Chapter 36
Friday, Teterboro Airport, early afternoon.
“No Faith?” Dino asked.
“I gave her the weekend off,” Stone said. “You can take the copilot’s seat, unless you want to sit in the back alone.”
Once they were in position and awaiting permission to take off, Dino said, “At least we have good weather.”
“About that.”
“What?”
“Did I mention the tropical storm that’s headed for Maine?”
“I believe you forgot that detail.”
“It shouldn’t be that bad. It’s supposed to come through overnight and be gone in the morning.”
“We’re not flying into it?”
“Only if it speeds up.”
“That’s not the no I was hoping for. I’d like to officially reconsider my decision to join you this weekend.”
Over the radio, the tower gave Stone clearance to take off.
“Sorry,” Stone said as he increased the thrust. “I can’t hear you.”
He released the brakes and sent them speeding down the runway.
In Rockport, they switched to Stone’s Cessna for the short hop to Islesboro.
By the time they were coming in for a landing, gray clouds covered most of the sky and the wind was starting to pick up.
“You might want to hold on,” Stone said.
“I thought you said the storm wasn’t due until tonight,” Dino said, grabbing a nearby handle.
“Did I?”
The Cessna rocked as it approached the runway. Just before the wheels were about to touch the ground, a gust lifted it several feet before relenting.
With a bump, they hit the runway and rolled until they were slow enough for Stone to taxi the plane to the apron.
“Let’s not do that again,” Dino said, looking a few shades whiter than normal.
“No promises.”
Seth was waiting for them as usual, and with his help, they tied down the Cessna to prevent the winds from blowing it around.
The rain started the moment they left the airport, spattering the station wagon’s windshield with a few drops at first then turning into a constant downpour by the time they reached the gate to Stone’s property.
As they drove through, a man wearing a hooded black raincoat and with a rifle in hand stepped out from cover and signaled them to stop.
“This is new,” Dino said.
“Lance’s doing, I assume,” Stone said.
“They’ve been here pretty much since you left last time,” Seth said.
He rolled down his window a few inches, to avoid letting in too much rain, and the man leaned down and looked inside.
He nodded to Stone and Dino, then said to Seth, “Luggage?”
“In the back.”
“I need to check it.”
Seth hopped out and opened the back of the station wagon. The man ran a wand over the bags, then said loud enough for Stone and Dino to hear him over the rain, “I need to look inside them.”
“Is that really necessary?” Stone asked.
“It is if you want to go to the house.”
“But it’s my house.”
“I don’t make the rules, sir. I just enforce them.”
“Let the man with the gun do what he wants,” Dino said.
Stone grimaced. “Oh, all right. Go ahead.”
A couple minutes later, the man in black said, “You’re good to go.”
“Gee, thanks,” Stone grumbled as Seth shut the back.
“Stop grumbling,” Dino said.
“I’m not grumbling.”
“Then what would you call it?”
“Quietly expressing my annoyance?”
“Not as quietly as you think.”
Seth got back behind the wheel and drove them the rest of the way to the house.
Inside, they found Felicity, Carly, and Jillian sitting at the dining table.
“What a nice surprise,” Felicity said, upon seeing them.
“Have any of you moved from there since we were here last?” Stone asked.
“What a ridiculous question,” Carly said. “Of course we have.”
Stone stopped himself from telling her he wasn’t being serious, and instead said, “Sorry, Carly. You’re right.”
“I know I am.”
Felicity stood, walked over, and then gave each a hug. “How long are you staying?”
“Until Sunday, unless that’s a problem,” Stone said.
“Not at all. Glad to have you.”
Stone glanced at Dino. “Why do I feel like I’m a guest in my own house?”
“Don’t ask me,” Dino said. “I always feel like a guest here.”
“I suppose this means Jillian and I have to move,” Carly said.
“Move from where?” Stone asked.
“Your room.”
“You’re staying in my room?”
“You weren’t using it,” she said. “Or we could stay, and you and Dino could share a room.”
