Near Miss

Chapter 48

Stone woke at eight am, but thanks to Carly, he did not get out of bed until after ten.

“Join me for a shower?” she asked as she crossed the room.

“Why do I get the feeling there won’t be much showering?”

“I promise, every inch of you will be clean by the time we finish.”

“How can I say no?”

Forty minutes later, Stone was dressed and feeling cleaner than he could ever remember.

“Shall we see about getting something to eat?”

“Please,” Carly said. “I’m starving.”

Dino was reading the Times in the living room when they came downstairs. He folded the paper dramatically in his lap upon seeing them.

“Viv had to stop me from sending out an APB when you didn’t come down for breakfast,” he said.

“A little out of your jurisdiction, isn’t it?” Stone said.

“You forget, I happen to know the local constabulary. One call and the island’s on lockdown.”

“Where’s Viv?” Carly asked.

“Out for a walk.”

“By herself?” Stone asked, concerned.

“She’s armed with one of your shotguns, and two of Strategic Services’ best are trailing her.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Do you really think the Russians will try something here?” Carly asked.

“I’m hoping they don’t even know where we are,” Stone said. “But no need to tempt fate.”

“I suppose.”

“Come on. Let’s see if Mary can whip us up something to eat.”

“Don’t eat too much,” Dino called after them. “Viv wants to have lunch at the golf club and play a round.”

“You hate golfing,” Stone said.

“Not as much as I love my wife.”

They had lunch at the club at one pm.

“This is magnificent,” Carly said, after taking a bite of her stuffed pork chop.

“They have a new clubhouse chef,” Stone said.

“I’d say he’s a keeper.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Stone’s chicken cordon bleu and sauteed mushrooms were particularly tasty.

“Uh-oh,” Viv said, looking out the windows.

The others followed her gaze to the patio outside, where the first splatters of rain had begun dotting the ground.

“Maybe it’s only a sprinkle,” Carly said.

The words were barely out of her mouth when the sputtering shower turned into a hard downpour.

“I guess golf is off the agenda,” Dino said.

Viv turned the evil eye on him “You don’t have to sound so happy about it.”

“Happy? My heart is breaking.”

“In glee,” Stone said.

“That’s not helping,” Dino said. “Unless your goal is for me to sleep on the couch in your living room.”

“I retract my previous statement.”

“I thought so.”

“As clumsy as his delivery was,” Viv said, “I fear Dino is right. Even if the storm passes, who wants to trudge around on wet fairways?”

Carly raised her hand.

“Of course, you do,” Stone said. He gently lowered her arm. “Lucky for you, you have mature friends who can save you from making that mistake.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

They replaced the round of golf with drinks in the bar, where they could monitor exactly how wet the course was getting.

They had just ordered their second round when Ed Rawls walked into the room.

“Ed!” Carly said.

“Join us,” Stone said.

They made room for him at their table.

Dino motioned for the server to come back, and said to Ed, “What are you drinking?”

“A Scotch, please. Laphroaig. And make it a double. It’ll be my last for a couple days.”

Dino placed the order.

“Last?” Stone said. “Don’t tell me you’re swearing it off?”

“Blasphemy,” Ed said. “I just need to keep sharp.”

“Something we should know about?”

“Probably. But it might be better if you didn’t know the details. I’ll just say this. It’s best if you stick to your place on Monday. No wandering around.”

“What’s happening on Monday?” Dino asked.

Carly looked at Stone. “You said that’s when Greco’s having his meeting.”

“I did.” Stone had made the same connection. To Ed, he said, “Are we to assume said meeting is taking place here on Islesboro?”

“If it was, staying close to home would be a good idea,” Ed said. The server arrived with his Scotch. Ed thanked him and took a healthy sip.

“And you know this because?” Viv asked.

Dino raised both of his hands. “Wait. I’m not sure I should be around to hear the answer to that.” He started to stand, but Ed motioned him back down.

“I never said I knew anything.”

“Greco must have told him,” Carly said. “Unless you did, Stone.”

“I had no idea where the meeting was going to take place,” Stone said.

“Then that leaves Greco,” she said. “Ed, are you doing something for him?”

Ed’s brow tensed.

“Carly,” Stone said, “that’s one of those questions you shouldn’t ask.”

“Why?”

“You remember when Ed said it would be better for us not to know the details?”

“Yes. Oh, I got it.”

“I knew you would.”