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Chapters (65)
  1. Cover
  2. BOOKS BY STUART WOODS
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  64. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  65. What’s next onyour reading list?

“That was breathtaking,” Theresa said. “I think I’m going to like living with you.”

“I’m going to like it, too,” he said.

22

STONE WAS AT HIS DESK the following morning when Joan buzzed. “Laurence Hayward on line one.”

Stone pressed the button. “Good morning, Laurence. I understand you’ve approved the recommendation of Strategic Services.”

“I have, Stone, and thank you for your help. They should be working on the installation now. I called to tell you that I’ve bought another house.”

Stone chuckled. “And where is the new one?”

“In Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s brand-new and completely furnished. We spent our first night in it last night.”

“Congratulations. When is your closing?”

“Next week.”

“I’ll let Herb Fisher know. By the way, I’m coming to Santa Fe tomorrow to spend a few days with friends, on the way to L.A. I’d like very much for you to meet them.”

“Wonderful! And you must come for dinner here during your stay.”

“I accept. I’ll be landing tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll call you to make arrangements.”

“How about dinner here the night after? Bring your friends.”

“Sounds good. Their names are Ed and Susannah Eagle.”

“Theresa and I look forward to seeing you.” They hung up.

—

“STONE IS ARRIVING in Santa Fe tomorrow to stay with some friends,” Laurence said to Theresa. “I think it’s time for our first dinner party. Perhaps Diana will recommend a caterer?”

“I’ll call Becky Gardner, she’ll know someone. May I invite her and Ted?”

“Of course.” Laurence became absorbed in his laptop.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m looking for a piano dealer in Santa Fe.”

She handed him a newspaper, the Santa Fe New Mexican. “This arrived on the doorstep this morning. Check the classifieds.”

“Good idea. I guess I’d better stock the bar, too, if we’re having guests.”

—

STONE LANDED at mid-afternoon in Santa Fe, and as he taxied to the ramp, he saw a familiar Range Rover waiting there, one belonging to Gala Wilde, Ed Eagle’s sister-in-law, with whom he had parted company a few weeks ago. He felt an unexpected pang.

Gala greeted him as he descended the boarding steps. “Ed and Susannah asked me to meet you and bring you to them. I hope you don’t mind.”

Stone kissed her on the cheek. “You’re the most attractive taxi driver I could have wished for.”

He loaded his luggage into the car and buckled in.

“They’ve also asked me to dinner tonight,” Gala said.

“What a good idea!”

“Am I forgiven, then?”

“I think I’ll wait for a more opportune moment to forgive you.”

She laughed. “Just name it.”

—

AT DINNER THAT evening, Stone said, “I’ve a friend and client who’s just moved into a new house in Santa Fe, and he and his girlfriend have invited us all to dinner tomorrow evening. Is that convenient for you?”