Stone Barrington: The Short Forever Part 9

"I believe that Monica had intended my visit as a surprise."

"I see." He did not.

"I think it was probably mischievous on her part."

"Oh, I see." Now he did.

"But in any case, embarra.s.sment was avoided by all because of Monica's call to Sarah."

"Good."

"Do you think I could see Sarah? Is she up to it?"

"I suppose she is, but I'd rather no one who will be testifying tomorrow speak to her until after the inquest."

"Would you tell her, then, that I asked after her and that I send my condolences?"

"Of course I will. I have one other question for you, Stone, and I would like this part of our conversation to be kept in the strictest confidence for the time being."

"All right."

"Are you aware that Sarah is James Cutler's heir?"

"You mean she's the beneficiary of his will?"

"Very nearly the sole beneficiary."

"Is that sort of arrangement before a marriage common in this country?"

"It is not. I doubt if it is in the States, either."

"In the States-or in New York, at least-they would be more likely to have a prenuptial agreement limiting Sarah's benefits in the event of a divorce-or James's, depending on Sarah's circ.u.mstances."

"Sarah's circ.u.mstances are that she is a well-regarded painter with a nice income from her work, but she possesses no serious a.s.sets, except a long lease on her London flat. Whether she will inherit much from her father depends on the outcome of a number of lawsuits filed against him in connection with the collapse of an apartment building last year."

"Was James particularly well off?"

"Let's just say that Sarah is now the largest independent importer and distributor of wines in the United Kingdom, and she has widespread holdings in various French and Italian vineyards. She also now owns something upwards of a hundred and fifty wine shops and two hundred pubs. I doubt if she has much interest in running such a business, but it would bring a very large price if sold to one of the big wine and spirit conglomerates. Are you beginning to get my drift?"

"I believe I am," Stone said.

Stone spent the remainder of the day reading more of Jane Austen in the library and joined the others for dinner, except Sarah, who dined in her room. Dinner was a quiet, almost somber affair, with little conversation. Everyone went to bed early, and Stone was not visited by anyone after retiring.

14.

STONE LEFT THE HAMPs.h.i.+RE COUNTY Council building and found Monica waiting for him outside with the motor running. His baggage was already in the boot of the car, and he had said his good-byes to Lord and Lady Wight, but not to Sarah, who was still sequestered, pending her testimony to the coroner's jury.

"How did it go?" Monica asked, putting the Aston Martin in gear and driving away.

"As planned, I think; Pickering seems to have everything well in hand."

"I was surprised at how subdued he was when he questioned me," she said. "He has a reputation as a tiger in court."

"I think he went out of his way to give the impression that he was unconcerned about the outcome. He would not have wanted the coroner to think that he was defending Sarah of a charge."

"Then he's clever."

"Yes, he is."

"Did he need to be?"

"It never hurts, if a lawyer can avoid being seen to be clever."

They drove in silence for half an hour. Finally, Monica spoke again. "Lance seems to think that Sarah did it deliberately."

"None of the evidence I'm aware of supports that view."

"So you think it was an accident?"

"Yes." And he would continue to prefer to think that. Then he thought about Sarah's late-night visit to him two nights before. A fling on her part, nothing more, he told himself.

She dropped him at the Connaught. "Dinner this week sometime?"

"Let me call you; I don't know yet how long I'll be here."

She handed him a card. "Home, gallery, and cellphone."

He thanked her and followed the porter into the hotel.

"You have a number of messages, Mr. Barrington," the concierge said, handing him some small envelopes.

Stone waited until he was back in his suite to open them. Two were from John Bartholomew, or whoever he was, one was from Dino, and one was from Bill Eggers at Woodman & Weld. Stone dialed the New York number for Bartholomew. The number rang, then was interrupted, then rang again.

"Yes?"

"It's Stone Barrington."

"I've been trying to reach you, but the phone I gave you wasn't working."

Stone looked over and saw the phone resting on its charger. "I'm sorry; I forgot to take the phone with me when I went away for the weekend."

"I read about your weekend in the morning papers," Bartholomew said.

Not the New York papers, Stone thought. Bartholomew was still in London.

"h.e.l.lo?"

"I'm still here."

"What have you learned?"

"That Cabot calls himself an independent business consultant."

Bartholomew made a snorting sound. "Of course."

"And that Erica Burroughs is not your niece."

Now it was Bartholomew who was silent.

"And her mother is not dead, though her father is."

"It's not necessary for you to know everything," Bartholomew said.

"Perhaps not, but it's necessary, if we're to continue this relations.h.i.+p, that what I do know is true and not a lie."

"My apologies," Bartholomew said stiffly. "What do you want to know?"

"Why do you want Lance Cabot in an English jail?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Is your interest in him personal, or are you working for someone else?"

"Both."

"Who are you?"

"Do you wish to continue to represent me in this matter?" Now Bartholomew was angry.

"I don't much care one way or the other," Stone replied evenly, "but I don't like to be kept in the dark about the motives for my investigation."

"I'm afraid it will have to be that way for a time, but I'd like very much for you to continue."

Stone made his decision. "All right, I'll continue." Until I find out what the h.e.l.l is going on, he thought.

"Good. But please keep the phone I gave you on your person at all times. I don't like not being able to reach you."

"All right."

"Contact me again when you have something to report."

"All right."

Bartholomew hung up without further ado.

Stone called Bill Eggers.

"Hi there, you called while I was in Chile?"

"Yes, I did. You're going to Chile for the weekend, nowadays?"

"At the invitation of a client who has a Gulfstream Four."

"You're a lucky man. Who is the man you sent to see me last week?"

"How do you mean, 'who'?"

"What's his real name, for a start."

"I thought it was Bartholomew."

"It's not; I know that much. How did he come to you?"

"A client referred him."

"Who's the client?"

"I'm afraid that's confidential."

"Where is the client located?"

"In Was.h.i.+ngton; you can infer what you wish from that."

"I will. Do you have any idea what Bartholomew really wants?"

"I don't even know what he told you he wants."

"He told me a c.o.c.k-and-bull story, and I'm annoyed."

"I hope you haven't done anything rash."

"Like quit?"

"Yes."

"Not yet, but I'm going to, if he keeps lying to me."

"Stick it out, Stone. I can't tell you why you should, but I'd appreciate it."

"Oh, all right, Bill."

"Thanks. I'll remember." He hung up.