“It certainly is. When Laurence bought it, it was the finest property on the market.”

“The boy has turned out to be smarter than I thought,” Derek said. “I thought he was going to spend his life teaching English and art history to schoolboys and playing jazz piano.”

“He has many interests,” Stone said.

“He’s taking us to Santa Fe to see his new house there,” Derek said. “Where in God’s name is Santa Fe?”

“New Mexico.”

“Is that in Mexico?”

“No, it’s an American state, just south of Colorado.”

“Ah, yes, Colorado.”

“As it happens, I’ve just bought a property there myself, so perhaps we’ll see you while you’re in town.”

“We’d be delighted. Who is the young woman you’re with? She’s a stunner in that dress.”

“She’s the national security advisor to the President of the United States.”

“Good God! Do all your civil servants look like that?”

“Hardly any of them,” Stone said. “Holly is the exception. Before her current job she was a deputy director of the CIA.”

“I’m slightly acquainted with the head of our MI6,” Derek said, “and I think she’s attractive, but not like Miss Barker.”

“Dame Felicity Devonshire?”

“You know her?”

“We’re neighbors down in Hampshire. She’s just across the Beaulieu River from me.”

“I belong to a yacht club down there, on the Isle of Wight—the Royal Yacht Squadron.”

“So do I.”

“My word, Barrington, you do get around!”

“So does your stepson.”

“Yes, that’s quite a girl he’s got. We’re very impressed with her.”

“He stole her from Ralph Lauren,” Stone said.

—

IRV HAD WATCHED from across the street as the Bentley drove away. He got out his cell phone and dialed Curly. “They’ve left the house, and he was wearing a tuxedo, so they’re out for the evening. Now’s the time.”

“We’re just around the corner. Be there in a minute.”

Shortly, a gray van drove up, and Curly got out and got into Irv’s car. “How do you want to do this?”

“I think we’ll go in through the downstairs street entrance. It’s more sheltered than the front stoop.”

“You’re sure you can handle the lock?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll take a couple of minutes, but I’ve cracked these Israeli jobs before.”

“I’ll give you a head start while I get my handcart out of the van.”

Irv approached the house while Curly went back to the van.

“I want to get away from here,” Sofia/Maria said.