“Sure,” Dino said.
Teddy had moved everything he needed out of his workshop, and now he turned on a fan he had rigged up that blew dust around the room. His cell phone buzzed on his belt.
“Yes?”
“It’s Thomas. Stone and Holly are determined to go up to Black Mountain, looking for you. I’m coming with them.”
“How much time do I have?”
“Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes.”
“Slow them down if you can.”
“I’ll try.”
Teddy hung up and took his things outside.
56
Thomas hung up and called Sir Leslie Hewitt.
“Hello?”
“Leslie, it’s Thomas. Have you heard?
“Yes, it’s all over the TV. I was astonished that he got Winston Sutherland. How did that happen??
?
“I haven’t spoken with him about it yet, but my guess is he had the opportunity and took it.”
“Well, that advances things rather more than we had planned, doesn’t it?”
“It certainly does, and I think we’d better get the group together tonight to discuss our options. We can’t make any moves until after Winston’s funeral, but we’d better be talking to a lot of people before they bury him.”
“Do you have any idea where Teddy is now?”
“I just spoke to him; I assume he’s either at Irene’s or in his workshop. Stone Barrington and Holly Barker are going up there now looking for him, and I’m going with them.”
“Will they be armed?”
“I don’t know.”
“Thomas, we can’t let Teddy be caught.”
“I’ll do what I can to get him off the island.”
Leslie paused for a moment. “Thomas, I’m not sure you’re taking my meaning.”
“I’m sorry, Leslie, what am I missing?”
“Certainly, it would be good if Teddy immediately got off the island, but if that seems in any way in doubt, then you can’t allow him to be taken by the police. I don’t know what the ramifications are of having him taken by this CIA woman, but I can’t think that that would be to our benefit, either.”
“For all practical purposes, Teddy is off the island now; his yacht sailed, and I’ve asked the fellow we put aboard to be sure to be seen at the western end of St. Martin, so the police can confirm that Harold left yesterday.”
“I think, in view of Winston’s rather sudden demise, we may have to replan a bit.”
“What do you suggest?”