Page 15

Stone and Mike arrived at the Arrington Vineyard just in time for lunch at the resort’s main restaurant, Shepherd on the Shore, named in honor of Shep Troutman.

Head chef Dierdre Li was using the remaining time before the grand opening to train her staff and test recipes.

That day’s meal started with an appetizer of smoked oysters gochujang, followed by a main course of Pad Thai à la Vineyard made with locally sourced seafood, and crème br?lée with raspberry sauce for dessert.

Chef Li approached Stone and Mike’s table once they had finished their meals.

“I hope everything was to your satisfaction.”

“Beyond, Chef,” Stone said.

“You’ve outdone yourself. If you’re looking for recommendations, I’d say put everything you served us on the opening-day menu.”

“I second that,” Mike said.

“One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. I particularly enjoyed the smoked oysters.”

Chef Li bowed her head.

“Thank you, Mr. Barrington, Mr. Freeman. I still have a few more dishes to try out, but I have a good feeling that today’s meal will make the cut.”

The chef gave them a tour of the kitchen and introduced them to her staff.

Stone and Mike shook everyone’s hands, and then Stone said in a voice loud enough for all to hear, “As a representative of the board, I want to say how pleased we are with your work. If the lunch we just had is any indication, I have no doubt Shepherd on the Shore will not only become known as the best restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard, but also one of the best in the world. We look forward to seeing you all again at the grand opening.”

Stone and Mike said their goodbyes to Chef Li and the others, then headed over to the resort’s lobby, where they met up with Larry Chandler, the project manager.

Stone nodded toward several people behind the reception desk, who were huddled around the computers.

“What’s happening over there?”

“Software installation and testing,” Chandler said.

“They weren’t scheduled to get started until next week, but we were ready early for them, so they’re taking advantage of the extra time.”

“I’m always happy to hear about something being ahead of schedule,” Stone said.

“You and me both. Shall we start with security?”

“If you’re trying to butter me up, it’s working,” Mike said.

Chandler led them to the security monitoring room in the employee-only area.

When Stone and Mike had visited last week, the room had looked like a storage space filled with unopened boxes.

Now, there were several workstations in front of a wall covered with more than a dozen monitors.

“Very nice,” Mike said.

“Do we have full coverage yet?”

To ensure their guests’ safety, the camera system was intended to cover all the resort’s public areas.

“Still adjusting camera placement, but I’m told they should be done by the end of the day tomorrow.”

Mike nodded, satisfied.

Chandler showed them a few more things in the main building, then drove them in one of the resort golf carts to the largest bungalow.

It was fifteen hundred square feet, had three bedrooms, and would come with a dedicated butler and housekeeper.

As Stone was looking around, his phone vibrated.

Tamlyn was calling.

“Excuse me for a moment,” he said to Mike and Chandler, then stepped outside.

“Tamlyn, what a pleasure to hear from you.”

“Hello, Stone,” she said, a smile in her voice.

“I just heard from Viv that I’ll be catching a ride with you across the pond. I thought Dino was kidding when he intimated you owned a jet.”

“He was not.”

“I know plenty of men who would have confirmed what he’d said was true right away.”

“It’s good to know I’m not plenty of men.”

“You definitely are not.”

“Our departure is still two days away. Seems a crime to wait that long to see each other again. Are you free for dinner tonight?”

“Very smooth, Mr. Barrington. And, yes, I believe I am free.”

“How about I pick you up at your office? Say seven p.m.?”

“I look forward to it.”

Stone arrived back at his office at four-thirty to find Bob Cantor enjoying a coffee with Joan at her desk.

“Bob, thanks for coming over,” Stone said.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.”

“Not at all,” Bob replied.

“Joan called me when you landed and gave me an impressively accurate ETA on when you’d be here. I just arrived myself.”

Joan shrugged.

“Just one of my many talents.”

Stone motioned to his office.

“You’d better come in before she starts rattling off all of them. Joan, can you ask the new guy to join us, please?”

“His name is Ash.”

“Can you ask Ash to join us?”

“I suppose you’ll be wanting a coffee, too.”

“If you don’t mind.”

She headed toward the back, and Stone followed Bob into his office.

“What new guy?” Bob asked, after taking a seat in front of Stone’s desk.

“It turns out I have a new associate.”

“Still trying to replace Carly?”

“There is no replacing Carly.”

Ash and Joan entered just as Stone was speaking.

“Stop that, or you’re going to give poor Ash a complex,” Joan said, then set Stone’s coffee on the desk.

“It’s all right,” Ash said.

“It doesn’t bother me.”

Joan tsked.

“You don’t have to pretend. Stone can be a bit insensitive sometimes.”

“Since when have I ever been insensitive?” Stone asked.

“Just a moment ago, when you said there was no replacing Carly.”

“I was being very sensitive. I was praising Carly. Besides, you walked into the middle of a private conversation.”

“Then you should have closed the door.”

