“Could be. I don’t know if the marriage records were computerized that long ago, but it might be worth doing a search; I’d sure like to talk to the other Mrs. Mitteldorfer. Maybe she’s hiding him.”

“I’m on it,” Dino said.

“I’m on the way to Connecticut, now; let me give you the numbers up there; they’ll be working later today.” Stone gave him the numbers and his new car-phone number. “I’ll be in the car for another hour and a half if you need to reach me.”

Stone continued up the Saw Mill, through a bright, spring day, with new, green leaves on the trees. It was a winding road and fun to drive on.

He called his own number and tapped in the code for the answering machine. The mechanical voice said, You have two messages. One:

“Hi, it’s Dolce. The Carlyle said you’d checked out. I don’t know if you have any plans for the weekend; if not, call me, and we’ll do something interesting.”

Two:

“Stone, it’s Vance Calder; I hope you’re well. Arrington and I are in the East this weekend, and we’d like you to join us for dinner, if you’re free. We’d both love to see you, and, of course, you haven’t seen the baby yet, and we’d like you to. Please call me.” He left a number.

Stone found the breath momentarily sucked out of him. He had known that this would happen, eventually, but he hadn’t expected them to turn up in town this soon. He wasn’t sure he could handle this, and he was going to be in the country, anyway, so he had an excuse not to see them. He dialed the number.

Transferring your call, a recorded voice said. There were some beeps, then the phone rang. A woman, not Arrington, answered.

“Hello?”

“May I speak to Vance Calder, please?”

“Who’s calling?”

“My name is Stone Barrington; I’m returning his call.”

“Just a moment.”

A few seconds later, Vance came on the phone. “Stone, how are you?” he asked, sounding enthusiastic.

Stone tried to match his tone. “I’m very well, Vance; how are you and Arrington and the baby?”

“We’re just wonderful, all of us. Do you think we might get together for dinner this weekend?”

“I’d love to, Vance, I really would, but as we speak, I’m on my way to the country.”

“Where in the country?”

“I’ve bought a little house in Washington, Connecticut.”

“Well, there’s a coincidence; we’re at my place in Roxbury right now, and that’s the village next door to Washington.”

Stone hadn’t been aware that Vance had a place in Connecticut. “Gosh, Vance, I’m just moving in today, and…”