Cold Paradise

by Stuart Woods

  I'm soaked to the skin! Dino complained. You might as well put the top down!

  I don't understand it, Stone said. The weather was glorious, until you decided to come.

  Oh, right, I brought the weather with me; it's all my fault.

  Thank you for pointing that out. So, how are things at home?

  Oh, just great. Dolce is out.

  Stone nearly wrecked the car. What do you mean, 'out'?

  Out. She set a fire in her room, which set off the alarm, and while her nurses were preoccupied with that, she got out of the house, took one of Eduardo's cars and vanished into the world.

  When did this happen?

  This morning, apparently. Mary Ann called me on my pocket phone just as I was getting on the airplane. Eduardo is going nuts.

  She won't get far. Eduardo will have her back in no time. What, is she running around in her nightgown?

  She packed three bags, according to the housekeeper, who counted the luggage. I'd say she has clothes for any occasion. Dolce is nothing if not organized.

  But she doesn't have any money or credit cards; she can't travel.

  Dolce has money of her own, you know, and quite a lot of it. Eduardo settled two million bucks on each of the girls when they turned twenty-one. And she took her purse, too credit cards, even her passport. There's nowhere you can run.

  Oh, shit, Stone said, his heart sinking. He dug out his cell phone and pressed the speed dial button for his office.

  The Barrington Practice, Joan said.

  Hi, it's me. You might get a call from Dolce sometime soon. Can you recognize her voice?

  Sure I can. I heard it less than ten minutes ago.

  What did she want?

  You, I expect.

  What did you tell her?

  That you were out of town.

  Did you tell her where?

  No.

  Thank God for that.

  Bill Eggers told her that.

  What?

  "As soon as she hung up I called Bill's office, but he was on the phone. I held, and when he came on the line, he told me Dolce had called, and they'd had a nice chat. I take it Bill isn't fully informed about Dolce's condition.

  Wonderful. If she calls back try and get a number where I can reach her.

  Okay.

  Stone hung up and punched the button for Bill Eggers's office at Woodman & Weld.

  Bill?

  I take it from Joan's reaction that I did something stupid?

  It's not your fault, Bill, but just how stupid were you?

  Stupid enough to tell her you were in Palm Beach, before I noticed something about her. I stopped just short of telling her where you're staying.

  Thank God for small favors, Stone muttered.

  What's the matter with her, Stone? I thought she was just sick, but she sounded

  Exactly how did she sound?

  Well, not deranged, exactly, but sort of otherworldly.

  Does she know I'm doing work for Thad Shames?

  I didn't mention that.

  Okay, Bill, thanks, and I'll be in touch. Stone punched off. She doesn't know where I'm staying.

  Her sister does.

  Oh, no. Mary Ann wouldn't

  No, of course she wouldn't, not if she were tortured, and Dolce is perfectly capable of torturing somebody to find out where you are.

  Stone turned into the driveway of the Shames mansion.

  Hey, pretty nice, Dino said. Do we have it to ourselves?

  We're not staying in the house; we're out back.

  Guesthouse?

  Not exactly.

  Uh-oh, Dino said.

  Come on, let's get the car unloaded and make a run for it.

  Two minutes later they had dashed up the gangplank of Toscana and were standing, panting, on the afterdeck, while puddles formed around them. Juanito appeared with some towels and two thick terry robes, and took the luggage.

  Maybe you could change into the robes here? he said, as he padded off toward Dino's cabin.

  Stone and Dino emptied their pockets onto the table, including Dino's badge and gun, and stripped. They had just kicked their clothing into a sodden pile when Carrie appeared.

  Well, hi there, sailors! she said to the two naked men.

  Dino grabbed for his robe.

  This must be Dino, Callie said. I can always recognize a naked policeman.

  Dino, this is Callie Hodges, Stone said, getting into his own robe.

  How do you do, Dino said, trying to muster some dignity.

  We have a ten-thirty tee time at the Breakers tomorrow, she said.

