HE SIGNED the closing documents for the house and returned them to Ed Eagle, then authorized the wire transfer of funds. After that he started on the work Herbie had sent. Joan buzzed: “Dino on one.”

“Good morning,” he said.

“You mean good afternoon, don’t you? It’s lunchtime.”

“I overslept.”

“Sleep is not all you had too much of last night. Everybody enjoyed the concert, especially with me on drums.”

“Did I get drunk enough to admit to you that I bought a house in Santa Fe?”

“You’re kidding! When do I get to go?”

“How about tomorrow morning? Gala has moved back to Los Angeles, and I closed on her house a few minutes ago.”

“Let me call Viv, and I’ll get back to you.” He hung up.

Mike Freeman called and thanked him for the impromptu entertainment the evening before. “You both sounded great.”

“Thanks, Mike. Listen, I closed on a house in Santa Fe this morning. Can you send somebody around to assess the security system and recommend any needed beefing up?”

“Certainly.”

Stone gave him the address and directions.

“When will you be there?”

“Tomorrow afternoon. Anytime after that. Tell them to call my cell number to let me know when they’re coming.”

“Consider it done. Have a good trip.”

“Oh, Mike, can you give Viv a few days off? I’d like the Bacchettis to come with us.”

“Sure, she’s got it coming.”

—

TEN MINUTES LATER, Dino called back. “You’re on.”

“Meet us at Jet Aviation at nine AM.”

“We can do that.” He hung up.

Stone called Jet Aviation, ordered fuel, and asked them to have the airplane on line at eight-thirty AM.

Fred knocked on his door and was invited in.

“Tell me about last night,” Stone said.

“After I dropped you at the Fairleigh I came back here, and as I pulled into the garage I heard the alarm go off, then immediately stop. I figured somebody was tampering with it, so I came in here with my gun in my hand and the safety off. There was one guy in this room, and he immediately ran for the back door. I got a single round off, aiming low. I figured I would cripple him, but he kept going. Then I heard somebody running upstairs, and I went up there.”

“And what did you find?”

“I found him gone out the back way, too. I gave chase, but they were too far ahead of me. I saw them get into a gray van on Second Avenue, but they had a head start. I couldn’t see the number plate, but I’m sure there was a smallish woman driving.”

“It was probably stolen.”

“Probably. The cops came, and they were curious about what had occurred but didn’t give me a hard time. I figured the commissioner had already spoken to them. They did take my gun, so they could do ballistic tests on it.”