The cops put Manning into their car.
“How about some dinner tonight?” Dino asked.
“Absolutely; we’ll celebrate.”
“Elaine’s at eight-thirty?”
“That will be great,” Stone replied.
Alma appeared in the garage. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is all right,” Stone said.
Late that night, Stone and Dino sat over the remains of their dinner at Elaine’s.
“All in all,” Stone said, “it’s been a very satisfying day.”
“Glad I could help,” Dino said. “That guy from Boston, the insurance dick, was in my office this afternoon. He’s a very happy man.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s going to get at least some of his money back from Allison Manning’s estate.”
“He’d better not count on it.”
“Why not?”
“Because, unless I miss my guess, that money has disappeared into the worldwide banking system and will never be seen again. Allison moved it the day before her trial.”
Dino looked at Stone sharply. “What was that stuff said about his wife not being dead?”
“I think Manning is still in denial.”
“Is she dead?”
Stone was still trying to figure out how to answer Dino’s question when Elaine came over to the table.
“Phone call for you, Stone,” she said, pointing at one of the two pay phones on the wall nearby.
“Excuse me, Dino,” Stone said. He got up and went to the phone. “Hello?” he said, sticking a finger in the other ear to blot out some of the noise.
“Stone?”
“Yeah? Who’s this?”
“Stone, this is Vance Calder.”
That stopped Stone in his tracks for a minute. “Hello, Vance,” he was finally able to say. “How’d you find me here?”
“There was no answer at your house, and I remembered that Arrington said you were at Elaine’s a lot. I took a chance.”
“How is Arrington, Vance?”
“That’s what I’m calling about, Stone. Arrington has disappeared.”
“What do you mean, disappeared?”
“Just that; she’s vanished.”