“Are you suggesting I should pay her a million dollars?”

“No, but you’re going to have to let me negotiate something with her.”

“How much of a something?”

“Whatever it takes, if we want to get rid of her in a hurry, and we certainly do.”

“Do you think we could get rid of her for half a million dollars?”

“I think a reasonable person would accept that, but I have no idea how reasonable she is.”

“If she wants more than that I’ll shoot her myself,” Allison said.

“Goddammit, I told you not to talk like that!” he practically shouted.

“All right, all right, just deal with her. I’ll trust you to handle it as you see fit.”

“God, I wish I had that decree,” Stone said.

“But you don’t; just do the best you can.”

“Give me your checkbook,” Stone said.

She found her handbag, dug out the checkbook, and handed it to Stone.

He ripped out a check. “Sign it,” he said.

“A blank check? Are you nuts?”

“Sign it.”

Allison signed the check.

Stone ripped it out and tucked it into a pocket. “Now find two blank pieces of paper, and sign them.”

She went to the chart table, found some paper, signed two sheets, and handed them over. “You see how I trust you,” she said.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said, and left the yacht.

Chapter
27

Stone strode toward the Shipwright’s Arms. Dusk was falling, and the first customers were arriving for dinner. He looked around, saw no sign of the other Mrs. Manning, then went to the bar. “Give me a rum and tonic, Thomas,” he said.

Thomas complied. “Seems like you got something of a mess on your hands,” he said.

“Tell me about it. Will you ring Mrs. Manning’s room, please?”

“She left orders not to be disturbed.”

“Disturb her.”

“Stone,” Thomas said gently, “if you’re going to handle this lady, don’t you think you’d better do it gently?”

Stone took a deep breath and exhaled. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ll wait for the lady to make her appearance for dinner.” He picked up his drink. “I’m going upstairs for a few minutes; if she shows up tell her I’d like it if she’d join me for dinner.”

“I’ll tell her.”

Stone went up to his room, switched on his computer, and began to type. When he had finished he printed out the document on the blank page over Allison’s signature, slipped it into an envelope, and started to leave. Then he stopped, picked up the phone, and dialed Bob Cantor’s number again, and once more got his answering machine. He swore and slammed down the phone, then composed himself and went downstairs.