“But the suspect is dead.”

“The person who hired the suspect is not dead.”

“Ah, and who is he?”

“She.”

“Who?”

“No names,” Morales said suddenly, speaking for the first time. “She’s only a suspect at this point.”

“A woman hired this guy?”

“We’re pretty sure she did,” Croft said, “but we don’t have enough evidence to nail her—yet.”

“Wow! So this is an ongoing investigation!”

“That’s exactly what it is.”

“You know, this is exactly the kind of story I cover,” Pam said. “I’d love to interview this lady.”

“Oh, I don’t think she wants any publicity,” Croft said. “She’s a prominent person in your city—serves on a bunch of charity and arts boards, gives away millions.”

“Oh, come on, Stockton . . .”

“Call me Stock—everybody does.”

“Stock, tell me all the details, and I’m buying dinner. There’s a very good restaurant right over there.” She pointed across the bar.

Croft looked at Morales. “That’s a pretty good offer, Chico. What do you think?”

“Sounds great, but no names.”

“We’ll see about that after a bottle of good wine,” Pam said, waving at the headwaiter and holding up four fingers.

—

BILLY WAITED UNTIL the last vestiges of the sunset had gone, then started his car. Then he turned it off again. A car’s headlights were turning into the Grosvenors’ driveway, and a moment later two other cars arrived. The front door of the house was opened, and half a dozen people were admitted.

Billy switched on the ignition and brought up the car’s navigator. He pressed the button that showed him his position, then cranked the zoom knob until he had a large-scale map of the immediate area. It took only a moment to find what he was looking for. To his left, another road turned off the main highway, then intersected with yet another road that ran behind the Grosvenor property. He started the car again and pulled into the main road, then took two rights, keeping the house on his right. As he made the second right, he turned off the headlights and stopped at a wide place in the road.

Billy got out of the car, took off his tan windbreaker, and turned it inside out, making it black. He put on a black knitted cap, as well, then checked his little 9mm semiautomatic and returned it to its holster, then he closed the car door, climbed over a fence, and began walking toward the house.

As he did, he screwed a silencer into the barrel of his weapon.

Chapter 44

By the time the first course arrived, the four had, by common consent, divided into two couples. Croft got Pam, Morales got Sherry, and everyone seemed happy with that.

The bottle of wine Pam had selected arrived and was poured, then glasses were clinked.

“Now,” Pam said, taking a bite of her pâté and leaning forward, “tell me everything.”