“I’m not a chemist, Bill. Did Harry have any family other than Warren, Eli and Evan?”

“No, he was a lifelong bachelor, didn’t even have a girlfriend,” Eggers said.

“Then has it occurred to you that Evan’s share of the proceeds of the sale would be even larger with Harry’s death?”

“I suppose so. Warren’s, too.”

“And Bill, has it occurred to you that the remaining split would be larger still if Eli kicked off?”

“You mean . . .”

“That maybe dutiful son Warren, when visiting his father, might bring along a treat like a box of chocolates or a bottle of Scotch?”

“Oh, my God.” Eggers groaned.

“Maybe you ought to have a chat with the Torrington police after all,” Stone said.

“I’m Warren’s lawyer, Stone, and so are you.”

“You have a point.”

“And don’t go getting Dino to call the cops, either; that would be like telling them yourself.”

“Yeah. What are you going to do?”

“Think about it,” Eggers said. “And I have to call Warren and tell him what Evan said.”

“You’d better tell him to do the right thing, Bill.”

But Eggers had already hung up.

Stone looked at Dino, whose eyes had narrowed and who appeared to be in deep thought.

“What?” Stone said.

“I’m just thinking about your problem,” Dino said. “We could probably get somebody else to approach the Torrington cops in a roundabout way.”

“Somebody like Wally Millard?” Stone asked.

“Maybe, but he’s connected with Eggers, who hired him to fi nd Evan Keating. That might be too close.”

“Manny White?”

“Still too close.”

“If I’m going to do something about this, I’d better do it fast,” Stone said.

“I know a detective on the Connecticut State Police,” Dino said.

“Yeah, but you’re too close to this to talk to him.”

“Maybe, but I know somebody who has every right to express his concern to Connecticut law enforcement.”

“Who’s that?”

“Evan Keating.”

Stone smote his forehead. “Why didn’t I tell him at lunch to do that?”

“Because you’re so fucking dumb,” Dino said. Stone dialed the Gardens. Evan’s room didn’t answer, so he left a message.

“And we still don’t know what the contract price is,” Dino pointed out.

“It’s not as though we really need to know that, is it?” Stone said.

“Still,” Dino replied, “a big number is motive.”

“It’s going to be a very big motive,” Stone said.

24

24

STONE AND DINO left their hotel to play tennis, and Stone kept his cell phone in his pocket, but it never rang.

“I’m worried,” Stone said as they were taking a break between sets.

“I suppose you’ve got visions of Warren visiting Eli and stuffi ng something down his throat?”

“Something like that.” Stone called the Gardens again and still got Evan’s voice mail.

“You’re doing all you can do,” Dino said.