Cold Paradise (Stone Barrington 7)

“I’ll feel her out,” Liz said. “So to speak. Don’t worry. I’ll be subtle.”

“Now listen,” Stone said, but then he looked up to see Callie returning with dessert. He shot Liz a glance and turned to receive a warm crème brûlée. “Looks wonderful,” Stone said.

Callie sat down. “So what have you two been talking about?” she asked, looking at Liz, then at Stone.

“Sex,” Liz said.

Stone gulped.

“What about sex?”

“Are you for it, or agin’ it?”

Callie laughed. “I’m all for it,” she said.

Stone felt panic rising in his chest. This conversation was out of control—out of his control, anyway. At that moment, Juanito appeared with the cordless phone. Stone could have kissed him.

“For you, Mr. Barrington,” the steward said.

Stone took the phone. “Hello?”

“Stone, it’s Dan Griggs. I’m sorry to call you so late.”

“That’s all right, Dan. What’s up?”

“One of my men—a plainclothesman—has spotted somebody matching the description of this Paul Manning.”

“Where?”

“Downtown, at a bar and restaurant called Taboo.” He gave Stone the address.

“He’s still there?”

“At the bar, talking to a woman. You want me to have him picked up?”

“No, Dan, I’ll go down there myself.”

“Okay. My man will be around if you need backup. His name is Detective Riley—short, good-looking, wears sharp suits.”

“I’ll call you later,” Stone said. He hung up and turned to the two women. “Something’s come up. I have to go downtown,” he said.

“I’ll come with you,” Callie said.

Stone had to think only for a nanosecond. He didn’t trust the two of them alone together. “All right,” he said. “Liz, do you mind?”

“No, go ahead. I’m going to have a brandy and turn in.”

“Let’s go,” he said to Callie. He led the way off the yacht and to the car.

“Where are we going?” Callie asked.

“You know a bar called Taboo?”

“Sure.”

“Get me there.”

“Okay, but why are we going there?”