“It’s not a matter of what I want, and I don’t want you to think that I’m giving you legal advice, which I’m not, but it seems logical that the solution to your problem, if there is a solution, is not in St. Marks.” He wanted desperately for her to be anywhere else in the world but St. Marks.

“Well, shit,” she said disgustedly.

“I take your point.”

She stood up. “Right now,” she said, “I’m going to get into a hot bath, and after I’ve had some dinner and a good night’s sleep I think I might just get a second opinion on what you’ve told me.”

Stone stood up. “If there’s anything else I can do…”

“I thought the gist of what you told me was that there’s nothing you can do,” she said.

“That’s pretty much it,” he admitted, trying desperately to think of something to say to her that might make her go back to Palm Beach.

“Well, tomorrow’s another day, and then I guess I’ll see what I can find out about this murder trial. Who’s the DA?”

“It’s being handled by the, ah, local government,” he replied.

“Right. I guess I can talk to them. See you around, Stone.” She picked up her purse and headed for the stairs.

Stone went straight to the bar, picked up the phone, and dialed Bob Cantor’s number.

“Problems?” Thomas asked, ambling over.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Stone replied. He got Cantor’s answering machine. “Bob,” he said, “you mentioned earlier that Paul Manning had been divorced in Florida. Do whatever you have to do to find a copy of the decree and fax it to me at the earliest possible moment, please. I’ve got another Allison Manning on my hands.” He hung up.

“Another Allison Manning,” Thomas repeated, chuckling to himself.

“Thomas, please do whatever you can to keep that woman from ever hearing the name of Sir Winston Sutherland,” Stone said.

Thomas laughed aloud. “Right!”

Chapter
26

Stone marched over to the marina, jumped aboard Expansive, and went below. The saloon was empty. He went aft to the owner’s cabin, and found Allison sound asleep. “Wake up,” he said, patting her on the shoulder.

Allison opened her eyes slowly. “Oh, hello,” she said, reaching for him.

Stone took her hands in his. “Not now, Allison; we have to talk.”

“Talk? What about?”

“Come into the saloon.” He handed her a robe and went ahead of her.

She came in, tossing her hair and rubbing her eyes. “What is going on?” she asked.

“Tell me about Paul’s first marriage,” he said.

“What?”

“Paul was married before he married you; tell me everything he told you about that.”