Cold Paradise (Stone Barrington 7)

“I take it from Joan’s reaction that I did something stupid?”

“It’s not your fault, Bill, but just how stupid were you?”

“Stupid enough to tell her you were in Palm Beach, before I noticed something about her. I stopped just short of telling her where you’re staying.”

“Thank God for small favors,” Stone muttered.

“What’s the matter with her, Stone? I thought she was just sick, but she sounded …”

“Exactly how did she sound?”

“Well, not deranged, exactly, but sort of other-worldly.”

“Does she know I’m doing work for Thad Shames?”

“I didn’t mention that.”

“Okay, Bill, thanks, and I’ll be in touch.” Stone punched off. “She doesn’t know where I’m staying.”

“Her sister does.”

“Oh, no. Mary Ann wouldn’t …”

“No, of course she wouldn’t, not if she were tortured, and Dolce is perfectly capable of torturing somebody to find out where you are.”

Stone turned into the driveway of the Shames mansion.

“Hey, pretty nice,” Dino said. “Do we have it to ourselves?”

“We’re not staying in the house; we’re out back.”

“Guesthouse?”

“Not exactly.”

“Uh-oh,” Dino said.

“Come on, let’s get the car unloaded and make a run for it.”

Two minutes later they had dashed up the gangplank of Toscana and were standing, panting, on the afterdeck, while puddles formed around them. Juanito appeared with some towels and two thick terry robes, and took the luggage.

“Maybe you could change into the robes here?” he said, as he padded off toward Dino’s cabin.

Stone and Dino emptied their pockets onto the table, including Dino’s badge and gun, and stripped. They had just kicked their clothing into a sodden pile when Callie appeared.

“Well, hi there, sailors!” she said to the two naked men.

Dino grabbed for his robe.

“This must be Dino,” Callie said. “I can always recognize a naked policeman.”

“Dino, this is Callie Hodges,” Stone said, getting into his own robe.

“How do you do,” Dino said, trying to muster some dignity.

“We have a ten-thirty tee time at the Breakers tomorrow,” she said.

“Great,” Dino said. “We can go there on the boat.”