“They will, soon. They’re going to be spending the summer in their new home. You’d better let Tracey know her clients will be there pretty soon.”

“How soon?”

“I’ll have to let you know.”

“She’s got a truckload of stuff arriving from New York the day after tomorrow,” Billy said. “And they’re working like beavers on the landscaping.”

“Don’t let the Stone boys see the place. It’s not visible from the road, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to keep them away from it.”

“I’ll put a sign out front.”

“Saying what?”

“New owners arriving soon, but not yet.”

“That ought to help.”

“You tell them they won’t need to bring a goddamned thing, except their clothes and toothbrushes. Tracey’ll have it crammed full of everything else.”

“I’ll pass it on.” Stone hung up.

—

Late in the afternoon, Stone’s secure cell phone rang.

“Yes, Lance?”

“Good afternoon, Stone. I had a call earlier today from your friend Mike Freeman with a personnel problem—or perhaps, better, a casting problem.”

“Yes.”

“Right. I have a very fine married couple, who would look good in those roles, and they’re retiring from our shop next month.”

“I need them tomorrow.”

“Well, then we’ll give them a little terminal leave.”

“Tell me about them.”

“This is what the twins will learn if they’re good with computers: Henry Lee and Grace Fowler Jackson. He is sixty-five, born in Thomasville, Georgia; she is sixty-one, born in Valdosta. Henry Lee, as he likes to be called, inherited a family machine-making business in Savannah a few years ago and he sold it three months ago. As a result, he has a net worth in the hundred-million-dollar bracket. They are fit, charming, friendly, and crack shots. The yacht and golf clubs will love them. They have a Dun & Bradstreet history, a sterling credit record, and a swollen stock portfolio. And they are graduates, three years apart, of the University of Georgia, in Athens, where they met. He also has an MBA from Georgia Tech where we recruited them right after Henry Lee’s graduation. They’ve served in Britain, France, Germany and survived Lebanon. Sound interesting?”

“They sound perfect. How did you come up with all that so fast?”

“It helped a lot that they are real people, and what I read you is their real background.”

“How much to rent them?”

“They don’t rent out. I think they’ll be happy with a free, comfortably furnished house.”

“Do they know what they might be up against?”

“They’re being briefed as we speak and reading up on the twins. When they’re done, I’ll put the offer to them. Will they have any special duties?”

“Just to live normal lives and not get killed.”

“I’ll get back to you, probably tomorrow.” Lance hung up.

Stone began to feel better about the summer ahead.

12

Stone called Dino.

“Bacchetti.”