He made coffee, and while it brewed, he microwaved the bacon, put the sliced muffin into the toaster oven, and turned to the eggs. He melted a chunk of butter and grated some cheese into it as it melted in a small pan, then he whipped the eggs and scrambled them continuously on a low temperature. When they were soft but not runny, he put everything on two small plates, poured the coffee into a thermos carafe, and took everything on a tray into the bedroom.

Holly was awake, but barely. “Who are you and what are you doing in my bedroom?” she asked.

He set the tray on the bed. “Have some breakfast, and it will all come back to you.”

Not until she reached for the plate did she notice the handcuff on her wrist. “Ah, I see you found Will’s note.”

“I did. A pity it wasn’t there last night. I might have slept better.”

“I somehow forgot to give it to you, and then I didn’t want to wake you.” She finished breakfast without mentioning the strong case at her side, then accepted a cup of coffee and drank it. “Okay,” she said finally, “where’s the key?”

“What key?”

“The one in Will’s note, the one you used to unlock this.” She held up her cuffed hand.

“Oh, that key.”

“Yes.”

“I ate it.”

“What?”

“Well, not exactly ate, just swallowed. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a few hours until . . . well, you know.”

“I have to pee,” she said, standing up and realizing the case would have to go with her. “When I come back I’m going to have a Glock in my free hand.”

Stone removed the tray, stretched out on the bed, and switched on the TV, looking for Morning Joe. Then he realized that the program would have aired at four AM, local time. He went through the schedule and marked his usual morning programs for recording on the DVR, then switched to CNN.

Holly came back. “I forgot my gun,” she said.

“You’d get better results with a laxative.”

She got into bed with the case. “Let me put this as plainly as I can. If you don’t unlock this handcuff immediately, I’m going to make it my business to see that your life is entirely miserable for the next two weeks. Oops, make that three—Kate extended my little holiday for a week last night, and she took some pleasure in doing it, so I’m not in the best of moods. You might keep that in mind.”

Stone felt his belly. “Excuse me,” he said. He went into his bathroom, took the key from his robe pocket, flushed the toilet, and went back into the bedroom. “Success!” he cried, holding up the key.

She held out her hand. “Give.”

Instead, he unlocked it for her. “There,” he said. “I’m glad you got to see how that felt.”