“Yeah, I do,” Rawls said. “They’re trying to get ahold of a radio that will communicate with the detonator on the bomb I left at their house, and I hope to God they don’t find one. Or, if they do, that they try it out while holding the explosives to their ear.”

Stone laughed. “What are their chances of coming up with the right frequency?”

“Poor or none. I built that radio, and I didn’t use a frequency that comes on a commercial radio. I hope they keep experimenting with it, though.”

“Me, too.”

“Their best bet would be to get on the Internet and find a unit that will broadcast on a broadband of frequencies, one at a time. It would be like trying to break into a safe with an electronic lock by firing hundreds of frequencies at it, until one works.”

“Gotcha. Why don’t you just build another one and explode it for them?”

“Because I can’t remember the frequency,” Rawls admitted. “Call it an extended senior moment.”

“Work on it,” Stone said.

“By the way, I like the plan your girls came up with. I’m happy to participate.”

“Participate in what?”

“Nice try, pal, but you ain’t getting nothing out of me.”

“Just tell me this: Are the girls going to get themselves killed while carrying out their plan?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Ed said.

“Are you going to have something to say about it?”

“You bet your sweet ass, I am,” Ed said, then hung up.

Stone called him back.

“Now, what?”

“I didn’t tell you about the Snickers bars.”

“You’re right. Why would you?”

“The twins bought two boxes of Snickers from Billy a few minutes ago.”

“I’m sorry, I’m drawing a blank on this one,” Ed said. “Why should anybody care if they’ve got a sweet tooth?”

“Remember when a certain lady of our acquaintance was kidnapped and held by their father?”

“Yes, I do.”

“All she was fed while he had her was Snickers bars.”

“Jesus Christ, is anybody missing?”

“Billy says no, and he usually knows what he’s talking about.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Ed said.

“I’ll keep you posted.”

They both hung up.

42

Stone stared at the phone, and his mind reeled. “Dino!” he shouted.

Dino came downstairs. “Yeah?”

“Where are Primmy and Carly?”

“They went out more than an hour ago in the MG. Don’t you remember?”

“Yes, and they’re not back?”

“Let’s have a look around,” Dino said, and they began searching the house and the property.

“Where’s Viv?” Stone asked, when they came back in after a fruitless search.

“In the bathtub.”

“For how long?”

“One never knows with Viv and the tub. Hours, sometimes.”