Worst Fears Realized (Stone Barrington 5)

“Who else knows?”

“Just a girl, who’s coming up tomorrow, Bill Eggers, and Vance Calder and Arrington.”

“They’re in town?”

“No, they’re up here; Vance has a house less than five miles from mine. I’m having dinner with them tomorrow night.”

Dino gave a long chuckle. “She can’t stay away from you, can she?”

“Nothing like that; V

ance wants us all to be friends. Come to think of it, she said something to that effect in the last conversation I had with her, last year.”

“You’re a braver man than I am, Stone, going to their house all by yourself.”

“I’m not going by myself; I’ll be well armed with a beautiful woman.”

“Anybody I know?”

“Nah; a new lady.” He half expected Dino to call him on the lie.

“This is all too civilized for me,” Dino said.

“What are you doing about Palmer’s opening on tomorrow night?”

“Maximum effort; the department finally believes me about this business.”

“It’s about time. Have you put out an APB on Mitteldorfer?”

“I’m not at that point, yet; we don’t really have any hard evidence on him, nothing to tie him to these crimes but our suppositions and a lot of bodies.”

“I think you ought to get his most recent prison photograph into the Sunday papers, along with the artist’s drawing of the hit man. You can say that Mitteldorfer may be in danger, and you want to talk with him. At least, that’ll get his face out there, and you might get a tip from a citizen.”

“Good idea; I don’t think I’ll ask the brass; I know a guy at the Times. How’s the house?”

“The stuff Sarah and I bought all arrived, and I’ve spent the afternoon making it habitable. Still needs a lot of pictures and lamps and other things.”

“Have a good weekend; when you coming back?”

“I don’t know; I may not come back at all; at least, not until Mitteldorfer has popped you, and I have to look for him, myself.”

“Don’t hold your breath, kid; he’s not going to get a crack at Dino. The department has lent me a special car, not unlike your own.”

“A Mercedes?”

“No, just a Crown Victoria that could take a hit from a tank. They’ve been using it to transport VIPs to and from the UN.”

“That’s good news.”

“You bet it is. I gotta go.”

“Keep me posted.”

Dino hung up, and so did Stone. Immediately, the phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“Stone? It’s Carolyn Klemm; how are you coming with the house?”