BILLY SAW THE cops’ rental car, a small red Korean vehicle, in his rearview mirror. He opened his briefcase and took out a little stack of papers. On top was the address of the Napa house. He headed for Hayworth Airport.

—

“FOR A MINUTE, I thought that silver BMW was following the Bentley,” Morales said, “but he turned left.”

“Are you getting paranoid on the lady’s behalf?” Croft asked.

“Just being observant. They taught us that at the academy, or did you miss that day?”

—

BILLY TURNED IN his rental car at the Hayward FBO and filed an IFR flight plan to Napa County Airport. It wasn’t far, but going IFR would help him deal with the controllers. He did a quick preflight, then got the airplane started and asked for his clearance and permission to taxi. Shortly, he was airborne, and the ATC controllers vectored him around and out of the busy San Francisco Class B area. He had been in the air for only twelve minutes when he spotted Napa County. He pressed the transmit button on the yoke. “I have the airport in sight. I’ll cancel IFR at this time.” The controller said goodbye and Billy descended for his landing.

He rented another car, this one a brand-new Chevrolet Impala, which impressed him, and he drove to St. Helena. He found the Grosvenors’ house, a handsome, shingle-style McMansion on a little hill, then he parked in a partially hidden road across from it. Twenty minutes later, the white Mulsanne appeared, followed by the red Korean car containing the two policemen. The Bentley turned into the driveway, drove through some trees, and appeared on the hill in front of the house, where Barbara exited while Blunt Instrument retrieved her minimal luggage.

The Korean car drove slowly past the house.

“What do you want to do now?” Morales asked.

“Let’s give her time to settle in before we knock on the door,” Croft said. “In the meantime, let’s go back to St. Helena and find a men’s store.”

“Did you see the new Impala parked in the side road?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Two things: it’s the new model, which is getting rave reviews, and the guy inside was driving the silver BMW back in the city.”

“You’re nuts. How could he beat us here and be in another car?”

“I’m just observing,” Morales said. “I haven’t figured that out yet.”

Chapter 42

Late in the day, Stone’s curiosity got the better of him. He called the West Los Angeles LAPD station and asked for Detective Morales. The extension rang, and a male voice answered. “Homicide. Detective Angelo.”

“May I speak with either Detective Morales or Detective Croft?” Stone asked.

“They’re out of the city on a case,” the man replied. “May I help you?”

“Thank you, no,” Stone replied, and hung up. He called Peter’s office and asked for Billy Burnett.