“There’s something else,” Stone said. “Dick and Barbara were each other’s beneficiaries, and Esme was to inherit, if they both died. In the event that they all three died, as in an accident, Dick left this house to me for my lifetime and that of my heirs. If I choose to sell it, the proceeds will go to the foundation, and he instructed me to entail the deed so that you can’t buy it.”

“I want to see this will,” Caleb said.

Stone reached into an inside pocket, produced a copy of the will and handed it to Caleb.

Caleb read it. “This will is invalid,” he said, “because one of the witnesses is a named beneficiary. I’m a lawyer, and my specialty is estate planning.”

“Three unnamed witnesses are enough to validate the will in any state in the Union,” Stone said. “You can sue, if you like, but I’m sure you’ve already realized that this is a proper and legal will, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“So you plan to take possession of this house?” Caleb demanded.

“I have already done so,” Stone replied. “Would you like to stay to lunch and meet my friends?”

Caleb got up and walked out without a word, the will clutched tightly in his hand.

Stone got up and went in to lunch.

5

THE OTHERS WERE already gathered at the table in the large kitchen. Stone went over to Mabel Hotchkiss, who was stirring something on the stove. “Hello, Mabel. I’m Stone Barrington.”

She shook his hand. “Hello, Mr. Stone.”

“Just Stone will do.”

“It’ll be on the table in a minute,” she said.

Stone sat down. “Anybody hungry?”

“Was that Caleb Stone I saw leaving?” Lance asked.

“Yes, and I’m afraid Caleb isn’t having a very good day. He had planned to move into this house tomorrow.”

“I take it you disabused him of that notion.”

“I did, and I gave him a copy of Dick’s will. The poor guy has also learned that he’s not inheriting any money from his brother.”

“Does he know how much he’s not inheriting?”

“He probably has some idea.”

“Is he going to sue?”

“If he can think of grounds. Turns out, he’s an estate attorney, with a Boston firm, I suppose.”

“You’d better file that will for probate as soon as possible.”

“I intend to. I have to get a death certificate, though. There’s a state trooper coming this afternoon; maybe he can help me with that. How much do you know about Dick’s affairs, Lance? Did he have a residence in Washington?”

“Not yet. I learned from the DDO’s office that they were house shopping in Georgetown, but they hadn’t found anything yet.”

“How long had they been back in Washington?”

“Less than a week. They sold the house in London, apparently.”