Chapter 3
Stone grabbed a padded seat from one of the yacht’s lounge chairs as it floated by. It wasn’t sturdy enough to use as a raft, but it helped him keep his head above water.
Sometime after, he thought he heard distant voices. He scanned around but saw nothing in the dim starlight. Then the voices stopped, and he wondered if they’d been the result of wishful thinking.
He had no idea how long he’d been clinging to his makeshift float when a rhythmic whooshing sound began echoing off the water. It was low at first, and he wondered if the noise was another delusion. Instead of going away, however, the sound only grew louder and louder.
A light in the sky flared to life and began sweeping across the surface until it landed on Stone.
Something splashed into the water nearby, and the next thing he knew, a pair of men in diving suits appeared beside him.
“You’re going to be okay, sir,” one of them said. “We’re here to help.”
“Are you hurt?” the other asked.
“W-w-what?” Stone said, teeth chattering and mind teetering on the edge of delirium.
One of the men reached into the sky and suddenly had hold of a rope and harness.
“Are you hurt?” the other man asked again, slower and louder this time.
“I-I-I don’t know.”
The one with the rope said, “That’s okay. We’re going to get you out of here.”
“Out of here?” Stone asked. He was having a hard time grasping what the man meant.
The two men maneuvered Stone into the harness.
“You might feel a little jerk, but don’t panic,” one of them said. “Everything is going to be fine.”
The next thing Stone knew, he was yanked into the air and pulled into a helicopter.
A man and a woman, both wearing military-type jumpsuits, helped him out of his life jacket and onto a stretcher. The moment he lay down, exhaustion swept over him, and he could barely keep his eyelids open.
“Sir, can you tell me your name?” the woman asked.
“S-S-Stone B-B-Barrington.”
“Thank you, Mr. Barrington. Are you hurting anywhere?”
“I-I-I don’t know. I can’t f-f-feel anything.”
“Not a problem. We’ll check you out.”
As she draped a blanket over him, her companion strapped something around Stone’s bicep, and then whatever it was squeezed Stone’s arm.
Numbers were shared between the two, and hands probed his limbs and torso. Words were spoken, but Stone didn’t understand what was said.
He tried to focus, but his eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds each.
“You can rest, Mr. Barrington,” the woman said. “We’ll take care of you.”
He wanted to stay awake and ask what was going on, but as if her words were the permission he’d been waiting for, his lids shut, and the world around him faded away.
Stone woke to the sound of rhythmic beeping.
He blinked several times, letting his eyes adjust to the bright ceiling light.
“Well, look who’s decided to return to the land of the living.”
Stone turned toward the voice.
Dino Bacchetti stood by Stone’s bed, smirking. Dino was Stone’s best friend and the police commissioner of New York City.
Stone tried to say something, but his throat was dry and it came out as an unintelligible croak.
Dino held out a cup. “Here. Have some water.”
Stone drank until it was all gone, then asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I think the better question is: What are you doing here?”
Stone looked around. “I don’t even know where here is.”
“NYU Langone Hospital.”
“What am I doing here?”
“You don’t remember taking a swim in the middle of the ocean?”
“A swim…” Stone’s voice trailed off as the memory of the Amanda Jae going down hit him.
“Oh, shit.”
“You do remember!”
“I thought I was going to die.”
“I’m told you have your life vest to thank for that not happening.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was equipped with an emergency beacon that activated when you went into the water. The Coast Guard picked it up when they neared the accident site.”
The door opened and Mike Freeman entered, carrying two cups of coffee. He ran Strategic Services, which was one of the top security companies in the world, and he was also partners with Stone at both the Arrington Hotels Group and Triangle Investments.
“He’s awake,” Mike said.
“How long have you two been here?” Stone asked.
Mike handed one of the coffees to Dino. “A couple hours for me. Dino’s been here since this morning, I think.”
“And last night,” Dino said. “I want to make sure I get all the credit I can.”
Stone’s face scrunched up. “How long have I been here?”
Dino looked at his watch. “It’s almost four p.m., so about twenty-seven hours.”
