“Thanks, they were waiting for us when we arrived at the hotel.”

“For what it’s worth, they think it’s a professional job. Not just anybody can get a Mercedes started without a key.”

“That makes sense, I guess.”

“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”

“I will. Thanks again.” They both hung up.

“It was a professional job,” he said to Hedy.

7

They woke with sunlight pouring into the suite and had breakfast on the terrace. The day was comfortably warm.

“Shall we do some shopping?” Stone asked. “It’s on me. I’ll charge the insurance company.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve had in years,” she said.

—

Stone went downstairs and inquired about transportation. The most sensible thing available was a small, four-wheeled electric car, much like a motorcycle, with tandem seating.

Hedy got into the backseat, and Stone drove.

“This is a lot better for these roads than a big Mercedes,” Hedy said.

“It’s more fun, too,” Stone replied, accelerating up the hill to the main road. In half an hour they were in Amalfi, which was more a city than a village, and sufficed as an elegant shopping mall. Stone walked into the Ermenegildo Zegna shop and found a lightweight blazer that fit him very well plus a couple of pairs of trousers, some shirts, and a small suitcase. Then he loosed Hedy upon half a dozen shops—Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, and others.

They packed their things into their new suitcases, strapped them to the top of their vehicle, and drove back to Positano. As they turned off the main road and down the hill toward their hotel, Stone saw flashing blue lights and smoke rising. It took them a good half hour to make their way through the backed-up traffic to Le Sirenuse. In the forecourt of the hotel was the smoking ruin of a car that could barely be recognized as a Mercedes.

“Is that our car?” Hedy asked.

“I think it used to be,” Stone said. He took the car key from his pocket and pressed a button. The car beeped, and the lights flashed. “It’s ours.” He saw the hotel’s manager standing nearby and introduced himself. “I believe that’s the car that was stolen from us yesterday,” he said to the man. “Did anyone see how it got here?”

“A young man drove it into the forecourt, then got out and walked away, according to the doorman,” the man replied. “Have you offended someone?” he asked, with a flicker of incredulity.

“Not intentionally,” Stone said. “I’ve only been in Italy for two days.”

“You might see if any of your belongings can be recovered, before the firemen haul it away,” the man said. “The doorman managed to use a fire extinguisher on it before the firemen arrived.” He explained to the firemen that the car belonged to Stone, and he was allowed to approach it.