“So, how was your stay at the Arrington?”

“Flawless.”

“And how are the boys?”

“Thriving. They’re the toast of Hollywood, though they don’t seem to know it.”

“They’re like that.”

“Have you heard from the Stone twins yet?”

“You mean, ‘heard’ like a bomb through the window?”

“Something like that.”

“So far, they’re dealing through an attorney, Keegan.”

“The one who came to see you?”

“His father. He’s been representing them from the beginning of all this. He called Billy Hotchkiss, wanting to buy the house. Billy told him it was sold, and Keegan let it be known that the boys would be . . . ‘very very disappointed,’ if the sale closed.”

“Has it closed?”

“Friday morning. I think Billy took some pleasure in telling him that. Also, I’ve hired his wife, Tracey, to decorate the place. She did Dick’s house.”

“Good. I can’t see you running around town looking at swatches and paint chips.”

“Good guess. She says she can have it done in a month.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“She has movie and Broadway decorating experience. I believe her.”

“The twins are going to make a move on you at some point,” Dino said. “Are you ready for that?”

“No. All I can do is respond.”

“My best guess is that they’ll go for the house first.”

Stone sat up straight. “I hadn’t thought they’d do that.”

“I’d call my insurance agent, if I were you.”

“Not only that. I’m going to put some security on it.”

“On Billy and Tracey, too.”

“I’m not thinking fast at all. I’m glad you’re back.”

Stone sent his friend Mike Freeman, at Strategic Services, a text ordering help. “There, that’ll get him started.”

His phone rang. “Yes?”

“It’s Mike. Is this about those twins?”

“It is.”

“Oh, shit. I don’t like what I’m hearing about that.”

“It strikes me that an awful lot of people are hearing an awful lot of things about it. Tell your people to dress like residents, just arrived for the summer.”

“What, did you think I would dress them like Secret Service, complete with palm mics?”

“Send some women, too. Give them station wagons, golf clubs, and tennis rackets.”

“They’ll like that. I’ll have people there tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks, Mike.” He hung up.

“Listen, Stone,” Dino said, “maybe these boys learned something in prison besides how to be better murderers. Maybe they’re more normal now. A lot of people are saying that about them.”

“You have a point, Dino, but I can’t let myself think that way. You know, the first time I saw those boys was at the Taratine Yacht Club, on the island. What struck me was they were like fresh copies of their father at that age.”

“Is the father the one you coldcocked when you were eighteen and got banished for your trouble?”