“I don’t have a ticket; I’m not flying today, she is.”
“May I see your passport?”
The police had his passport. “I’m afraid I didn’t bring it.”
“Some other identification?”
Stone dove into a pocket, then remembered it was empty. “Oh, God, I didn’t bring my wallet.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“This really is a sort of personal emergency.”
“I’m very sorry, sir, but I can’t let you through without a ticket or any identification.”
Then Stone heard a voice behind him. “It’s all right, mate, we’ll deal with this.”
Two men seized his arms and marched him back through the terminal. Stone looked at them and recognized the two detectives who had accompanied Evelyn Throckmorton the night before.
“Trying to catch a flight, were we, Mr. Barrington?” one of them said.
“No, I was trying to catch up with a friend who’s leaving on a noon flight.”
“Well, he’ll have plenty of time to make it,” the cop said.
“Do you think it might be possible for me to go after her? Can you vouch for me with the officer at the security gate? It’s very important that I speak to her.”
“I believe Detective Inspector Throckmorton told you last night that you were not to leave the country,” the cop said.
“But I wasn’t trying to leave.”
“You wouldn’t have made it without your passport, anyway.”
“Honestly, I was just trying to catch up with my friend.”
They were out the door, where Stone’s taxi was still waiting for him.
“That cab is waiting for me to go back to the Connaught,” he said.
“Never mind, we’ll give you a lift,” the cop replied.
“But I have to pay him.”
The cop stopped. “All right, pay him.”
“I don’t have any money with me; it’s back in my room at the Connaught.”
The cop sighed wearily. “I suppose you expect me to pay him.”
“Look, I’m not trying to leave the country; you can follow me back to the hotel.”
“Just a moment.” The cop produced a cellphone and stepped a few paces away. A moment later, he returned. “All right, Mr. Barrington, the detective inspector says you can return to the Connaught.”
“Thank you.”
“But don’t give us any more chases, all right?”
“Thank you again.” Stone got into the cab.