  Great, Dino said. We can go there on the boat.

  Don't worry, the front will pass through tonight. Tomorrow will be beautiful, I promise. The greens may be a little slow, but Palm Beach is thirsty and will soak the rain right up. I'm surprised your plane was able to land.

  It took the pilot two tries, Dino said. I was ready to bust into the cockpit with my gun and order them to fly back to New York.

  I'm glad you didn't, Callie said, smiling sweetly.

  Juanito came back with a tray of steaming mugs.

  We fixed you a little toddy, Callie said. Figured that, with the temperature thirty degrees below normal, you might need it.

  Everybody sat down, and Stone and Dino gratefully sipped their drinks, which were laced with rum.

  Well, Dino said to Callie, any more at home like you?

  Callie laughed. Don't worry, we've got you a date for dinner.

  Oh?

  Allison Manning, Stone said. Although she's called Liz Harding these days; you might remember that.

  I'll try, Dino said.

  Callie, have there been any phone calls for me?

  No.

  If anyone besides Thad, Bill Eggers, Chief Griggs or my secretary, Joan, calls, will you tell them I've gone back to New York?

  Sure. Who are you avoiding?

  Mrs. Stone Barrington, Dino said.

  She turned and looked at Stone, and her eyes narrowed. Who?

  Dino set down his cup. Well, I think I'll go get into some dry clothes.

  As soon as he was gone, Stone began explaining to Callie who Dolce was. When he had finished, he waited for a comment.

  Well, she said finally, hanging around you is never dull.

  Because of the weather, they had dinner in the yacht's dining room, which was a symphony of mahogany and teak. Juanito had set a small table for the four of them, and candlelight gleamed on fine silver, as he served the dinner Callie had cooked for them. Dino had taken a shine not only to Callie, but to Liz as well, and they to him.

  What, exactly, do you do on the police force, Dino? Liz asked him.

  Well, you know how, on the TV cop shows there's always these two detectives who are out there busting their balls to solve the case?

  Yes.

  That used to be Stone and me.

  Oh.

  And you know how the two detectives come back to the station house and report to their lieutenant, and he criticizes them and second-guesses them and ridicules them and sends them back out onto the street to do it all over again?

  Yes.

  That lieutenant is me, now.

  Was Stone a good detective? Callie asked.

  Stone shifted his weight uncomfortably.

  He wasn't all that bad, Dino said, but he was hard to keep alive. I was always having to shoot people so they wouldn't kill him.

  Nonsense! I was a very good detective, Stone said, but that second part is perfectly true, which gives you a pretty good indication of what percentage of Dino's statements you can believe.

  Tell us about when you saved Stone's life, Liz said.

  Dino took a big sip of his wine. Well, let's see, he said. The first time was when we had chased this guy down in a car, and he came out shooting, got Stone in the knee. I put one in the middle of his forehead.

  Goodness, Callie said. Both the women were rapt.

  Then there was the time Stone had to jum
p out of a helicopter because people were trying to kill him. I used a shotgun that time; didn't kill anybody. Then oh, this is my favorite this very strange guy had Stone strung up by his heels, naked, in this old slaughterhouse, about to cut him a few new orifices, and I put two in him.

  Liz blinked rapidly. Strung up by his heels, naked? Whew! If I had a folding fan, this is where I'd use it.

  And there were probably a couple of other times, but you get the idea.

  Callie spoke up. The idea seems to be that Stone needs his hand held. She took his hand and squeezed it.

  That's about it, Dino said. Stone has good instincts, but he never listens to them. He's so curious that he doesn't notice when people are trying to kill him.

  Tell us about Stone and women, Callie said.

  Dino rolled his eyes. Don't get me started.

  No, Stone said, don't get him started. You keep this up, Dino, and I'm going to start telling them the truth about you.

  Dino held up a hand. Peace, he said. Anything else you girls want to know about Stone, you're going to have to ask him.

  Well, Stone, Callie said. Will you sit still for some personal questions?

  As long as you don't expect an honest answer, Stone replied.

