Rawls waited until he heard the car drive away, then he went back into his study, sat down, and resumed reading his book. Late in the afternoon he heard a truck in the driveway, and the clump of something being deposited on the front porch. He waited for the truck to drive away, then put down his book and went to the front door. He had ordered groceries over the phone, using a credit card from his Caymans bank, and they were here: a week’s food and two bottles of the Talisker single malt he had enjoyed at Stone’s house. He took them into the kitchen, put everything away, and made himself a drink, then returned to his study and his book. After a while he dozed off, and when he awoke it was dark outside. All the shades, blinds, and curtains were drawn, so he didn’t need to worry about light leaks. He took one of his new cell phones from his pocket and made a call.

—

STONE PICKED UP his phone; blocked call. “Hello?”

“Hello, Stone, it’s Ed.”

“I was worried about you, Ed.”

“No, you were just worried about what I’d do. That’s why I called.”

“What are you going to do, Ed?”

“I’m going to keep my mouth shut. I’ve already destroyed my archive in Islesboro.”

“And how did you do that?”

“There was an incendiary charge set in the pool room. I detonated it with a phone call and a code. It was designed to burn up everything and melt the metal cabinets. No paper would have survived.”

“And the case?”

“It’s safe, and I’ll be out of the country before midnight.”

“Everyone who’s interested will be glad to hear it. For what it’s worth, Ed, I believe it’s the right thing to do.”

“Maybe,” he acknowledged. “You’re going to get a check from my offshore bank for your services,” he said.

“Not necessary.”

“Yes, it is. I don’t want to owe anybody anything.”

“Oh, by the way, I had a call from your insurance agent. They’ve paid your claim and wired half a million dollars to your Caymans bank.”

“Good to know, thanks.”

“That was the insured value of the house. They said you could submit an additional claim for the contents.”

“Maybe I’ll get around to it.”

“I suppose you’ve already got a throwaway phone. Keep in touch. I’d like to be able to reach you, should there be further developments.”

“I’ll check in from time to time,” Ed said.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I always do.”

“You’re not the subject of a criminal investigation, Ed, so the law isn’t after you.”

“That hardly matters, since there are enough other people after me.”

“And who would that be?”

“Lance Cabot for one, the others are more shadowy.”

“I’ll see if I can cool Lance down a bit.”