“That’s a hard no from me,” Dino said.
“Me, too,” Stone agreed.
“Fine,” Carly said. “We’ll figure it out.”
“I think I need a drink,” Stone said.
“You read my mind,” Dino said.
“Felicity?”
“Why not?” she said.
They walked over to the bar, where Stone poured Felicity and Dino glasses of Johnnie Walker Blue Label and a Knob Creek for himself.
After they’d taken sips, Dino asked Felicity, “How goes the search for your killer?”
“Very good. Thanks to Stone’s help in identifying our mole, we have a name now.”
“That’s great news,” Stone said. “Anyone we know?”
“As a matter of fact, he is.”
Stone furrowed his brow, surprised. “Really? Who?”
“Leonid Bronsky.”
“Never heard of him,” Dino said.
“The name sounds familiar,” Stone said, cocking his head. “Isn’t he the head of Russian intelligence in London?”
“Former head. He was demoted, thanks to the two of us.”
“If I’d known that, I would have sent him a condolence card.”
“I doubt it would have been received well.”
“So, Russian intelligence decided to send him after you again?”
“Actually, the SVR denies any involvement in his actions.”
“Did you expect them to admit it?” Dino asked.
“Of course not, but I believe them this time. Russia is dealing with enough issues already. Killing the head of MI6 would do them no favors.”
“That means Bronsky’s acting on his own?” Stone said.
“Hell hath no fury like an intelligence officer burned,” Felicity said. “Word is, he thinks my death is his ticket back into the SVR’s good graces.”
“Is he right?”
“Only if he means spending the rest of his days in a gulag.”
“Do the Russians even have gulags anymore?” Dino asked.
“Maybe not in name. But…”
“Does he know you’re still alive?” Stone asked.
“Since he sent a hit team to kill me at your place in Key West, I would say that’s a yes,” Felicity said.
Stone blinked. “And when were you going to tell me this?”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. No damage was done. There’s video of them breaking in if you want proof.”
“Video?”
“Courtesy of Lance’s people wiring for picture and sound. I’m told the equipment has since been removed.”
Stone took another drink, then said to Dino, “Remind me to send Bob Cantor to Key West to make sure.”
Dino nodded. “Good idea.” To Felicity, he then said, “Any idea where Bronsky is?”
“Idea, yes. But no proof.”
“He’s either in the vicinity of the Arrington in Los Angeles or here,” Carly said from the table.
Stone looked at her, then back at Felicity. “Here here? As in Islesboro?”
“Or close by,” Jillian said.
Before Stone could say anything, his phone began vibrating.
“Are you going to get that?” Felicity asked, glancing at his pocket.
He pulled the cell out, saw Ed Rawls’s name on his screen, and answered, “Can I call you back?”
“Something you need to know,” Ed Rawls said.
“What’s that?”
“If you have plans on coming to Maine this weekend, you should reschedule.”
“Because someone is trying to kill Felicity?”
Ed was silent for a moment. “You’re here already, aren’t you?”
“Freshly arrived.”
“You might want to think about freshly departing.”
“I don’t know if you’ve looked outside, Ed, but I don’t think I’ll be doing any more flying today.”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s too late to catch the ferry, so I guess you’ll have to hunker down. My advice, don’t open the door no matter who it is.”
“I’ll pass that along.”
Stone hung up.
“Ed Rawls?” Dino asked.
Stone nodded. “He wanted to warn me about coming here this weekend.”
“Impeccable timing.”
“I’ll say.”
“What’s there to worry about?” Felicity asked. “Lance’s people have the area locked down, and the house is impenetrable. There’s not a safer place on the island.”
“And don’t forget,” Carly said, “Bronsky could be in L.A.”
“What do you think the odds of that are?” Stone asked.
Carly pondered the question, then said, “One in five.”
“If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it’s not working.”
She shrugged. “I’m just providing information.”
Stone tipped back the rest of his Knob Creek and wondered if he should try flying out after all.