“Twenty-seven?”
“Unless you meant since you were pulled out of the water. Then we’re talking more like thirty-six hours. The Coast Guard took you to NYU’s Long Island hospital before you were transferred here.”
Stone had lost a day and a half.
“There’s an investigator here from the Coast Guard who’s been waiting to talk to you,” Mike said. “Do you feel up to it? Or would you like me to tell her to come back tomorrow?”
Stone shrugged. “Sure, I’ll talk to her.”
“Be right back.”
Mike stepped out and returned moments later with a woman probably in her late thirties, wearing a Coast Guard uniform. She had short black hair and did not look like someone on whose bad side you’d want to be.
“Stone, this is Commander Julie Choi.”
“Mr. Barrington, I’m glad to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“Like I spent a month in a washing machine,” Stone said honestly.
“That doesn’t surprise me. You survived quite an ordeal.”
“And not one I’m anxious to repeat.”
“I’d feel the same,” she said. “I don’t know what Mr. Freeman might have mentioned, but I’m in charge of the investigation into why the Amanda Jae went down. Do you mind if I ask a few questions?”
“Not at all. Though I’m not sure how much help I can be.”
“You’d be surprised. Sometimes even the smallest details can prove crucial. May I record our conversation?”
“Of course.”
She pulled out her phone and started her voice recording app. “This is Commander Choi, interviewing Stone Barrington, concerning the sinking of the Amanda Jae. Mr. Barrington, what do you remember from the accident?”
“Not much, I’m afraid.” He told her about waking up in his cabin to find the boat listing.
“I went up to the deck but didn’t see anyone else.
I was going to search for the others to make sure they got off, but the next thing I knew, I was in the water.
After that everything is mostly a blur. I remember being pulled into the helicopter, but I have no idea how long I was in the ocean. ”
“I’m told you were floating there for approximately two hours.”
“Please tell me I’m not the only one who made it off.”
“Three members of the crew were able to get into a lifeboat,” she said. “And we recovered one body. Seven are missing and likely went down with the yacht.”
“What about Trenton?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Barrington. The body that was found belonged to Mr. Sidney. He had a life jacket on, so it’s presumed he knew something was wrong before he died. How long were you on the yacht?”
“It was our second night. Trenton had just taken possession of it, and this was its maiden voyage.”
Choi cocked her head. “Maiden voyage?”
“Well, maiden for Trenton. He did say the shipping company had taken it on a shakedown cruise a month earlier.”
“And the company found no problems?”
“You’d have to ask them, but I imagine Trenton wouldn’t have taken delivery if there were any issues.”
“Were there any indications of trouble while you were on board?”
“Other than when it sank, no.”
“What about before you went to sleep that night? Did anything strike you as odd?”
Stone frowned. “Honestly, Commander, I don’t remember what happened before I went to bed. I have the sense that Trenton and I may have overindulged.”
“Is that so? Do you think it’s possible Mr. Sidney did something in that state that could have caused the accident?”
“Even if he had wanted to, I’m sure the crew would have stopped him. But he loved the Amanda Jae too much to do anything that might harm it.”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
Stone thought for a moment. “Trenton and I were on the bridge talking to the captain about the plans for the next day.”
“What time was that?”
“Four or five in the afternoon.”
“Nothing after that?”
Stone scoured his mind again, then shook his head. “Nothing. Do you have a theory as to what happened?”
“Not yet. But if you have one, I’d love to hear it.”
“I assume it was some kind of mechanical failure, but specifically what, I have no idea.”
She nodded. “I have a feeling that’s where we’ll land in the end.”
“What about sending someone down to investigate the wreck?”
“If it had occurred closer to shore, maybe. But given where it is, doing so won’t be cheap.
Unless we suspect it wasn’t just an accident, I doubt my superiors would allot the budget for that.
” She stopped the recording. “I think that’s all I have for now.
If I have more questions, may I contact you? ”
“Please do. I’d give you a business card, but I don’t seem to have one on me.”
“I assume I can reach you through your firm?”
Stone nodded. “Woodman & Weld.”
