Fast and Loose

4

Stone called Ed Rawls and invited him to dinner.

“Thanks, I could use the break,” Ed replied. “Unpacking is a bitch.”

“See you at six?”

“You’re on.”

Stone let himself into Dick Stone’s secret office, behind a panel, and checked for messages and faxes. He had just come out and locked the door behind him when the front doorbell rang. He went to answer it and found a small woman wearing a headset and carrying a microphone. Behind her stood a man carrying a portable TV camera.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Barrington. I’m Tina Charles from NBC news. You’re a hard man to find — we’ve been driving all over the island looking for your house.”

“I must remember to conceal it better,” Stone said.

“May I come in for a moment? I have just a few questions for you.”

“You may not. I have no wish to be interviewed.”

“May I point out that, if you speak to me exclusively that will greatly lessen the curiosity of other media outlets, and there are many who wish to speak with you.”

“How did you get to the island?”

“The station has a helicopter. We landed right after the NYPD chopper, but we didn’t have a car and lost you while we were arranging for one.”

“I’ll give you five minutes,” Stone said.

The woman came in and briefly surveyed the room. “You’ll sit there,” she said, pointing at a chair, “and I’ll sit opposite you in the other chair.” She began moving the two chairs to positions she liked. “Okay, Bernie?” she asked the cameraman.

“Aces,” the man replied. “Light is good.”

She clipped a tiny wireless microphone to Stone’s shirt collar. “Give me a level,” she ordered.

Stone counted slowly to five.

“Level is good,” the cameraman said.

“And sit.” She took his wrist and towed him to the chair, and they both sat down. She took off her headset and dropped it beside the chair, then fluffed her hair with both hands and freshened her lipstick.

Stone watched, increasingly bored. Then it occurred to him that he should seem alert on camera and, if possible, engaged. He made an effort to brighten his mien.

“Now,” Tina said. “Title. This is Tina Charles at the Maine home of Mr. Stone Barrington. We’re on.” She stated the date and time. “Mr. Barrington, there have been many rumors floating around about your involvement in the deaths of the billionaire Christian St. Clair and his political protégé, Nelson Knott.”

“Hold it right there,” Stone said, raising a hand. “I had no involvement whatever in their deaths. I met them only once each.”

“Let’s start with Mr. St. Clair. Where did you meet him?”

“About a mile from here in that direction,” he said, pointing toward the water. “He was aboard his yacht with some people, and he called and invited me and a friend to dinner. I accepted.”

“Who was your friend?”

“Irrelevant. Next question?”

“Did you also meet Nelson Knott on Mr. St. Clair’s yacht?”

“Yes, but not until the following day. I spent one night aboard the yacht and then, at my request, was put ashore.”

“Did you know at that time that Mr. Knott was going to run for President?”

“He alluded to the possibility, and he seemed very interested in extracting campaign donations from two other guests aboard.”

“And who were they?”

“You’d have to ask them.”

Tina was looking a bit frustrated now. “All right, let’s turn to this strong box thing.”

“It’s called a strong case.”

“What is it?”

“A sort of large, very secure briefcase.”

“And it passed through your hands on its way to Mr. St. Clair?”

“It spent a night or two in my safe, then my client removed it to his home.”

“Then how did it get to Mr. St. Clair?”

“Two gentlemen visited my client’s home, pointed a gun at him, and demanded he give them the strong case or be shot. He complied.”

“And did he explain that it had to be opened in a certain way or it would explode?”

“If he knew that, he was not given an opportunity to explain it. The two men left hurriedly.”

“And where did the case go then?”

“Eventually, to Mr. St. Clair, it would seem. I don’t know how many stops it made along the way.”

“And Mr. St. Clair tried to open the strong case, then it exploded?”

“I believe that was the testimony of a witness who was with him at the time.”

“And that would be Mr. Erik Macher?”

“According to the New York Times,” he said. “That is my source of information. Didn’t you read it?”

“Well, yes. Why did the strong case explode?”

“If you read the Times, you know what I know.”

“Who owned the strong case?”

“I don’t know.”

“But it was in your client’s possession?”

“For a brief time. Two attempts were made to steal it, the last successful.”

“And who was your client?”

“I’m sorry, that’s privileged information.”

“You’re not being very helpful, Mr. Barrington.”

Stone smiled slightly. “I’m not trying to be.”

“Don’t you think the viewing public is entitled to know everything about this event?”

“I’m not at all sure that they are,” Stone replied. “It might be best if you consulted the authority investigating the event, instead of me. I’m just a bystander.”

“But you’re a witness.”

“That is incorrect. I was not present when these events occurred.”

“Are you aware that Nelson Knott took his own life?”

“Again, I read it in the Times. I wasn’t a witness to that, either.”

“All right, one last question.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. What was in the strong case?”

“It was never opened in my presence.”

“Is it true that there was nothing inside?”

“No. All indications point to a bomb inside.”

“Well, we know that, don’t we?”

“Then why are you asking me?”

“Thank you, Mr. Barrington. Now back to the studio. And... cut.” She stood up. “Well, that was exasperating.”

“Is it usually satisfying to chase people all around the northeastern United States and ask them questions to which they don’t have the answers?”

“Could I have a glass of water, please?”

Stone went to the bar, retrieved a bottle of water, and handed it to her. “Good day,” he said.

“May I sit down and drink it?”

“Certainly, but not in my house. Kindly go away.”

She gathered up her belongings, including her headset, and bustled out of the house, followed by her technician.

Dino came down the stairs. “I heard all that from up there,” he said.

“Good. I’m glad I don’t have to re-create the event for you.”

“Why are all these people wanting to interview you?”

“Beats me. I guess they can’t think of anybody else to interview.”

The doorbell rang again, and Stone got up. “Do you have your gun with you, Dino?”

“It’s upstairs. Why?”

“If it’s that young woman again, I’d like you to shoot her.” He opened the door and found Ed Rawls standing there.