone read it: “I hope you had a good trip,” it said. “See you when you return.” It was signed, simply, “S.”

“Uh-oh,” Stone said.

“Yeah,” Dino agreed.

“What is it?” Mike asked.

“Nothing much,” Stone replied, “just a note from a serial killer of Dino’s acquaintance.”