The house was a bulwark of personal safety. Built from CIA plans, it was sheathed in steel plating, rather than plywood, then the traditional cedar shingles over that. Still, the Stone family’s murderers had managed entry. Stone knew in his bones that the twin sons of Dick’s brother, Caleb, had committed the deed, though he couldn’t prove it conclusively. The twins later confessed, when caught, of murdering Caleb and his wife, their parents.

They had some lunch, then Stone got up from the table. “I want to go over to the Dark Harbor Shop, get the New York Times, and have a word with Billy Hotchkiss.”

“I’ll come along,” Dino said.

“I’ll have a nap,” Viv said.

—

Stone and Dino drove over in the little 1954 MG TF 1500 that had been restored by Dick. Billy was at his desk, as usual. “Welcome back,” he said. “You, too, Dino.”

The two men each pulled up a stool. “How much do you know?” Stone asked.

Billy lowered his voice; a customer or two wandered the shop. “I know that the folks from down south are called Henry Lee and Grace Jackson, and that they’re arriving tomorrow afternoon in their own airplane.”

“What kind of airplane?”

Billy consulted his notepad. “A Pilatus, a Swiss single-engine turboprop.”

“Plenty of runway for that. How’s Tracey coming along with the house?”

“I think you know she has a truckload of furniture arriving from New York tomorrow at midday. By then, everything in the house will be in its place, ready to take the furniture. The Jacksons’ two cars were shipped up here and arrived on the ferry half an hour ago—a Mercedes E450 station wagon and an S550 convertible, both with Georgia plates. The convertible is being unloaded at the house, now. The station wagon was left at the airport for their arrival.”

Billy pointed at a passing flatbed truck. “There goes the delivery vehicle, back to the ferry.”

“All very neat,” Stone said.

“That’s Tracey. She’s a good manager.”

“Have you heard anything of the boys or Keegan?”

“The twins arrived yesterday and checked into the inn. I showed them three houses: I think they’re going to buy the best of them, down near the point, for a million and a half, or so. They’ll need to spend another half million, or more, making it comfortable, with their grandmother’s money. They’ve already talked to Hal Rhinehart about a new kitchen. He finished your house only last week, so he’s available.” Rhinehart was the island’s resident cabinetmaker, as his father had been before him.

“Well,” Stone said, “that should be good for the island’s economy.”

“I hope you’re right,” Billy said.

“Has there been any curiosity about the Jacksons?”