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Back Below the Belt Save as PDF
Chapters (67)
  1. Cover
  2. BOOKS BY STUART WOODS
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. 1
  6. 2
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  8. 4
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  64. 60
  65. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  66. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  67. What’s next onyour reading list?

“You mean a giant, plastic bathtub with a helicopter strapped to its back?”

“Something like that.”

“It seems Mr. St. Clair prefers the understated.”

14

THE LAUNCH PULLED UP TO a gangway hung on the yacht’s starboard side, and they were greeted at the top by the captain, who escorted them to the afterdeck, where several couples were arrayed on comfortable furniture. Piano music wafted from an invisible sound system.

“Mr. Barrington and Ms. Barker,” the captain announced. A rather short but well-proportioned man dressed in what Stone recognized as a New York Yacht Club mess kit turned to greet them. “Mr. Barrington, Ms. Barker, welcome aboard Breeze. I’m Christian St. Clair, and this is my wife, Emma.” He indicated the woman beside him, who was somewhat taller than him. “I believe you know Senator Saltonstall.”

“It’s Stone and Holly, please,” Stone replied, and hands were shaken. Senator Saltonstall got up from his chair and greeted them, introducing his wife, Allison. The other guests and wives were introduced as well, the men in dinner suits, and Stone recognized some of their names: a magazine publisher, a philanthropist, and the executive editor of the New York Times.

“And I’m Christian,” St. Clair said. “May we get you some refreshment?” He indicated a bar trolley nearby, crowded with bottles, and Stone looked at Holly.

“The usual,” she said.

“Two Knob Creeks,” Stone said, “on the rocks.” The drinks were placed on a small silver tray then transported the six feet to where they stood.

“What a beautiful yacht,” Stone said. “I was surprised to learn that she’s new.”

“Thank you,” St. Clair replied. “I prefer the old to the new in most things, but not in yachts or airplanes.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“I see you are a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron,” St. Clair said, indicating his mess kit. “Somehow I hadn’t expected to find one in Islesboro.”

“I have a house in England, across the Solent from the Squadron. My membership is quite new.”

“Ms. Barker, I believe you are the national security advisor to the President, are you not?”

“I am, for my sins,” Holly replied.

“I didn’t know Kate Lee’s staff were allowed to leave the premises, at least not as far as Maine.”

“Sometimes she insists,” Holly said. “She felt I had too much unused vacation time.”

“I’m glad we found you here, Stone,” the senator said. “When did you arrive?”

“Only yesterday. Your timing was perfect.”

“Are you staying the summer?”

“I wish we were—work will catch up with both of us sooner than I’d like.”

“Did you manage to land your airplane on the island?”

“It would have been fun to try, but unwise, given the runway length. We landed at Rockland and were brought over in something smaller.”

“How did you come to choose Islesboro?” Emma St. Clair asked.