D.C. Dead (Stone Barrington 22)

“He knows of a rumor that Kendrick was having affairs. He doesn’t know with whom yet, unless the grapevine in this town is even faster than I thought.”

“It is,” she said. “It moves faster than the speed of light, defying science.”

“Then you should have Milly Hart’s address in a millisecond,” Stone said.

“Hang on,” she said, and put him on hold.

“You making any progress?” Dino asked. “With the address, I mean?”

“I’ll have it in a millisecond,” Stone said.

Fair came back on the line. “She lives at the Watergate apartments. Who is she?”

“Didn’t the White House operator fill you in?”

“I asked only for her address.”

?

??Then you know just as much about her as I do,” Stone said. “See you tomorrow night.” He hung up. “She was flabbergasted to hear that Brix was having affairs,” he said to Dino.

“I guess I’m the only guy in town who isn’t,” Dino said. “I always assume everybody is fucking everybody.”

“That saves time,” Stone said. “Can you find the Watergate apartments on the map?”

Dino consulted it. “Right by the Potomac River,” he said. “I’m on my way.” He put the car in gear.

“Then I’ll come along for the ride.”

“I ask>ENTRANCE TO THE APARTMENT house required a stop at a reception desk.

“Milly Hart,” Stone said to the uniformed doorman.

“Who shall I say is calling?”

“Mr. Stone Barrington and Lieutenant Dino Bacchetti.”

The man wrote down the names, then dialed a number and spoke for a moment. He covered the receiver with his hand. “She doesn’t know you,” he said.

“May I speak with her?” Stone asked. The man handed him the phone. “Hello, Ms. Hart?”

“Yes?” It was a low voice, nice to listen to.

“This is Stone Barrington. I am here to speak to you at the request of the president of the United States.”

“Really? Then give the phone to the doorman.”

Stone did so, and the doorman gave him the apartment number and pointed him toward the elevators.

“We know nothing about this lady?” Dino said. “Nothing you haven’t told me?”

“Zip, Dino.”

“You sure about that?”

“Dino, you’re sounding more like a wife at every turn.”

The door opened directly into a handsome foyer, where a large arrangement of fresh flowers sat on an antique mahogany table.