Chapter 28
On Wednesday morning, Stone was at his desk when Joan stepped in and said, “Dino’s on one, and you have a visitor.”
“A visitor? I don’t recall seeing anything on the calendar.”
“Did you actually look at the calendar?”
“I look at the calendar first thing every morning.”
“How many meetings do you have this afternoon?”
He thought for a moment. “Two. No, wait. Three.”
“One.”
“I said I look at it. I don’t memorize it.”
“Color me surprised.”
“You said something about a visitor?”
“Commander Choi.”
“Oh,” he said. “Let me talk to Dino, then show the commander in.”
Joan disappeared, and Stone picked up his phone.
“I only have a moment,” he said.
“I only have a question,” Dino said. “Dinner tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Patroon’s?”
“That’s two questions.”
“You’d rather we just guess where we’re eating?”
“Three questions, and no. Patroon’s is fine.”
“I’d ask what time, but apparently, I’m over my limit.”
“How about seven?” Stone suggested.
“See you then.”
Stone hung up, and seconds later, Joan escorted Commander Choi through the door.
Stone stood. “Good morning, Commander.”
“Hello, Mr. Barrington. Sorry for not calling first.”
“No problem at all. Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you,” she said.
While she took one of the chairs across from him, he settled back into his. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m going to try to talk to the other survivors of your accident, and I thought that it would be helpful to have your assistance.”
“Mine?”
“You were there when the Amanda Jae went down. You might be able to pick up on something I would miss.”
“If you think my presence will help, count me in.”
“Thank you. But before you say yes, you should know I’m doing this in person. You can learn a lot more face-to-face.”
“Commander, you really need to talk to Dino. The NYPD would be lucky to have you.”
“I still have another year before I can think about that.”
“I would argue it’s the perfect time to start doing so.”
“I appreciate the advice. If we could get back to the topic at hand.”
“Sure. So, when do you want to do this?”
“Right now.”
“I see.”
“I realize it’s last minute, so I completely understand if you’re not available.”
“How long do you think you’ll need me for?”
“I’ll take you for as long as you can give me.”
Stone buzzed Joan. “That meeting I have today, what time is it at? And with who?”
“Four p.m. With Charley Fox.”
“Here or at his office?”
“His office.”
“Thank you, Joan. I’ll be out the rest of the day and will go directly to Triangle Investments. Call if you need me.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
He rolled his eyes as he hung up, then smiled at the commander. “I have to be somewhere at four, but until then, I’m all yours.”
Stone and Choi’s first stop was in Queens, at the home of Deirdre Lyne, one of the Amanda Jae’s stewards.
After Choi pushed the doorbell, a female voice came through the built-in intercom. “Can I help you?”
“Deirdra Lyne?” Choi asked.
“Who’s asking?”
“I’m Commander Choi with the U.S. Coast Guard. I’m investigating the Amanda Jae—”
“I’m sorry. I’m busy.”
“We just need a few minutes of your time.”
There was no response.
“Ms. Lyne?”
The intercom remained silent.
Choi pushed the doorbell again, but this time no one answered.
“I get the impression she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Stone said.
The commander frowned. “You and me both.”
After trying the bell a few more times with the same lack of success, they decided to move on to the second person on their list.
Gerry Villarosa lived in a brick apartment building not too far from JFK airport. He had been a member of the Amanda Jae’s deck crew. But he was either not home or also ignoring them, as Choi’s knocks went unanswered.
The third survivor was Stella Monroe, the Amanda Jae’s assistant chef. She lived in an apartment in Brooklyn.
This time someone actually answered the door. The unsmiling man looked Stone and Choi up and down, then said, “Yeah?”
“Good morning. I’m Commander Choi of the U.S. Coast Guard. Is Stella Monroe home?”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I’m investigating the Amanda Jae incident and have a few questions I’d like to ask her.”
“If this is about the lawsuit, our lawyers told us not to talk to anyone.”
From behind him, a woman’s voice said, “Barry, who is it?”
“Don’t worry about it,” the man said.
A thin woman with dark circles under her eyes appeared next to him.
“Who are you?” she asked Choi and Stone.
“I said don’t worry about it,” Barry said.
“I’m Commander Choi, U.S. Coast Guard. I’m in charge of investigating what happened to the Amanda Jae.” The commander motioned to Stone. “And this is—”
“I know you,” Stella said, her eyes on Stone. “You were on the yacht.”
“I was.”
Stone didn’t recall her face, but it would have been easy for a crew member to see him, without him seeing her.
“What’s this about?” Stella asked.
“Stella, we’re not supposed to talk to anyone, remember?” Barry said.
“We’re here as part of the official investigation, not any lawsuit,” Stone said.
“I was hoping we could ask you a few questions,” the commander said to Stella.
“I gave my statement already,” Stella said.
“I know, and I’ve read it. I just have some follow-up questions that might help us figure out what happened.”
“I worked in the kitchen. I have no idea what happened.”
“Stella,” Barry said through clenched teeth.
“It’s possible you saw or heard something that could help us piece things together,” Stone said. “Something you might not even realize is important.”
“Are you part of the investigation, too?”
“Mr. Barrington is assisting me,” Choi said.
“I see.” Stella thought for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, come in.”
Barry’s expression twisted in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
She looked at him. “Shouldn’t you have already left for work?”
“I’m not going to let you talk to them alone.”
She stared at him for several seconds, then sighed and looked at Stone and Choi. “There’s a coffee shop around the corner.” She gave them directions. “I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.”
“Thank you,” Choi said.
Stella shut the door, and as Stone and Choi started walking away, they heard raised voices on the other side.
“What do you think?” Choi asked. “She’ll show up alone or with Barry?”
“Alone,” Stone said. “You?”
“Same.”