  Juanito suddenly appeared, the cordless phone in his hands. Miss Callie, he said, then mouthed, It's for him, pointing at Stone.

  Callie took the phone. May I help you? And who is this? I'm sorry, Mr. Barrington left this morning. I believe he was headed for California somewhere, before returning to New York. No, I'm sorry, I don't have his schedule. Why don't you call his New York office? Goodbye. She punched the off button.

  Was it a woman? Stone asked.

  No, a man. He wouldn't give his name. He sounded a little like Paul Bartlett, but I can't be sure about that.

  That was a nice touch, about California, Stone said. I'll have to remember what a good liar you are.

  I was lying in a good cause, Callie replied. Dino needs help in keeping you alive.

  Like Regis says, 'I'm only one man,' Dino said.

  The phone rang again while still in Callie's hand. Here we go again, she said. Hello? Oh, yes, Chief, I'll put him on. She handed the phone to Stone.

  Hello, Dan.

  Hi, Stone. Our friend from the frozen tundra, Lieutenant Lundquist, has arrived. Could we have a word with you tonight?

  Sure, Stone said. Give me half an hour, then come over to the Shames house. We're on the yacht moored out back.

  See you then.

  Stone hung up. Well, ladies, you're going to have a couple more cops on your hands shortly.

  I'd better finish dessert, Callie said, rising and heading toward the galley.

  What cops? Dino asked.

  Stone explained about Griggs and Lundquist, and about Paul Bartlett's sojourn in Minneapolis.

  God, I love catching murderers, Dino said, don't you?

  Not as much as you, Dino, but I'll admit, it's satisfying. What I don't like about murderers is that time after you've figured out what they did but before you arrest them. They tend to be touchy during that period.

  So you think Bartlett is dangerous?

  I certainly do. Griggs has assigned somebody to keep an eye on him, but Lundquist has asked us not to crowd him just yet.

  I hate not crowding them, Dino said.

  Callie returned to the table, followed by Juanito carrying a tray of flaming desserts.

  Something old-fashioned, she said. Baked Alaska. I thought, given the weather, we could use the extra warmth.

  Mmmmmmm, Dino said, plunging into his. We may keep you on here.

  Why, thank you, sir.

  Liz was toying with her dessert. Stone, she said, am I ever going to be able to leave this boat again?

  Sure you are, but right now is not a good time. Paul doesn't know you're here, at least not for sure.

  We could stake her out, like a goat for a lion, Dino said.

  Thank you, Dino, Liz said. That was so beautifully put.

  Don't mention it, Dino said, grinning.

  Chief Dan Griggs and Lieutenant Ebbe Lundquist arrived, sharing a golf umbrella. They were both dripping wet.

  Sorry to get you out this late, Chief, Stone said. Couldn't this have waited for better weather?

  Lundquist, here, insisted, Griggs replied.

  Lundquist looked around at the yacht. You live pretty well, Mr. Barrington.

  I'm sorry to disappoint you, but, unfortunately, the yacht is not mine. And please call me Stone. Stone introduced everybody, and Callie got the visitors a hot toddy, while everyone else had brandy.

  It's like this, Lundquist said. We dug Bartlett's car out of a junkyard, where it was waiting to go into the compactor. Couple more days, it would have been gone. We have you to thank for that, Stone.

  Stone shrugged. I just happened to get lucky.

  The car was a 1991 Mercedes station wagon, and that year, a passenger-side air bag was an option, and Mrs. Bartlett, who owned the car, had not ordered the option. Everything about the car was normal, for one that had just collided with a tree, except that the seat belt latch had been tampered with.

  Tampered with how? Dino asked.

  There's a steel eye that sticks up on a stalk, then there's the receptor end that latches onto that. We opened up the receptor, and the spring inside had been deformed, compared with the driver's side, so that it would not hook securely when fastened. Mrs. Bartlett would have heard a click when she put it on, but it would have come undone under pressure.

