Dirt (Stone Barrington 2)

“It was hand-delivered,” Alma said.

Stone opened the package and found a new Rolex Oyster-quartz, with his name engraved on the back. He picked up the phone and dialed.

“Hello, Amanda.”

“Hello, Stone.”

“You shouldn’t have bought me a watch; really, you shouldn’t have.”

“You lost your old one in my service,” Amanda said. “It was the very least I could do. I hope you won’t upset me by trying to return it.”

“No, I won’t do that. Thank you very much for the watch.”

“Is it identical to yours?”

“The face is different, but I like it better.”

“I’m so glad.”

Stone took a deep breath. “Amanda, we’ve come to the point in this investigation where I’ve got to question Martha.”

“Stone, I’ve told you, I don’t want her bothered.”

“This is how it is,” Stone said. “She’s been seeing someone, a man who calls himself Jonathan Dryer.”

“The name doesn’t ring a bell,” Amanda replied.

“It may not even be his name, but that’s what he’s been using. Dryer may very well be connected with the man in California who told Allan Peebles his name was Geoffrey Power, so the two of them may be behind the DIRT business.”

“I see,” Amanda said.

“What’s more, Dryer may have burgled a number of apartments around town, and he could even be mixed up in a murder.”

“If that’s true, why haven’t you had him arrested?” Amanda asked.

“Two reasons: right now, this is all just supposition; we don’t have any hard evidence. Also, we don’t know where Dryer is; he moved out of his apartment. Martha may know him better than anyone else we’re aware of, so it’s crucial that we get as much evidence as possible from her about Dryer. She may even know his whereabouts.” Stone knew this was probably not true, but he needed to push Amanda on this. “I think it would be better for Martha if I talked to her rather than the police doing it.”

“Well, I certainly don’t want the police grilling her,” Amanda said. “She’d go to pieces.”

“I’ll be gentle with her, I promise.”

“No.”

“Amanda…”

“I’ll talk to her myself.”

“Amanda…”

“I’ll get more out of her than you can; I’ve been a journalist all my adult life, and I know how to conduct an interview. Also, Martha is afraid of me.”

“Amanda, I really think it would be better if I talked to her.”

“No, Stone; I will do it, and that’s final. Is there anything in particular you want me to ask her?”

“We want as much information about Dryer as possible – present whereabouts, friends, relatives, family background, personal history. We need to know everything she knows. If she tries to deny knowledge of him, tell her she was seen going into Dryer’s apartment, and that we have taped conversations between the two of them.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get everything out of her.”