Swimming to Catalina (Stone Barrington 4)

“Nothing like mon justice,” Dino said with satisfaction. “Have you killed this Ippolito yet?”

“I’ve gotten a couple of licks in.” Stone told him about sinking the boat and setting Ippolito’s living room on fire.

Dino’s mouth dropped open. “Stone, have you gone out of your fucking mind? You’re committing crimes! That’s not the sort of thing you would do. It’s the sort of thing I would do. Congratulations, it’s nice to see you pissed off.”

“So, Lieutenant Bacchetti, you approve of my illegal actions?”

“Heartily. Let’s do some more.”

“Maybe; I’ve got something in mind.”

“What?”

“If I get pissed off again, I’ll let you know.”

“So what are you doing about Arrington?”

“Everything I can, which isn’t much. There’s no way to know where they’ve put her, and they could be moving her around.”

“I hope you didn’t tell the fucking FBI about her; they’d get her killed, for sure.”

“No. Rick and I have talked to a guy there who’s wired Barone Financial for sound; he knows somebody was snatched, but he doesn’t know who, and he’s keeping it unofficial.”

“Don’t tell the fuckers anything.”

“There may come a time when we’ll need the feds, you know.”

“I doubt it. You and I can figure this out; we’ve figured out worse.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Who was the broad who was leaving as I arrived?” Dino asked.

“Vance Calder’s secretary. We’ve become…close.”

“Don’t blame you a bit. She got a friend?”

“Dino, it’s one thing for your wife to cut your balls off, it’s quite another for her to cut mine off, and we both know she would do it if she found out I had anything to do with your getting laid out here.”

“You said you wouldn’t stand in my way.”

“I didn’t say I’d pimp for you.”

Dino sighed.

“Look, go have a swim have a massage, get over your jet lag. Lunch with Rick is at twelve-thirty in the outdoor cafe.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” Dino said.

Stone and Rick had been seated at a shady table for fifteen minutes before Dino showed up with a small blonde on his arm, his hair still wet from his swim. He gave her a kiss, patted her on her backside, and sent her on her way before sitting down.

“How you doing, Rick?” Dino asked, shaking his hand.

“Good, Dino, you?”

“Since the last hour, great! I met her at the pool; you should see her in a bikini!”

“Down, Dino, down,” Stone said.