Desperate Measures
- Автор: Вудс Стюарт
- Серия: Stone Barrington #47
- Год: 2018
- Язык: английский
- Год: G.P. Putnam's Sons
- ISBN: 978-0-7352-1922-9
- Жанр: Триллеры
Электронная книга - «Desperate Measures». Краткое содержание книги:
“I’ve heard good things about the firm,” she said, “but why Mr. Eggers? Surely someone a bit further down the ladder — but not too far — might be more interested in my situation.”
“Well, Bill has something of a specialty in dowager widows and divorcées, you see.” He held up a hand. “I know, but if I tell him you’re a dowager, he will have a more immediate reason to see you. Then you can surprise him at your first meeting.”
“As I surprised you, Mr. Barrington?”
“I confess you did,” Stone replied. “Please call me Stone.”
“And I’m Edie,” she replied. “What sort of ‘personal relationship’ did you have in mind?”
“Why don’t we start with dinner and see where that leads us?”
“But we’re having dinner this evening,” she said.
“Of course, but this evening I’ll have to share you with whoever is seated on your other side, and while I’m not the jealous type, well, my personal motto is Si non nunc quando.”
She laughed. “‘If not now, when.’”
“Your Latin is very good.”
“It comes from having been a classical scholar. How’s yours?”
“I have just exhausted my entire Latin vocabulary,” he said.
“All right, we can have half a dinner tonight and a whole one tomorrow evening?”
“What more could I ask?” Stone said.
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
They were called in to dinner. It was a table for twelve; Stone was on Edie’s right, and another gentleman, whose place card read “Dr. Johnny Hon,” was on her left.
Edie and Dr. Hon exhibited an immediate affinity for each other, and Stone was having difficulty getting a word in edgewise. Between courses, Dr. Hon excused himself for a moment.
“Whew!” Stone said. “I’m glad to see the back of him.”
“Why?” Edie asked. “He’s perfectly charming.”
“I expect that’s why I’m mostly seeing the back of you.”
She laughed. “And you struck me as a competitive sort. Was I wrong?”
“Well, I could arm-wrestle him for the privilege of your attention, I suppose.”
“Think of it as football,” she said. “What you need is a turnover.”
Dr. Hon returned, and Stone lost the ball again. After dinner, when Dr. Hon’s attention was diverted, he took the opportunity to whisk Edie into the library, where they were alone.
“Turnover accomplished!” Edie said.
“Now I have to score?”
She laughed again; he liked it when she laughed. “You’ll have to run up a lot of yardage rushing,” she replied. “The forward pass doesn’t work every time.”
The butler appeared with a tray of after-dinner drinks, and they both chose cognac.
“Let me ask you a question,” she said, “the answer to which I have always found to be revealing.”
“Then I’ll be sure to give you a straight answer.”
“Where is your second home?”
Stone burst out laughing. “That’s a more difficult question than I anticipated,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because I have more than one second home. But for purposes of this discussion, and because it’s the closest, my reply will be Dark Harbor, Maine.”
She looked surprised. “Nothing in the Hamptons?”
“I’m afraid not. I don’t think I’d fit in very well out there.”
“Very good,” she said. “I despise the Hamptons. Now, since you have more than one second home, where is your favorite one?”
Stone thought about it for a moment before replying. “South Hampshire, England,” he said. “On the Beaulieu River.”
“And why is it your favorite?”
“I like the climate.”
That made her laugh again. “Oh, really?”
“There’s nothing like curling up with a good book and listening to the rain beat against the window.”
“I perceive that you are a contrarian. Everyone else is looking for heat and sunshine.”
“Heat is overrated,” Stone replied. “I enjoy a cool day.”
“And sunshine?”
“Is most appreciated when rare. Now it’s your turn. Where is your second home?”
“In the Hamptons,” she said, “in Sag Harbor.”
“But you despise the Hamptons!”
“Yes, but I despise Sag Harbor somewhat less than the other towns. Besides, I didn’t choose it; my husband already owned the house when we married. And anyway, it’s on the market. In fact, I was hoping to sell it to you.”
“Don’t point that thing at me,” Stone said. “My real estate portfolio is threatening to explode as it is.”
And then, before they could continue, Dr. Johnny Hon appeared and pulled up a chair.
“May I pick you up at seven tomorrow evening?” Stone asked, before the man could get started.
“I have something a little earlier; may we meet somewhere?”
“Do you know Patroon?”
“I do, but not well.”
He gave her the address, then ceded her company to Dr. Hon.
37
Edith Beresford was twenty minutes late for dinner. Stone was about to order his second bourbon when she turned up, all apologies. Her hair was down, and it fell below her shoulders.
“I am so sorry,” she said. “I’d give you my excuse, but it wouldn’t be good enough. It would get our evening off to a poor start, and I wouldn’t want that.”
“Then I forgive you all your sins, so we won’t have to work through them. What would you like to drink?”
“What are you having?”
“Knob Creek bourbon.”
“Never heard of it. I’ll have some of that.”
He ordered two, and they arrived quickly. They clinked glasses and drank.
“I feel so clean,” she said.
“How’s that?”
“I haven’t had all my sins forgiven since I was in high school, during my last confession. I stopped going after that.”
“What was your sin?” he asked.
“It would be too embarrassing to tell you.”
“Then what was your penance?”
“Ten Hail Marys and swearing never to put my hand in a boy’s pants again.”
“Did you keep your oath?”
“Why do you think I stopped going to confession? I couldn’t face that priest again!”
Stone laughed.
“Are you Catholic?” she asked.
“I’m not a joiner, generally speaking. I think I agree with my late friend Frank Muir, who described himself as a lapsed agnostic.”
She laughed. “Good choice. If you were Catholic and I were your confessor, what would you confess?”
“Impure thoughts.”
“Oh, good. And what penance would you think appropriate?”
“Forty lashes with your hair.”
She looked appreciative. “I should get it cut, shouldn’t I?”
“No, at least not until I’ve done my penance.”
Then Stone realized someone was standing at their table.
“Oh,” Edie said, “Dr. Hon!”
“You’ve been following us, haven’t you?” Stone asked.
“Of course not, but may I join you?”
“Not unless you have the ecclesiastical authority to do so,” Stone replied.
“I fear my degrees are in science, not divinity.”
“Then we will not require your services,” Stone said. “Now, if you will excuse us.” He made a shooing motion with the back of his hand.
Dr. Hon looked sheepish. “Well, it was worth a try.”
“Good evening,” Stone said with finality.
“That was rude,” Edie said when he had gone.
“It was, wasn’t it? I’d like to have been ruder, but it was the best I could do without taking a swing at him.”
“I thought you did very well. After all, he kept us apart for one evening already. He’s nothing if not persistent; I hope he doesn’t come back.”