Dino walked over. “Yeah, they were just hanging in the water.”

“I tried to start the engines,” Stone said, “but we couldn’t find the ignition key.”

“In my pocket,” the skipper said, holding up the key. “Well, she’s secure, now. Why don’t you go back to bed, and we’ll try to figure this out in the morning.”

“Good idea,” Stone said, and he and Dino trudged back aboard.

“Are you thinking Dolce?” Dino asked as he paused at his cabin door.

“Maybe. Or maybe our friend Manning.”

“Some friend.”

“Yeah.”

The two men said good night and went to bed. It took Stone a long time to get to sleep.

Chapter 57

57

STONE AND DINO BARELY MADE IT ON DECK IN TIME FOR lunch the following day. They had the afterdeck to themselves, and they had just finished their omelettesto themselves, and they had just finished their omelettes when two men in suits emerged from the house and made their way toward the yacht.

“Ten to one they’re FBI,” Dino said.

“No bet,” Stone replied. He knew how Dino hated FBI agents, and his own experience with them as a cop had not been wonderful.

“Nobody else looks quite like that. What the hell do they want?”

“I think we’re about to find out,” Stone said, as the two men came up the gangplank.

“Either one of you Lieutenant Dino Bacchetti of the NYPD?” one of them asked without preamble.

“Who wants to know?” Dino asked.

Both men whipped out ID.

“Wow, I’m impressed. I’m Bacchetti. Why are you disturbing my vacation?”

“We want to ask you some questions,” the first agent said.

“See me in my office in New York,” Dino said. “I’ll be back next week.”

“It’s in connection with a bank robbery in Arlington, Virginia, four years ago,” the man said.

“I didn’t do it,” Dino said, “and I can probably come up with an alibi.”

The man turned to Stone. “Who are you?” he demanded.

Stone started to reply, but Dino interrupted. “None of your fucking business,” he said. “Now get off my yacht.”

The agent looked around. “Yours, huh? Pretty fancy for a New York cop. I wonder what your Internal Affairs people would have to say about this.”

Dino began laughing, and so did Stone.

“What’s so funny?” the agent asked, annoyed.

“You be sure and mention my yacht to Internal Affairs,” Dino said. “I’d enjoy their reaction. Now, will you people go away?”

“Look,” the agent said, “maybe we got off on the wrong foot, here. My name is Miles, and this is my partner, Nevins. We’d really appreciate your help, Lieutenant Bacchetti.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Dino said expansively. “Have a seat.” He kicked chairs in the agents’ direction, and they both sat down.

“Can I get you something?” Dino asked, the generous host, now that he had brought the two men into line.