Dead In The Water

CHAPTER 6

The coroner handed the envelope to Allison Manning. "Here is your husband's death certificate," he said. "Please accept my condolences."

"Thank you," Allison replied.

He turned toward Stone. "For what it's worth, I thought you did a very good job." He turned and walked away.

Allison handed the envelope to Stone. "You open it," she said.

Stone tore open the envelope and read the certificate.

"Well," Allison asked, "what was the verdict?"

"It's an open verdict," Stone said. "The jury felt it had insufficient information to assign a cause of death."

"And what does that mean to me,legally?"

"In my opinion," Stone said, "it means you should get the hell out of St.Marks right now."

"Do you mean you think Sir Winston might still come after me?"

"It's certainly possible," Stone replied.

"If you'll forgive me for butting in," Thomas Hardy said, "I think it's more than just possible."

"Thomas used to be a New York City policeman," Stone said, "and he knows how things work here. Thomas, do you have any idea what the airline schedule is?"

Thomas looked at his watch. "There's a daily flight out of Antigua for San Juan in an hour and a half, and you'll have to get Chester to fly her to Antigua."

"Who's Chester?" Allison asked.

"He flies a Cessna twin to Antigua, by arrangement," Thomas replied. "Would you like me to call him and the airlines?"

"Please," Stone said.

They sipped their drinks nervously while Thomas did his telephoning.

"You're on the flight from Antigua," Thomas said, hanging up. "Now let me see if I can raise Chester." He dialed another number. "Chester? You got room for one lady to Antigua, right smart? Good. She'll be along." He hung up. "You'd better get going," he said to Allison.

"I'll go get my things," she said, hopping off the barstool.

"Forget your things," Stone said. "I'm sure Sir Winston had the verdict before we did. If he wants you, the police could be here any minute."

Thomas put some car keys on the bar. "A cab could take a while to come; my car is out back." "I've got to get my passport," Allison said. "And a few other things."

"Run," Stone said. "Don't take a second longer than absolutely necessary.I'll get the car." She jogged off toward the marina.

"Thanks, Thomas," Stone said.

"You take the main road and turn right after about two miles," Thomas said. "There's a sign. Chester's airplane is white with blue stripes."

Stone ran to the rear of the restaurant, found the car, a new Toyota Camry, got it started, and drove around front. He looked toward the marina but saw nothing of Allison. "Jesus H. Christ!" he muttered, getting out of the car. He was halfway across the lawn when he saw Allison hurrying across toward him, carrying a duffel and a man's briefcase. Stone opened the door. "Let's go!"

Allison dived in and slammed the door. "I'm not accustomed to running from the law," she said.

"Don't say things like that," Stone replied, driving off. "As far as we know, the law has no interest in you. You've accomplished all the legal necessities in St.Marks, and you're leaving for home like any other tourist."

"Just in more of a hurry," Allison said. "Do you think they might come after me at home?"

"I think that if you were arrested, then ran, they probably would go for extradition, but since no charge has been made, well, there are no guarantees, but I think it's unlikely they'd come after you. If they do, my advice is to get the best lawyer you can and fight it tooth and nail. Would you like me to recommend a lawyer?"

"Yes, please."

"I'm of counsel to a firm in New York called Woodman and Weld."

"I've heard of it; very prestigious."

"Call Bill Eggers there. The firm probably has someone who specializes in this sort of thing, and if they don't, Bill can recommend the best man in town. If this happens, it's going to cost; how are you fixed for money?"

"I won't know that for sure until I've talked with Paul's lawyer and accountant, but I think I'll be all right. I can always sell the boat."

Stone turned right onto the airport road. "As soon as you get home, find a yacht broker and have him fly a ferry crew down here at the earliest possible moment to get the boat out of here."

"All right." She dug into her handbag and came up with a card. "Here's my number in Greenwich; will you call me when you get back? I'll buy you dinner."

"That might be tough to explain to the lady I live with," Stone said, "but I would like to know how things work out. I'll call you."

"So why isn't this lady with you?"

"She got snowed in. Oh, I hadn't thought of it, but the airports might still be closed up there. When you get to San Juan, check with the airlines. It might be best to spend a night there and wait for the weather in the Northeast to clear up."

"Thanks, I'll do that." She smiled at him. "Sure you don't want to come with me?"

"It's a lovely thought, but I've got a yacht charter here, and I hope Arrington will be here soon."

"My bad luck," she said.

God, Stone thought, you're supposed to be the grieving widow! He drove through the airport gates and toward a large hangar. The Cessna was parked in front of it, and the pilot who had flown him to St.Marks from Antigua was waiting. "There's Chester," Stone said.

"Thank God," she said.

Stone pulled up next to the plane, took her duffel and her briefcase, and stowed them in the baggage compartment. He walked back to the wing and held open the door for her. "You're on your way," he said.

An engine coughed to life, followed by another.

She slung an arm around his neck and gave him a much bigger and wetter kiss than he could have expected. "I'll never be able to thank you enough, but I'll try," she shouted over the roar of the engines. "Goodbye."

"Good-bye," Stone said. Then an unexpected sound reached his ears. He looked back toward the airport gate and saw a Jeep driving toward them, making some sort of strange siren noise. The vehicle skidded to a halt next to the airplane, and two starched and pressed black policemen got out. The officer gave them a casual salute with a swagger stick. "Mrs.Allison Manning, I presume?"

"Yes," she said.

"Good afternoon," he said, smiling, then handed her a document. "You are under arrest for the crime of murder. You will be charged tomorrow morning at ten o'clock at the courthouse in St. Marks City. Do you have any luggage?"

"No," Stone said quickly, "Mrs.Manning does not have any luggage." He took the document and looked at it; it appeared to be a properly drawn warrant. He turned to Allison. "You'll have to go with them. I'll get you a local lawyer and see you at the hearing tomorrow morning. I doubt if I can get anything done until then."

Allison looked stunned. "All right," she said. She put a hand on his arm. "I'm so glad you're here." She got into the Jeep and was driven away.

Chester killed the engines. Stone watched until the Jeep had driven through the airport gates, then went and got her duffel and briefcase from the luggage compartment. He didn't know what was in that briefcase, but he knew that he didn't want Sir Winston Sutherland rooting around in there. Poor Allison Manning, he thought. She's in for a rough time, and I suppose I'm going to have to help her.