She turned and flounced out.

“Is she always like that?” Ash asked.

“Yes,” Stone and Bob said in unison.

“Good to know.”

Stone pointed at the empty chair next to Bob.

“Have a seat.” As Ash sat down, Stone said, “Ash, this is Bob Cantor. He’s the best PI and tech expert I know.”

“Why thank you, Stone,” Bob said.

“I’m only speaking the truth. And this is Ashton Williamson, associate at Woodman & Weld.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Cantor.”

“You can call me Bob.”

“And you can call me Ash.”

The two men shook hands.

To Ash, Stone said, “Did you have enough time to go over Sara’s files?”

“I did,” Ash said, drawing out the last word.

“I sense a question.”

“I was confused by the inclusion of the police report concerning an assault on someone named…” He paused as he checked his notes.

“Paul Weston. How is he connected to Ms. Hirschy?”

“That’s actually why Bob is here,” Stone said.

He told Ash about Sara’s failed blind date and Weston’s beating.

“I asked Bob to look into Sara’s estranged husband to see if he could have been behind it.”

Ash nodded.

“Now it makes sense. Thank you.”

“Bob?” Stone said.

Bob pulled out a notebook and flicked through to the page he wanted.

“The husband’s name is Leonard Yates. He’s ten years older than Sara and is a moderately successful real estate broker in Chicago, dealing mostly in commercial properties. Sources told me he moved in with another woman the day he and Sara separated. Several people also said his only interest in Sara now is getting as much money out of her from the divorce as possible.”

“Do you think he could be behind what happened to Weston?” Stone asked.

“Perhaps as a way to scare Sara?”

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Yates is not a great guy. But the sense I got is that he doesn’t give a damn about what she’s doing. There are easier and more straightforward ways to get what he wants from Ms. Hirschy than hurting her blind date.”

Stone nodded.

“Ash?”

Ash glanced up from the notes he’d been taking, surprised.

“Yes, Mr. Barrington?”

“What do you think?”

“Oh, eh…I agree with Mr. Cantor, I mean Bob. If anything, I would think Yates would want Ms. Hirschy to hook up with someone else. That way she’d be more motivated to give in to his demands and get the divorce behind her.”

“That’s my thinking, too.”

Ash looked pleased to hear that.

“Bob, thanks for looking into this,” Stone said.

“I do have a question,” Bob said.

“Did you know Yates is Ms. Hirschy’s second husband?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Ten years ago, in Los Angeles. She married a man named Stefan Howard the day she turned eighteen. I take it you were not aware of that.”

“I was not.”

“Perhaps because it was annulled a few weeks after it occurred.”

“Do you know why it was annulled?”

Bob shook his head.

“I stumbled across the information while looking into Yates, but since Howard wasn’t who you wanted me to dig into, I didn’t check any further. If you—”

Bob’s phone began vibrating.

“Mind if I take this?” he said.

“It’s my guy in Chicago.”

Stone motioned for him to go ahead.

“Bob Cantor,” Bob answered.

He listened for several seconds, then pulled out a pen and began writing in his notebook.

“When?…Uh-huh…Uh-huh…Which hospital?…What are they saying?…Okay. Thanks for letting me know.” He hung up and said to Stone, “You’re not going to believe this. Leonard Yates was jumped on his way to work this morning and is in the hospital with a severe concussion and a broken nose, among other things.”

“Was it random or was he targeted?” Stone asked.

“No idea. Yates isn’t saying much of anything, and apparently there were no witnesses.”

“I can’t help but wonder if he received a warning similar to the one Weston was given.”

“You think the attacks are connected?” Ash said.

“We’d be foolish if we didn’t at least consider the possibility.”

“If you want me to pursue that,” Bob said, “I should probably fly out there and see if I can talk to him myself.”

“I’d appreciate that, Bob. Thank you. Talk to Joan. She can handle your travel arrangements.”

Bob slipped his notebook back in his pocket.

“What about the first husband?”

“I’m seeing Sara’s uncle on Friday. I’ll ask him what he knows. If it seems like he could be a suspect, I’ll have you look into him.”

“Works for me.”

“Ash, type up your notes and send a copy to Bob, Herb Fisher, and myself.” Stone checked the time.

“Then call your girlfriend and take her out to a nice dinner.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Ash said.

“You still need to eat.”

Ash glanced at his watch.

“But…but, the notes won’t take me that long, and it’s only five.”

“We try to keep civilized hours around here unless we have no other choice. But if you’d rather go back to the Seagram Building and stay until midnight, I won’t stop you.”

Ash shot to his feet, shaking his head.

“No, no. Civilized hours sound great.” When he reached the doorway, he stopped and looked back.

“You’re sure?”

“Ask me again, and I might change my mind.”

“I retract the question,” Ash said, then made himself scarce.

Nodding in the direction Ash had gone, Bob said, “I think this one has promise.”

“Only time will tell.”