Family Jewels

25

They arrived at the Eagle residence at the cocktail hour, and Juan brought them drinks.

Nicky waited until they were served, then asked his question. “Did you see Carrie?”

Stone took a deep breath. “Yes, but I was too late.”

“To late for what?”

“To keep her safe.”

“You mean...”

“Yes. I found her at her house, on the bed. The medical examiner for the county said she had been beaten and strangled.”

Nicky’s drink slipped from his grasp and spilled on the floor; Juan rushed over with a towel. “If only...” he began, then stopped.

“There are always ‘if onlys,’” Stone said. “You didn’t do anything wrong, just what she asked you to do.”

“I heard her voice on the phone, but I couldn’t understand her.”

“She was probably killed shortly after that. We couldn’t have gotten there in time, and even if we’d been able to warn her — well, she’d been warned before.”

“Where is Harvey?”

“In the wind. The sheriff up there put out a statewide all-points bulletin on him, and the airports in Santa Fe and Albuquerque are being watched. He could be anywhere.”

Ed Eagle spoke for the first time. “Anything I can do to help?”

“If you think of something, let me know, Ed. I’ve been over it, and I think what can be done is being done. One thing, though — I’ve got to call Dino. Excuse me.” He got up and went into the study.

“Bacchetti.”

“It’s Stone.”

“Where are you? I left a couple of messages.”

“I’m in Santa Fe, at Ed Eagle’s house.”

“What took you out there?”

“Just a getaway. Yesterday was Susannah’s birthday, and there was a big party last night. There’s a guy named Nicky Chalmers here, a new client of mine and a friend of Carrie Fiske. He was shopping in Santa Fe yesterday and saw Harvey Biggers in the plaza. Nicky finally admitted that Carrie was out here — about fifty miles north, a place called Abiquiu.”

“Where Georgia O’Keeffe painted.”

“Right. I called her, but the cell service was poor, so I went up there this morning and found her dead.”

“Shit.”

“Yes, exactly. The police are looking everywhere for Biggers, but I think he’s gone. I think it might be a good idea for you to have the airports covered. The guy’s about six-six and thickly built. He shouldn’t be hard to spot, and it makes sense that he’d go back to New York.”

“How long has she been dead?”

“Maybe twenty-four hours.”

“If he’s coming back here he’s had plenty of opportunity to get past the airports, so that would be a waste of time. I’ll send some people around to his place — maybe he just went home.”

“Could be — it’s not as though he’s been behaving rationally.”

“Give Ed Eagle my best.”

“Right. See you.” They both hung up, and Stone went back to the living room. “Okay, New York is covered. Nicky, think about this — is there somewhere else where Harvey might run?”

Nicky thought about it, then shook his head. “I don’t know him well enough to know where that would be.”

“Do you know if he has any family?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Neither does Carrie, for that matter.”

“He probably has a rental car,” Ed said. “He could have just continued north to Denver. He could fly just about anywhere from there.”

“Nicky, did Carrie own any other properties other than New York and East Hampton?”

“She has a house in Palm Beach, on Ocean Drive.”

“Does anybody live there when she’s away?”

Nicky shook his head. “Just a housekeeper, but she’s not a live-in.”

Stone’s cell phone rang, but the calling number was blocked. “Hello?”

“Is this Stone Barrington?” A woman’s voice.

“Yes.”

“This is Monique Sullivan, at CNN. I’m calling about the death of Carrie Fiske, and I understand you’re her attorney.”

“Hang on a minute. Excuse me, I’d better take this.”

He walked into the study. “Ms. Sullivan?”

“Yes. Can you tell me what happened? And don’t spare the details.”

“You should call Sheriff Martinez at the Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office. He’s the man in charge.”

“I’ve already spoken to him, and he didn’t give me much. All I know is she’s dead and they’re looking for her ex-husband, one Harvey Biggert.”

“Biggers. That’s what I know, too. It would be helpful if you could report that on the air.”

“Love to, but I need details. Where are you right now?”

“I’m in Santa Fe.”

“Great, so am I. Could we meet for a drink?”

“I’m sorry, I’m spending the evening with friends. You can call me tomorrow. Goodbye.” He hung up, and his phone began to ring again, almost immediately. He switched it off and put it back into his holster.