“You mean, you think Manning may try to kill me?”
Stone nodded. “It’s a possibility we can’t ignore.”
“But you’ve already taken security precautions.”
“Yes, but how long are you willing to live under those circumstances?”
“I see,” Thad said. “You mean that he might try to kill me at some time in the future?”
“Yes.” Stone was having trouble getting the rest of it out. “Thad, I think that, under the circumstances, you should postpone the wedding.”
Thad looked alarmed. “For how long?”
“Until Manning is caught and … interrogated.”
“Gosh, I don’t know if we could do that at this point without causing a major hullabaloo in town. We’ve already invited two hundred people from Palm Beach and all over the country. Some of them have already arrived.”
“Of course, Manning may be arrested today or tomorrow.”
“That would certainly solve the problem, wouldn’t it?”
Stone took a deep breath. “Not necessarily.”
Thad looked at him for a long moment. “You mean Manning might have help? An accomplice?”
“It’s a very real possibility.” Thank God, Stone thought. He’s got it at last.
“Do you have any idea who it might be?”
No, he hadn’t gotten it. “Thad, I want you to understand that what I’m about to say is conjecture, but it’s a conjecture that has to be made.”
“So, make it.”
“There’s only one person that we’re aware of who knows both Manning and you.”
Thad’s brow wrinkled, then his face relaxed, and his mouth fell open. “You can’t mean …”
“As I say, it’s only conjecture at this point. We won’t know more until Manning is arrested, and it’s entirely possible that he won’t say anything then.”
“But that’s completely crazy,” Thad said.
“You may be right. But ask yourself this: Who profited from Winston Harding’s death?”
“Well, Manning, I guess. In some way. Revenge against Liz, maybe.”
“That’s a possibility. But there’s only one person who actually profited from Harding’s death.”
Thad didn’t seem to be able even to think it.
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Stone finally said it aloud. “That person is Liz.”
“No, no, no, no …” Thad’s voice trailed off.
“And if the two of you are married and anything should happen to you, she would profit a great deal more than she did from Winston Harding’s death.”
Thad’s body sagged as if air had been let out of it. He seemed unable to speak.