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Barrington.” She nodded to Dino and Mike. “Gentlemen.”
As soon as she was gone, Dino said, “It’s not like you to drink enough that you forget a whole evening.”
“That bothers me, too,” Stone admitted.
“Trauma-induced amnesia, most likely,” Mike said. “It will probably come back to you in a few days.”
The door opened and Tamlyn Thompson hurried in. She was Strategic Services’ chief technological officer, and she and Stone had been seeing each other for the last few months.
She took his hand. “I’m so glad you’re awake.”
“Hello to you, too,” he said.
“Sorry, hi. How are you feeling?”
“Exhausted and sore all over.”
She leaned down and kissed him. “Did that hurt?”
“Unsure. You may need to try again. For science, of course.”
“Of course,” she said and gave him another peck. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here until now. I just got back into town an hour ago. But I’m here to take care of you now.”
Stone raised an eyebrow. “Take care of me how, exactly?”
“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Dino said to Mike.
“Agreed,” Mike said.
“Hurry up and get better,” Dino said to Stone. “I’m tired of going to dinner alone.”
“What about your lovely wife?” Stone said.
Dino pointed a thumb at Mike. “Ask him.”
Dino’s wife, Viv, was Mike’s number two at Strategic Services.
“I don’t plan her travel,” Mike said. “She does. But if you’re looking for someone to have dinner with tonight, I would be happy to join you.”
“I guess you’ll do,” Dino said.
They said their goodbyes and left.
Tamlyn sat on the edge of Stone’s bed. “I really am sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
“I would have been asleep and not even known.”
“It doesn’t matter if you were asleep.”
He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. You’re here now. That’s all that’s important.”
She nodded but looked unconvinced. “Work has been very busy.”
“Would you like me to have a conversation with Mike?”
She frowned at him playfully. “I can talk to him myself, if needed, thank you very much.”
“Previous suggestion retracted.”
“Good. Besides, there’s no reason to talk to him. The job is exactly what I signed up for.”
“And you’re still enjoying it?”
“Immensely.”
The door opened, and a doctor and two nurses entered.
“Mr. Barrington, I’m Dr. Wright.”
“I would hate it if you weren’t,” Stone said.
“Believe me when I tell you, that’s not the first time I’ve heard that one.”
One of the nurses checked Stone’s IV, while the other studied one of the machines to which he was attached.
“Are you Mrs. Barrington?” the doctor asked Tamlyn.
“Tamlyn Thompson,” she said, offering her hand. “I’m…a friend.”
“My apologies,” he said as they shook. He turned to Stone. “How are you feeling, Mr. Barrington?”
“Like I could sleep for a week. And please call me Stone.”
“That doesn’t surprise me in the least. You were well on your way to hypothermia. Lucky for you it’s summer. If this had occurred in the winter, you wouldn’t have lasted a fraction of the time that you did.”
“You say that as if I planned it. If that were the case, I would have been on shore when the boat went down.”
The doctor spent a few minutes shining a light in Stone’s eyes and pressing the business end of his stethoscope against Stone’s chest.
When he finished, he said, “You’re doing quite well, given the circumstances.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Does that mean I can go home now?”
The doctor chuckled. “Oh, no. You’ll be with us a few more days, at least. Your body experienced quite a shock, and it would be best if we keep an eye on you.”
“Is that really necessary?”
Before the doctor could respond, Tamlyn squeezed Stone’s hand and said, “If I was the one in this bed, what would you tell me to do?”
Stone grimaced. “Listen to your doctor.”
“Exactly.” To the doctor, she said, “He’ll stay.”
Dr. Wright glanced at Stone, an eyebrow raised.
“I’ll stay,” Stone said.
“If only more of my patients were so cooperative. Get some rest. I’ll check on you later.”
He and the nurses left.
Tamlyn’s phone buzzed. She checked the screen, sighed, and put the device away. She then leaned down and gave Stone a kiss. “I need to go.”
“Work?” he asked.
“Work.”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs a few days of rest.”
“Don’t tempt me.” She smiled. “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
She kissed him again, then hurried out, her phone already in her hand.