“We have not had word yet about that. Stone, you are an attorney, is it your belief that, if we do not make a public announcement and an explosion should occur elsewhere in the city, we could be held liable by victims in a court of law?”

“I think not. I believe that whether or not to make a public announcement is for the police to decide. They may feel that an announcement might do more harm than good, not to mention the possible effect on the business and tourist trades. We cannot be blamed for leaving the decision to them.”

“And certainly,” said Karen, “keeping it quiet will make our own lives easier.”

“That should be the least of our concerns,” Stone said. “We must put our guests first. Still, I don’t see how leaving the announcement decision to the police violates that principle. Certainly, our guests might be frightened to know that a bomber came so close, and we don’t want them unnecessarily frightened. I do think that, in light of what has happened, we have an obligation to review our security practices, to see that there is no recurrence of this activity.”

“That has already been done,” Marcel said, “and although our security was sufficient to prevent an explosion in this case, patrols of the hotel grounds and the roads around us are being increased in frequency, and it will now be standard practice that any driver leaving his vehicle, for however short a time, will lock it.”

“That said,” Stone observed, “it appears that we have met our legal, moral, and ethical obligations to our guests and staff.”

“Is that the sense of you all?” Marcel asked.

There was a murmur of assent, and the chairman moved on down the agenda.

33

JINX JAMESON APPEARED on Stone’s doorstep, fashionably after seven PM, clad in white trousers and a thin white blouse that gave him a glimpse of her breasts through the gauzy material.

Stone greeted her with a light kiss on the cheek and showed her into the house. The butler took their drink orders, hers a single-malt scotch, his a Knob Creek Rye.

The desert air outside had cooled and made a fire in the study a cheerful sight. Jinx tossed the wrap she had brought onto a nearby chair and accepted a seat on the sofa next to Stone before the fireplace. “How was your board meeting?” she asked.

“Interesting. Forgive me if I don’t supply details—those are confidential.”

“I assume the bomb was discussed.”

That brought Stone up short. “I beg your pardon?” he said, because he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“You are not the only board member with whom I am acquainted.”

“I assume you’re referring to Karen Miles,” he said, guessing wildly.

“That’s very astute of you.”

“And very foolish of her to mention it.”

“Confidentiality among women is sometimes defined more loosely than among men.”