Kisser (Stone Barrington 17)

“No; times were good when he bought it. He paid a million two, and I sold it for four and a half million.”

“So, you’ve got several million dollars squirreled away.”

“Winter always comes,” she said.

“What is he so mad about?” Stone asked.

“The fact that I left him and the size of the award. It amounted to half of what he had.”

“He was surprised that you divorced him after he beat you up?”

“Not surprised, I think, just angry. It made the papers, and that made him look bad. He’s angry about the award, because he wouldn’t have given me a dime, unless he had been forced to. He’s mad, too, because he knows that he could have settled for less than the judge gave me. That really got him angry. That and the fact that, in the real estate crunch, he’s lost most of what he had left.”

“Does he have anything to gain by killing you? Insurance, maybe?”

“No.”

“So, it’s just irrational anger?”

“That’s what he’s good at.”

“You said you don’t know his address in Atlanta?”

“That’s right.”

The doorbell rang on his phone, and Stone pressed the speaker button. “Yes?”

“It’s Bob. I’ve got Carrie’s luggage, and the Leahys are here.”

“Take the Leahys to the kitchen. There’s coffee already made and Danish in the fridge. We’ll be down in a few minutes.” He pressed the button again and turned to Carrie. “We’d better get dressed; Bob is going to want to brief you about your security.”

THEY FOUND the three men sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking coffee and eating pastries.

“Morning, Carrie,” Cantor said. “This is Willie and Jimmy Leahy.”

The two husky men waved.

“Tell her what she needs to know,” Stone said, and they both sat down.

Bob handed Carrie his card. “Your security code is written on the back: 1357. I tried to make it easy. You’ve got a keypad in your living room, next to the front door, another in the kitchen, next to the back door, and another upstairs, next to your bed.” He handed her a bunch of keys. “I’ve changed the locks on your front and rear doors; the old ones were worthless. All the exterior windows are alarmed.”

“Got it,” she sai

d. “Can I change the code?”

He handed her an instruction book. “Easily. The instructions are in here.”

“Thank you, Bob. Send me your bill.”

“Will do. Now, let me explain Willie and Jimmy. One of them drives the car; one sits in the back with you. The car doors will be locked at all times. When you get somewhere, say to the theater, one opens the door for you. Don’t ever, ever open your own door. He comes inside with you and remains close, while the other deals with the car and then joins you inside or just sits in the car, depending on the circumstances.

“One of them stays in your apartment at night, near the stairs up to your bedroom. They’ll take turns. They’re both armed, and they’re very good at dealing with assaults without killing the perpetrator, but they may have to. You’ll have to leave that to their judgment.”

“I’m happy to do that,” Carrie said.

“If you go to someone’s home, say a dinner party, one will stay outside their door; there’ll be no intrusion into your privacy unless it’s necessary to protect you.”

“Thank you.”