“Don’t count on it,” Stone said.
They trundled off down the fairway in their carts, playing at a good pace, now and then crossing South County Road.
“This is the most urban golf I’ve ever played,” Stone said. “Usually, on a golf course, you don’t have to worry about being hit by a car.”
“The Breakers has another course west of here,” Callie said. “Maybe we’ll play that one next time.”
They played on, occasionally running into a foursome in which Callie knew someone. Two people knew Liz and chatted with her.
“Word’s getting out,” Callie said. “You shouldn’t even try to keep a secret in this town, but we’re advertising. Liz, you’re the subject of much conversation since being seen with Thad at his party.”
“Grand,” Liz said.
They finished their round, went back to the clubhouse, had a beer, stowed their clubs in the two cars and prepared to depart the Breakers. Stone opened his cell phone and tapped in a number. “Okay, Dan, we’ve made our appearance at the Breakers, and we’re ready to move on to part two of our plan.”
“My guys are parked just down the road,” Griggs said.
“Tell them not to crowd the girls. We don’t want Bartlett picking up on cops.”
“Bartlett left the Colony half an hour ago, and he’s having lunch on Worth Avenue.”
“They’ll go shopping, then,” Stone said. “Dino and I will wait back at the yacht.”
“Right,” Griggs said.
Stone ended the call. “Okay, ladies, you are sentenced to Worth Avenue shopping for at least two hours. Liz, if you recognize Paul, don’t let on, just tell Callie so she can confirm who he is. You’ve got my cell phone number if you need to reach me.”
“I’d feel better if you and Dino came along,” Liz said.
“He knows us both, so we can’t do that. We’d just scare him off.”
“Oh, all right,” Liz said, disconsolately. She got into the car with Callie, and they drove off.
“There goes our goat,” Dino said. “But even if she makes him, Griggs isn’t going to have any grounds for an arrest.”
“Lundquist does, though. He can always bust him for the driver’s license, and that will at least get him out of our hair.”
“For the time being,” Dino said. “This guy ain’t going to go away easy.”
“You have a point,” Stone agreed.
They drove back to the yacht and waited. Dino got into a swimsuit and took up a strategic position on a chaise on the afterdeck, a rum and tonic at his elbow.
“You got anything to read?” he asked Stone.
Stone went into the saloon and came back with the novel Tumult that he had read a few days before. “Try this,” he said, handing it to Dino. “It’s very good.”
Dino was soon rapt, and Stone dozed on a nearby chaise, protecting his fair skin from the sun
under an awning.
Stone woke up with Callie shaking him. “Huh?” he said, sleepily.
“We’re back,” Callie said.
Stone sat up. “Anything happen?”
“We saw him.”