“Why would such a person have business with Mildred? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“She sold him something; she wouldn’t say what.”

“Wait a minute, she asked me to send a notary over there to witness a document. Can you hang on for a minute?”

“Sure.” Stone sat and waited. Two minutes passed.

Adams came back on the line. “Stone?”

“I’m here.”

“I’ve spoken with the notary who witnessed the signatures, Mildred’s and Crow’s, on two documents: a bill of sale and a letter, both handwritten by Mildred.”

“The amount of the sale?”

“Half a million dollars. That explains the balance in her bank account.”

“What did Mildred sell Crow?”

“The notary was unable to see that; half the document was covered by Crow.”

“Creighton, have you made a public announcement of Mildred’s death?”

“No, but of course word is already all over Newport, because of the people at the dinner party.”

“I would advise you to withhold the public announcement until you’re sure Mr. Crow’s check has cleared.”

“You think he might try to stop payment?”

“I do. Did your notary say that Crow took anything with him when he left?”

“He didn’t.”

“So Mildred may not have delivered the item she sold him.”

“Not unless it was something he could put in his briefcase.”

“Just be sure the check has cleared before you make an announcement. There’s no rush, is there?”

“No, I guess not.”

“I think Charlie Crow, all by himself, is a good reason for having the property guarded.”

“I’ll take care of that right now, and I’ll call our insurance agent, too. Chubb will handle this very quickly, I’m sure; they hold the policy on the house.”

“Good-bye, then.” Stone hung up and called Barton.

“Hello?”

“I’ve spoken with Creighton, and he’s agreed to put guards on the house immediately and to have Mildred’s things insured.”

“That’s good.”

“I told him he should insure for forty million, and I think you should do that, too.”

“More than that,” Barton said.

“I also asked him about Mildred’s transaction with Charlie Crow. He said he sent a notary over there who witnessed two documents: a bill of sale for half a million dollars and a letter, both in Mildred’s handwriting. The notary couldn’t tell what was sold, but Charlie didn’t take anything with him, and we were there for the next two days, and he didn’t pick up anything then.”

“I don’t understand. What could she have sold him?”

“Maybe something that would fit in a briefcase. Jewelry, perhaps? Did she have any valuable jewelry?”

“Yes, she often wore fine pieces to dinner parties, but Mildred wouldn’t sell her jewelry.”

“Then I’m baffled,” Stone said.

“So am I.”

51

Stone was about to leave his office for the day when a FedEx envelope arrived. Inside was a dinner invitation from Abner Kramer for the coming Saturday night at his house in Connecticut. That was fortunate, he thought, because there was something he wanted to investigate in Kramer’s house.

He walked through the garden and appeared at Tatiana’s kitchen door on time. She was on the phone in the kitchen, and she waved him inside.

Stone walked to the kitchen counter, took a stool and watched her. She was wearing tan slacks and a black cashmere turtleneck sweater that called attention to her breasts. She looked smashing, he thought.

“Henry,” she was saying into the phone, “you’re going to have to get used to the idea of a property settlement. I’m sure your lawyer has explained to you that New York State law requires an equitable division of property. There are two ways we can do this: We can decide between us, with legal advice, or we can go to court and add legal fees to the total costs. I don’t much care, since you’ll end up paying my legal fees anyway.” She gave Stone a big shrug, pointed at the phone and drew a finger across her neck.

“No, I won’t wait six months,” she said. “If we don’t have an agreed settlement by the end of the week, I’m filing suit, and I’m also going to ask the judge for a hundred thousand dollars a month in temporary support while we’re waiting for a trial date.”

There was an unintelligible squawk from the other telephone, followed by some sort of tirade. Tatiana softly replaced the receiver and smiled at Stone, who was applauding.

“Very good,” he said. “I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“He’s probably still yelling,” she said, “thinking I’m still on the phone. Would you like a drink, or shall we go?”

Stone winced and slapped his forehead. “I forgot to book at La Goulue, and they’ll be full by now. Shall we go to Elaine’s instead?”

“Oh, yes! I’ve heard a lot about it, but I’ve never been there.”

Stone glanced at his watch. “We’re a little early for Elaine’s. It will be empty, so let’s have that drink.”

She waved him through the kitchen, then the dining room, then into a lovely living room. “What, sir, is your pleasure?”

Stone smiled. “Well… for the moment, just that drink – bourbon, if you have it.”

She opened a liquor cabinet and checked. “I have four bourbons,” she said.

“The one in the rectangular bottle, there,” he said, pointing.

“What would you like in it?”

“Ice,” he replied.

She poured the drink, then a Scotch for herself, and they settled into the sofa.

“You are the first date I’ve had since Henry and I separated,” she said.

“I’m glad I got here first,” he replied. “After Harlan Deal’s party there would have been a line.”

She laughed. “He called me today.”

“Harlan?”

“Yes. Apparently, he was miffed that I left with you.”

“Oh, good. I’m happy to miff him. He’s a very annoying man.”

“I thought so, too.”

“Great minds… et cetera, et cetera.”

“Indeed. Henry, my husband, is in commercial real estate, and he sucks up to Deal at every opportunity.”

“Does your husband know a real estate guy named Charlie Crow?”

Tatiana rolled her eyes. “God, yes! I’ve had to suffer through two dinner parties with that man, one in his apartment and one here. Did you know his wife used to be a stripper?”

“I didn’t, but I’m not shocked. I’ve had occasion to learn a little about him recently, and I’m glad I don’t have to do business with him.”

“Henry was happy to do business with him. He invested his firm’s money in two Charlie Crow projects, and I’m sure he’s never going to see a dime of it again. Crow is in some sort of financial difficulty, Henry said, and he’s frantic that he’s been had by Crow.”

“You remember Barton Cabot, from last evening?”

“Of course.”

“Well, Barton was Crow’s commanding officer when they were in the Marines, and he has just as low an opinion of him as you do.”

“Barton was in the Marines?”

“Yes, a career officer, until he ran afoul of a superior.”

“He looks more like a slightly faded movie star,” she said.

“That’s a good description. You’d probably think his younger brother looks like the current item.”

“Mmmm, I think I’d like to meet the younger brother.”

“No, you wouldn’t; he’s a spy and, as such, completely untrustworthy. Well, nearly completely. You can trust Lance to make the right decision if it’s in his own best interest.”

Tatiana laughed aloud. “That sounds very much like Henry!” She furrowed her brow. “You know, I think he may be having me followed.”

“Then we’ll leave through the garden,” Stone said. He looked at his watch. “I think we can go now, if you like.” He took out his cell phone, speed-dialed Elaine’s and made a reservation.

They walked into the garden, then to Stone’s house and out the front door. Ten minutes later, they were at Elaine’s. They had not been there more than five minutes when Tatiana suddenly held up her menu to hide her face.