Worst Fears Realized (Stone Barrington 5)

“Probably at my parents’ country house, in Hampshire, but they have a town house, too. I’ll call them when we get home and find out where to send the papers.”

Stone drove home, happily thinking of his first trip abroad, but his eyes constantly flicked to the rearview mirror.

32

S TONE AND SARAH WERE DRESSING FOR her opening. “I spoke to Mother this afternoon,” Sarah

said, “and she suggested we come straight to the country house. I think that’s best, don’t you? We can just relax and do some sailing.”

“Sounds good to me,” Stone replied, pulling his black bow tie snug. He slipped into his dinner jacket. “What sort of sailing?”

“The house is on the Solent, the strip of water that separates the Isle of Wight from the rest of England. Daddy keeps a cruising boat nearby, in the Beaulieu River. Do you sail?”

“I did some sailing as a kid, at a summer house on Martha’s Vineyard, belonging to the parents of a friend. I’ve chartered in the Caribbean, too, but the last time, I didn’t get much sailing done.”

“This is going to be wonderful, Stone,” she said, turning so he could zip up her dress. “I haven’t been home for three years, and I do so love it in Hampshire. I’m happiest on the water, I think.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“How do I look?” she asked, turning for inspection.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” he replied. “The dress is spectacular, too.”

“And you, sir, look like a prince,” she said, straightening his tie. “I’ve never seen you in a dinner jacket, you know.”

“I didn’t even own a dinner jacket before you went to Italy.”

“You should wear it all the time; it makes you even more handsome.”

Stone took her arm and guided her downstairs. “We’re being driven this evening,” he said.

“You’ve hired a chauffeur?”

“Sort of a chauffeur; he’s an ex-cop named Bob Berman, who does various investigative jobs for me now and then.”

“I suppose he’ll be armed,” she said with a trace of disgust.

“I think that’s best.”

“What other measures have you taken?”

“Anderson and Kelly will be in a car in the street; Bob will watch the back door, where we’ll enter the gallery, and Dino will be inside with us.”

“I really think all this is unnecessary, Stone.”

“You won’t have to think about it anymore after tonight.”

“Good.”

They arrived in the garage, and Stone introduced Sarah to Bob Berman, a short, well-built man in his late forties. They got into the backseat, and Bob took the wheel and backed out of the garage.

“Bob, I’ve built in some extra time; take a circuitous route, so the cops behind us can be sure we’re not being tailed.”

“Right, Stone,” Berman said. “Are you packing?”

“Ah, no,” Stone replied.

“Whatever you say.”