“Did you discuss the books with anybody on the phone?”

“I called the pack-and-ship place and arranged to have them brought here.”

“When was the last time your phones and your office were swept?”

“I don’t know, maybe last week.”

“A lot has happened since last week. We’ve talked about the birth certificates on the phone, too.”

“I’ll get Mike Freeman to send somebody over in the morning.”

“You could call Bob Cantor and have him do it now.”

“I’m not ready to panic yet, Dino.”

“What’s it going to take for that to happen?” Dino asked.

“If Ed Rawls turns up dead, then I’ll panic.”

“Well, when you get around to it, call me and I’ll help.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“You want dinner at Patroon?”

“You think I ought to leave the house?”

“I think leaving the house might be a good idea,” Dino said.

“I’ll see you at Patroon at seven-thirty, then.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven-fifteen. Don’t hang around out front, wait until you see the car.”

“All right.”

They both hung up. Stone tidied his desk and made a to-do list for the following day. He was about to leave when he decided to call Ed Rawls’s house one more time. He dialed the number, and it rang three times.

“Hello?”

The voice was not that of Ed Rawls.

“Who is this?”

“It’s Lance, Stone.”

“Any sign of Ed?”

“I’m in his study. A lamp has been knocked over and a drink spilled. The room smells like scotch.”

“What about his car?”

“It’s in the garage.”

“So he didn’t leave under his own power.”

“Apparently not. I haven’t searched the whole house yet, but I’ve got a team of specialists on their way here now.”

“I don’t think Ed is a morning or afternoon drinker,” Stone said. “If he was having a drink, it was probably last night.”

“That’s a good point.”

“I’m on my way out for dinner with Dino. Will you call me on my cell when you know more?”

“I will. Enjoy your dinner, I’m not going to enjoy mine for some time.” Lance hung up.

—

STONE SAW Dino’s SUV outside and walked out Joan’s office entrance and into the car.

“Anything new?”

“I called Ed’s house and Lance answered. A lamp had been knocked over in Ed’s study and a scotch spilled.”

“Sounds like last night.”

“That’s what I said. His car is in the garage, so if he’s gone, he left with somebody else.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Dino said.

“Neither do I.”

They arrived at the restaurant, sat down, and drinks were brought immediately. Ken Aretsky, the owner, came over. “You two don’t look happy,” he said. “Anything I can do?”