“They’re both CIA officers,” Stone said. “They work for Lance, and they’re here to help us with the Stone twins case.”

“Did the twins have something against them?”

“They bought the Stone family house before the twins could bid,” Billy said. “I knew the boys were pissed, but I never expected anything like this.”

“All right,” Stone said, getting out his phone. “Everybody back out of here, just the way you came in, and wait on the front porch.”

“You need some help working the scene?” Olshan said.

“We’re not going to work the scene,” Stone said. “We’ll leave that to the Maine State Police. Maybe it will get them interested in the twins again.” He made the call to Sergeant Tom Young. “Tom? Stone Barrington. We’ve got a double homicide for you, staged to look like a murder-suicide or a mutual suicide. At the Stone family house. Dino and I and two FBI agents will wait for you on the front porch. Take the helicopter and bring everybody.” He hung up.

To Stone’s surprise, Lance took a silver flask from inside his jacket and took a swig from it. “Sorry,” he said. “I’m used to reading about my people dying, but I’ve never witnessed the aftermath.” He looked shaken.

—

It took just under an hour before Tom’s crime scene team arrived on the front lawn; they didn’t bother with the airfield. As the chopper wound down, the doors opened and people carrying equipment and cases spilled out and followed Sergeant Young into the house. Stone and his party stayed on the porch, leaving the others to it.

“Shouldn’t you FBI types be taking an interest in this?” Carly asked Olshan. “After all, CIA officers are federal employees.”

“There are enough people in the house,” Olshan said. “We’ll leave them to make their conclusion, then we’ll get copies of their reports. It will go faster that way.”

Eventually, Tom Young came out of the house and collapsed into a porch chair. “Well,” he said, “I don’t buy either of the suicide stories. As far as we’re concerned, it’s a straight-up double homicide.”

“I concur,” Dino said, and everybody else nodded. “And your suspects are right across the road.”

“No, they’re not,” Billy said. “The twins left on a morning ferry. I don’t know where they went.”

Stone checked his watch. “And by this time, all the workmen have left the site. You won’t have anybody to interview until tomorrow, Tom.”

“A day late, and a dollar short,” Tom muttered.

“Not your fault,” Stone replied. “We came upon them by accident. Billy noticed an open car door.”

“It’s the little things that matter,” Tom said.

“You’d better check your people into the inn,” Stone said. “Billy, have they got rooms?”

“They’ve got four,” Billy replied. “Two are booked through the weekend. Shall I book you in?”