“Such a beautiful yacht,” Sir Winston said; then he turned to his wife. “Shall we be seated, my dear?” They followed Thomas to their table.

Stone looked at his watch; a quarter to nine. “A little early,” he said, “but perfectly timed.”

“Look,” Allison said, “Colonel Buckler sees her, too.”

“I believe he does,” Stone said with satisfaction.

Thomas returned to the bar. “He asked me if you’d made any phone calls from here since this afternoon.”

“I’m glad you were able to tell him the truth,” Stone said.

“I try always to tell Sir Winston the truth,” Thomas said, “except when I lie to him.”

“I hope you haven’t had to tell too many lies for us, Thomas,” Allison said.

“None that I didn’t enjoy telling,” Thomas replied with a grin. “Would you like to sit down now?”

“Please,” Allison said. “And not too near Sir Winston, if you please.”

“I have a lovely table for you, one with a fine view of English Harbour.”

“Perfect,” she said.

They followed Thomas to their table, passing that of Colonel Buckler on their way. Allison gave him a smile, and Stone nodded pleasantly.

“Did the phone call from Chapman work?” Allison asked when they were seated.

“Maybe,” Stone said. “Although Colonel Buckler has not offered to change the terms of your confinement.”

“I don’t mind,” Allison said. “I’m as happy here as anywhere on the island.”

“Just see that you don’t get onto any other boats, not even mine,” Stone said. “And for God’s sake, don’t go anywhere near the airport.”

“I’ll be good,” Allison promised.

Chapter
41

They took their time over dinner, talking like old friends and lovers. They had champagne with their fish, and, as always, the wine was an exhilarant, making them laugh easily. They emptied the place, outlasting Sir Winston and Colonel Buckler, as well as the rest of the crowd. Thomas brought them cognac at the end of the meal, and they nursed it past midnight.

There was a lull in the conversation, and Stone asked a question. “Allison, what are you going to do with yourself when this is all over?” He regretted it immediately, but to his surprise, she answered him as if she would not be on trial for her life in a short time.

“Gosh, I really haven’t looked all that far ahead,” she said. “I’ve sold the house—it’s under contract now—so I guess the first thing I’ll do is go back to Greenwich and start getting ready to move out.”

“Where do you think you’ll go?”

“Oh,” she murmured, “I was thinking maybe New York. Would you be glad to see me there, conveniently located, as it were?”

He felt a little stab in the chest; after all, Arrington would soon be back from California. “Of course I’d be glad to see you,” he said, after perhaps too long a pause.