Worst Fears Realized (Stone Barrington 5)

“It’s all right,” Stone said. “It’s not your fault.” He turned to Dino. “I saw the guy pass me, but the hair…”

Dino went to the young man and tugged at his hair; the wig came away in his hand. He felt for a pulse. “He’s dead. Didn’t I mention the wig?” Dino asked.

“No, you didn’t.”

“The doorman reported that Hausman had grown hair overnight. Sorry, I forgot to pass that on. I was driving.”

“Forget it,” Stone said. He was feeling a little weak.

The flight attendant brought a clean towel and pressed it against the back of Stone’s shoulder. “Just lean back against the seat,” she said. “That will hold the towel in place.”

“You okay here?” Dino asked. “I want to search the rest of the airplane.”

“I’m okay,” Stone replied.

Dino beckoned to Sam Warren. They walked aft in the airplane, checking under seats and in the toilets. Shortly, Dino returned. “How you doing?”

“I’m fine, Dino; when can we get out of here?”

“You’re going to have to go to the emergency room,” Dino said.

“Well, I’m not going in an ambulance; you can drive me.”

“All right,” Dino said. “Miss?” he said to the flight attendant. “Can you get me a wheelchair?”

“I don’t need a wheelchair,” Stone said. “I can walk.”

“I’m not going to have you walking through the airport, covered with blood, then passing out in front of everybody,” Dino said.

“Did you get Mitteldorfer?” Stone asked.

“I didn’t see him; Andy and his people are checking the lounge and the corridors now. He may have made it out during the excitement.”

Two security people arrived with a stretcher and took Peter Hausman’s body away, leaving Stone and Dino alone on the airplane.

“You just sit tight,” Dino said. “I’m going to go find a wheelchair, then we’ll get you out of here.” He left Stone alone on the airplane.

Stone was feeling better after the shock of learning that he had been stabbed had passed. Twenty minutes had passed since the excitement, and he was even feeling a little drowsy. He pushed the recline button on his seat, which was at the rear of the first-class compartment, and tucked a pillow under his head. At least he could rest until they got him out of here.

Stone was nearly asleep when he heard the sound, which was very like snoring. He opened his eyes. How could he be snoring, when he wasn’t even asleep, yet? The sound persisted. Stone pressed a button, and his seat returned to a sitting position. He could still hear the snoring, and it seemed to be coming from behind him somewhere.

He got to his feet, somewhat unsteadily, and began to make his way down the aisle toward the rear of the airplane, listening. The snoring grew louder. Well back into the tourist section of the airplane, he stopped and looked up and to his left. The large overhead bin was closed. He reached up and opened it, then took Dino’s .38 from his belt and stepped back.

The snoring was coming from a raincoat stashed in the overhead bin. With the short gun barrel, Stone moved the coat out of the way. A middle-aged man with gray hair and a small beard lay on his back in the compartment, snoring loudly. At first, Stone didn’t recognize him.

Dino came back aboard the airplane, pushing a wheelchair. “Hey!” he called to Stone. “What are you doing back there? You shouldn’t be on your feet!”

“Come back here,” Stone called to him, “and bring your cuffs.”

Mitteldorfer jerked awake at the sound of Stone’s voice. He turned and looked at Stone, and recognition distorted his face. “You!” he screamed.

“Me!” Stone shouted back at him.

64

I T WAS AFTER 1:00 A.M., AND IT HAD BEGUN raining when Dino’s car stopped in front of Stone’s house. The emergency room had been a zoo. They had given him a local anesthetic, stitched him up, given him a tetanus shot, some antibiotics, and a little bottle of painkillers. It had taken Stone some time to convince his doctor that he would be better off at home than in the hospital.

“Thanks,” Stone said.