Chapter 19
It was already a few minutes after six when Stone arrived at Teterboro Airport.
Ken, the cabin attendant hired for the flight, met him as he climbed out of the Bentley. “Good evening, Mr. Barrington. Any luggage?”
“Just a garment bag. Has Mr. Bacchetti arrived?”
Ken nodded. “He’s asleep on board.”
Stone arched an eyebrow. “Is he now?”
The attendant took Stone’s bag and followed Stone onto the plane.
Dino was snoring in his usual seat, a glass of whiskey on the armrest beside him.
Stone went up to the cockpit. Faith was in the left seat, and Janet Joe, one of the copilots Faith often used, occupied the right.
“Good evening, ladies,” he said. “Sorry for the delay.”
“You say that like it’s the first time,” Faith said with a smirk.
Janet started to rise out of her seat. “I assume you’ll be handling takeoff.”
Stone motioned for her to remain where she was. “Not tonight. I’ve had a long day already, so I think it’s best to leave the flying to the both of you.”
“Works for me,” Janet said and settled back down.
“What’s our anticipated ETA?” he asked.
“As long as we get clearance in the next fifteen minutes,” Faith said, “we should touch down at Windward Hall at around six a.m.”
“Then I won’t bother you any further.”
Stone returned to the main cabin and took the seat across the aisle from Dino.
As soon as he finished buckling in, Ken appeared beside him and handed him a Knob Creek.
“Thank you, Ken.”
As the plane began to taxi, Dino jerked awake and looked around until he saw Stone.
“Finally,” he said.
“Nice nap?” Stone asked.
“I wasn’t sleeping.”
“Sure you weren’t.” Stone nodded at the drink on Dino’s armrest. “You might want to grab that before you’re wearing its contents.”
Dino picked up the glass, took a sip, then said, “What took you so long?”
“A dissatisfied plaintiff.”
“I thought your clients loved you.”
“They do. I said plaintiff, not client.” Stone told him an abridged story of the will drama.
“He really said, ‘see you in court’?” Dino asked.
“He did.”
“He watches too much TV.”
“That’s exactly what I told him. I don’t think he took it too well.”
“People like him seldom do.”
Ten minutes later, they were in the air, and soon after a dinner of grilled sea bass was served. They finished off the meal with glasses of port that proved to be just the relaxant they both needed to fall soundly asleep.
Major Bugg met Stone and Dino as they deplaned at Windward Hall’s private airfield.
No-nonsense and one of the most organized people Stone had ever met, the major had essentially come with Windward Hall when Stone purchased it, as the estate’s property manager.
“Good morning, Mr. Barrington, Mr. Bacchetti,” he said.
“Good morning, Major,” Stone said.
Dino settled for a nod, as he’d only woken upon the plane’s descent.
While Major Bugg led them to the waiting Land Rover, one of Windward Hall’s staff retrieved the luggage and put it into the back of the SUV.
“I’m afraid this will be a quick trip,” Stone told the major as they drove the short distance to the house.
“I was informed,” the major said. “I was also told you need to be in London for an event at eleven a.m. today.”
“Correct.”
“To ensure you arrive on time, a car and driver will be ready for you in an hour and a half.”
“Just enough time for a shower and breakfast,” Stone said.
“Yes, sir. Will any guests other than Mr. Bacchetti and Mr. Cabot be joining you?”
“Lance is here?”
“Arrived last night. I thought you knew.”
“I never know anything about what Lance is doing.”
“I gave him his usual room. I hope that’s all right with you.”
“It’s fine, Major. It’s not like he would have left if you told him to.”
Lance seemed to think Stone’s homes were available to him whenever he needed them. Stone had at first tried to push back but had come to realize that it wasn’t worth the effort.
“I suppose he’ll be riding into the city with us,” Stone said.
“No, sir. He left an hour ago. He told me to tell you he’ll see you later this morning.”
They arrived at the house and were greeted inside by Geoffrey, the butler.
He extended a tray, on which were two cups. “Coffee?”
“Thank you, Geoffrey,” Stone said, taking one of the cups.
Dino took the other. “You are my new favorite person,” he said, speaking his first words of the day.
“I’ll consider that an honor,” Geoffrey replied in his usual calm voice.
Stone and Dino headed upstairs, coffees in hand. Just before they made their way into their respective rooms, Stone said, “If you fall back asleep, I’m leaving without you.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Dino said.
“Let me rephrase. If you fall asleep, I’ll have Major Bugg toss you into the car in whatever you happen to be wearing.”
“I like the first option better.”
“Sadly, that has been withdrawn,” Stone said, then headed to his bedroom.
A little before eight a.m., Stone and Dino were climbing into the back of a Mercedes-Maybach S680 that had been hired to take them to the funeral, when Stone stopped and patted his pockets.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
He hurried into the house and up to his room.
The earpiece and the black box that operated the camera he was wearing were right where he’d left them on his bed. He snatched them up and returned to the car.
Once he was inside and they were on their way, Dino said, “You look like you could already use a drink.”
“I feel like I could use a drink.”
“What did you almost forget?”
“The reason we’re here.”
Stone showed Dino the items Carly had given him and told him about the camera on his jacket.
“Which button?” Dino asked.
Stone pointed at the one Carly had replaced. Dino leaned in for a look.
“If you get any closer, you might have to buy me dinner.”
“You should be so lucky.” Dino sat back. “That’s quite some tech. I can’t even make out the camera.”
“I believe that’s the point.”
“You think Lance might gift a few of those to the department?”
“He’ll be at the service, so feel free to ask him directly.”
Gordon Pryce doubted he’d had more than a couple of hours of sleep by the time he dragged himself out of bed.
He had been dreading this morning ever since Bronsky had ordered him to attend Dame Felicity’s funeral; he had spent most of the time since then trying to figure out how to get out of it.
He even considered throwing himself in front of a vehicle, but he didn’t have that kind of courage.
It was like that old Godfather picture. Where Al Pacino just wanted to get out of the mob, but kept getting dragged back in. Only Pryce wasn’t the son of the don. He was the lowest of rodents being yanked back by the deadliest of cobras.
He shuffled through the morning, hoping to come up with an excuse to stay home, but time kept moving forward without a solution presenting itself.
Finally, he had no choice but to put on his suit and head out.
In a way, it felt like he was going to his own funeral.
He didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.
In the end, he did a little of both.