  And colliding with a tree would certainly be enough pressure, Stone said.

  This guy is very clever, Lundquist said. That was the sort of technical thing that would have gone completely unnoticed if you hadn't given us a heads up to look for something.

  This same guy once rigged an airplane engine to fail, killing all three aboard, Stone said. He's not stupid, and he has some skills.

  What? Lundquist demanded. He's murdered three other people?

  If he's who I think he is, Stone said. He explained Paul Manning's background, not mentioning that he had been Liz's husband.

  So we couldn't charge him with those three killings, then? Lundquist asked.

  No, he was tried and convicted, then the authorities were bought off.

  He might even have a pardon, Liz said.

  Stone looked at her. Was his wife pardoned?

  In a manner of speaking. She was given a piece of paper.

  So, Lieutenant, do you have enough evidence to arrest him?'

  I can arrest him for obtaining a Minnesota driver's license under a false name, and I can probably get him extradited, but I'm not sure we have enough evidence to convict him of murder. Still, I'd like to get him back to Minneapolis and question him thoroughly. Maybe he'll even cop to it.

  Not a chance, Stone said. He'd lawyer up in a heartbeat. I'd be willing to bet he's got the number in his pocket right now, just in case. And it sounds like you'd have a hell of a time proving that he tampered with the seat belt. His attorney would paint it as damaged in the accident or defectively manufactured, and Bartlett as a grieving husband.

  Maybe you're right, Lundquist said, but I'm waiting for a call from my office, and when they come up with just a little more evidence, I'm going to bust him. At the very least I can expose his false identity and let the world know who he is.

  He's not going to tell you who he is, Stone said, and that's the only way you're going to find out. The feds certainly aren't going to admit that he was in their program.

  If he's Paul, I can identify him in court, Liz said.

  I thought you were refusing to face him, Stone replied.

  I won't while he's free, but I'd be happy to testify as to his identity, if it would help put him away.

  I don't know that it would, Stone said. Given the evidence we've got, I'd much rather defend him than prosecute.

  This is very convoluted, Dino said. Not only do we not know if he was in the witness protection program, we don't eve
n know what name he was using before he went in.

  I don't understand, Liz said.

  Okay, he gets out of being hanged in St. Marks, and he returns to this country. He's not going back to using Paul Manning for a name, he's going to pick another one. Then he gets involved in whatever ends up getting him into the program, and he gives the feds that name, not Manning. They change it to another name, then he skips out of the program and changes it again. And there may be a couple of other name changes that we don't even know about.

  Holy cow, Lundquist said. I didn't know what I was getting into when I came down here.

  You probably wanted a little nice weather, like me, Dino said. He waved an arm. And look what we got.

  Lundquist gazed through the transparent curtains as lightning lit up Lake Worth. I might as well have stayed in Minneapolis.

  Well, Chief Griggs said, if it's any consolation, I think we've got enough to run him out of Palm Beach.

  You sound like an Old West sheriff, Callie said.

  It's a little different, Griggs replied. In the Old West, I'd have threatened to shoot him if he showed his face in town again. Nowadays, I'd just make sure the local and Florida papers heard the whole story, and once everybody had heard about it and gossiped about it, he wouldn't be able to show his face in town again. We had a guy down here a few years back that had kidnapped his young kids when a divorce didn't go his way. Established himself here under another name and stayed for years until his wife caught up with him. Now he's persona non grata among the people he knew best. That, I can do to Bartlett, or whatever his name is.

  It isn't enough, Liz said. He could still try to kill me.

  Lundquist turned and stared at her. Just when I thought I had a grip on this story

  Mrs. Harding was once married to Paul Manning, Stone said. We didn't mention that before.

  Oh, Lundquist said, tonelessly. He was massaging his temples, like someone trying to hold on to his sanity.

  Maybe your lab will come up with something else in the car, Stone said.

  Maybe, but I'm not going to count on it, Lundquist replied. We do have the fact that he got his wife to cancel the prenuptial agreement and make a new will. That's motive.