AFTER LUNCH IT TOOK an hour for Stone to get familiar enough with the yacht to be comfortable, and to get the engine started and check the chart for deep water and hazards to navigation, before they were skimming smoothly over small waves in a good breeze, with Peter steering the boat from Stone’s lap. Dino stretched out in the cockpit and went to sleep, a beer still clutched in his hand, while Arrington sat quietly next to Stone and Peter, taking in the scenery.

Stone felt eighteen again, except that his son was along for the ride. He and Arrington had had an affair years before, when she had chosen to marry Vance Calder, the movie star, not knowing that she was already carrying Stone’s child. It had taken a long time for her to admit to Stone, if not to herself, that Peter was his son.

Stone wondered if Peter would ever know. He saw a small island coming up and showed the boy how to tack the boat. He hoped to show him a lot more while they were here.

As Peter was turning the boat and Dino was hauling in on the jib sheet, a motorboat appeared from nowhere, dousing them with spray and making their ride bumpier.

Dino laughed. “I think you’ve just had sand kicked in your face, Stone.”

Stone watched the boat disappear toward the yacht club. The two occupants were Caleb Stone’s twin sons.

THAT NIGHT, after Peter was sound asleep in his room, Stone lay in bed and watched Arrington undress. Her body had changed little with childbirth, and she obviously took very good care of herself. She switched off the bedside lamp and got into bed, snuggling close to him.

“This is why you wanted me here, isn’t it?” she asked, flicking his ear with her tongue. “You were just randy.”

“I’m always randy when you’re around,” Stone said, kissing her and cupping a breast in his hand. “But that’s not the only reason I invited you.”

“We can discuss the other reasons in the morning,” she said, taking him in her hand and kneading gently.

Stone responded instantly. He rolled on top of her, and she guided him in.

“It’s not the only reason for me, either,” she said, her hips rising to meet him. “But I love it all the same.”

27

THE FOLLOWING MORNING a fax came from Sergeant Young of the state police. Stone read the report, and as he did, the phone rang.

“It’s Ed Rawls,” the gruff voice said. “Did you get the report?”

“I’ve just read it,” Stone said. “It’s nice that Young didn’t call it a suicide.”

“I think you and Dino saw to that,” Rawls said. “I’m glad you were there, because none of the rest of us has any credentials that would make Young take us seriously.”