“Ed,” Holly said, “just out of curiosity, how did you come to have the strong case? Not what’s in it, just the case.”

“I was issued it for an operation many years ago,” Ed replied, “and somehow it never made its way back to Technical Services.”

“Did you have occasion to open it during the operation?”

“Actually, no. Someone else had the key. That person removed the contents and gave me the case and the key.”

“But you opened it to place its current contents inside?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How did you know how to open the case safely?” Holly asked.

“Safely?” Dino asked. “What does it do, squirt you in the eye if you open it wrong?”

“Something like that,” Holly replied, “unless you know the drill.”

“What’s the drill?”

“Don’t tell him, Holly,” Stone said.

“Do you know how to open it, Stone?” Dino asked.

“No, I don’t, and I don’t want to learn.”

“So Holly and Ed are the only ones who know how to open it.”

“The only ones here,” Holly said.

“Well, Stone,” Dino said, “if something should happen to you, I’ll remember not to open the case.”

“Much better for everybody,” Ed said.

Stone’s cell phone rang, and he looked at it. Blocked number. “Excuse me,” he said, and left the room to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Is your friend from Islesboro all right?” Will asked.

“Yes.”

“Is he with you?”

“Yes. My other friend is here, too. Apparently, you told him about the package, as well.”

“I thought it prudent to do so.”

“How did you know about the arson?”

“Someone I know got a call from someone who knew.”

“I must say, I’m impressed with your networking skills.”

Will laughed. “It comes from a lifetime of keeping index cards and computer files on people I met along the way. I’ve got a pretty good memory, too.”

“What do you want me to do now?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Will said. “Secure the package and hang on to it. There is something your friend from the island can do, though.”

“What’s that?”

“Some people we know down in Virginia would like to have a word with him. Could that be managed where you are now?”

“It could be, if he wants to speak with them.”

“Can you think of any reason he wouldn’t want to?”

“No, but he might have his own reasons.”

“May I speak to him?”

“Hold on, I’ll see.” Stone put the phone down, went back to the study, and beckoned Ed to join him.

Ed got up and left the study. “What’s up?”

“Will Lee is on the phone, and he’d like to speak to you.”

“What about?”

“He says some people at the Agency would like to come here and talk to you.”

“Where’s the phone?”