"Thank you, Manolo, that's all." He took a chair. "So, to what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
"We just want to see Mrs. Calder," Durkee said.
"She won't be answering any questions," Stone replied. "Surely, you knew that."
"We had a tip that she was in New York," Durkee said. "Show her to me; I'm getting tired of waiting."
Arrington chose that moment to enter the room. "Stone," she said drowsily, "what's this about? I was asleep."
"Sorry to wake you, Mrs. Calder," Durkee said.
"Are you satisfied?" Stone asked.
"I guess so."
Stone turned Arrington around and led her to the bedroom door. "You can go back to bed," he said. "Are you going to want dinner later, or do you want to just sleep?"
"I want to sleep," she said.
"Do you want Dr. Drake?"
"No, I think I'll be all right in the morning." She left the room, and Stone closed the door behind her.
He turned back to the two cops. "A tip? What kind of tip?"
"An anonymous call," Durkee said. "A woman. Said the lady had jumped bail."
Stone shook his head. "As long as you're here, tell me something."
"What's that?"
"Why haven't you interviewed the gardener, Cordova?"
"We have no reason to," Durkee said. "He's not a suspect."
"Do you think he might be connected to the footprint you found outside the back door to the house?"
Durkee and Bryant exchanged a glance. "Nah," Durkee said. "Anybody could have made it."
"A size-twelve Nike, and anybody could have made it?"
"Our investigation has not found the footprint or the gardener to be relevant," Durkee said. "Anyway, Cordova's in Mexico, and wed never find him there."
"Have you made any effort?" Stone demanded.
"I told you, he's not relevant to our investigation. The murderer is in that bedroom."
Bryant spoke up. "Let's get out of here."
"By the way, Mr. Barrington, what are you doing here?" Durkee asked, with a smirk.
"I was working in the guest house," Stone replied. "I'm one of her lawyers."
"Nice work, if you can get it," Bryant said.
Stone opened the door to the study. "Manolo," he called, "show these officers the door, please." He turned to the two detectives. "And don't come back here again, without a warrant. You won't be let in."
The detectives left, and when Stone was sure they were off the property, he went into the