“What’s this ‘we’ stuff? You’re not a cop, and Bacchetti hasn’t asked for my help. If I get an official request from the NYPD, I’ll respond to it. I’ve got nothing at all to say to you, except that I have no knowledge of Mitteldorfer’s whereabouts. I will give you a piece of advice though: Herbert Mitteldorfer is a sweet guy, a decent man who deserves to be able to live out his life with some privacy I don’t believe he could ever be involved in killing anybody, and I’ll testify to that in court, if necessary.”

Stone looked up and saw Mrs. Warkowski returning. He got up. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, Captain. I hope you don’t end up with blood on your hands.” He walked back to his own table.

The main course had been served, and Stone sat down.

“Another minute, and your food would have been cold,” Carolyn said.

“Looks good,” Stone said, digging in.

“Is everything all right?” Carolyn asked. “You look a little depressed.”

“I’m fine,” Stone said. “I was just thinking about something back in New York. This is delicious food.”

“Do you play golf?” David asked.

“No, golf is difficult if you live in Manhattan.”

“We’ve got a beautiful nine-hole course here. If you’d like to play sometime, let me know.”

“Thanks, perhaps I will.” Stone looked up to see Warkowski and his wife leaving the restaurant.

“Your friends didn’t seem to be here long enough for dinner,” Carolyn said.

“I guess he lost his appetite,” Stone replied.

43

STONE SLEPT WELL BUT WOKE UP DISORIENTED. He sat up and blinked, wondering where he was, but after a few seconds it came to him. He was in his new cottage, in Connecticut, and he needed pictures on the walls.

He got up, showered, and made breakfast, missing the morning Times. He looked at Carolyn Klemm’s list and found the delivery service. He’d have to arrange that and also subscribe to the local paper, the Litchfield County Times. Then Warkowski came back into his mind. He picked up the phone and called Dino.

“Yeah?” Dino said sleepily.

“Come on, Dino, it’s nearly nine o’clock; wake up,”

“I’m awake,” Dino said. “You are one stupid son of a bitch, do you know that?”

“What, I get up too early for you?”

“I’m talking about Dolce.”

“What about her?”

“I warned you about her, but you just had to go and…”

“Oh, come on, Dino; she seems like a nice enough girl.”

“You’re way out of your depth there, pal, I’m telling you.”

“Dino, she’s a beautiful, bright woman.”

“She’s coming up there today, isn’t she?”

“How do you know all this stuff?”

“She has a sister; she talks to her.”