“The usual martini and the usual Caesar salad and the usual strip steak, medium rare. And the usual haricots verts and fried onion rings.

“So,” Lance continued, stealing a slice of beef from Stone’s plate, “what are you going to do about the twins?”

“I was hoping you’d have some thoughts on that,” Stone said.

Dino handed Lance his folded sheet of paper. “Here’s a summary of their prison file.”

“I’ve already read the whole thing,” Lance said, brushing Dino’s paper away disdainfully with the back of his hand. “Discouraging, isn’t it?”

“That’s what Stone was just saying.”

“Don’t be discouraged, Stone,” Lance said.

“Why not?” Stone asked.

“There’s always a way.”

“What’s the way this time?”

“Well, you could hire Ed Rawls for the job. He might even give you his two-for-one rate.”

“My relationship with Ed is one of friendship, not hired killing.”

“He’s the only man I know who could take them out with one bullet through both heads.”

“As attractive as you make that sound, I’m not going to take that route.”

“Your decision, if you wish to shorten your own life.”

“Why would they want to kill me?”

“Maybe because you chased them down at the airport and blocked their takeoff until the police arrived.”

“Well, there is that,” Stone admitted. “That, and I just bought the Stone house in Maine out from under them.”

“I hope you used a corporate name.”

Stone winced. “That will be taken care of first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Don’t oversleep.”

Lance’s dinner arrived, and he set about catching up with Stone and Dino.

“Lance,” Dino said, “how is it you always know everything?”

“I employ thousands of field agents to keep me informed.” Lance was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

“Even in Maine?”

“Everywhere.”

“How can we stop the Stone twins from being paroled?” Stone asked.

“I don’t know,” Lance said. “What I do know is, it doesn’t matter if they’re not paroled.”

“Why not?”

“Because the newly seated governor of their state has already told his intimates that he’s going to pardon them, if they’re not paroled.”

“Why would the governor want to do that?”

“Two reasons: One, because he was at Yale with Caleb Stone, the boys’ father, his best friend, and, incidentally, your first cousin. And two, because he can, and he would do anything for his friend’s boys.”

“I’ve always thought that was a lousy reason to do things,” Stone said.

“Be that as it may,” Lance said.

6

Stone had finished breakfast in bed and was working on the Times crossword, trying not to think about the Stone twins, when his phone rang. He recognized the Virginia number immediately.

“Hello, there,” he said with enthusiasm.

“Hello, yourself,” Rocky replied.

“How goes your recovery?”

“Slowly. It’s rehab five days a week, and it hurts when I do that.”