Page 20

Stone and his friends landed in England just after ten p.

m.

local time.

Faith taxied them to the hangar, where they were met by two gentlemen from border control.

“You have your own passport officers?” Tamlyn whispered to Stone.

Stone shook his head.

“Major Bugg informs border control of our flight plans, and they send someone to meet us.”

“Major Bugg?”

Stone pointed out the window to where Major Bugg and another man stood next to a pair of Range Rovers.

“The older man. He’s ex–Royal Marine and Windward Hall’s property manager.”

After the border control officers had checked everyone’s passports, the man in charge said, “Thank you for your cooperation and welcome to the United Kingdom. Enjoy your stay.”

The men left, and Stone and the others followed them out.

Bugg and his companion were at the bottom of the stairs by the time Stone stepped onto the tarmac.

“Good evening, Mr. Barrington,” Bugg said.

“I trust the flight was a pleasant one.”

“It was. Thank you. Major Bugg, may I introduce Tamlyn Thompson and Jack Coulter.”

“Miss Thompson, Mr. Coulter,” Bugg said, dipping his head as he said their names.

“Nice to meet you, Major,” Tamlyn said.

Jack smiled.

“A pleasure.”

“And, of course, you already know Dino,” Stone said.

“Welcome back, Commissioner.”

“Thank you, Major,” Dino said.

“You’re looking well.”

The major dipped his head, then turned to Jack.

“Mr. Coulter, I’ve been told you are in need of transportation to London.”

“I am.”

Bugg motioned to the man with him.

“This is Harold. He will be your driver. If you could point out which bags are yours, he’ll load them in his vehicle and see you safely to your destination.”

“The black one on the end,” Jack said, pointing at the group of bags that Faith and the flight attendant had just finished unloading.

“We’re in the lead vehicle,” Harold said, then jogged over to retrieve Jack’s suitcase.

“Thank you, Stone,” Jack said, “for the flight and the ride into London. I owe you.”

“It was my pleasure. And don’t forget to let me know if you’ll be able to join us on Monday.”

“Will do.”

“Take care, Jack,” Dino said.

“You, too, Dino,” Jack said and headed after Harold.

“Shall we proceed to Windward Hall?” Bugg asked.

“Please,” Stone said.

Soon bags and passengers were ensconced in the second Range Rover, and the major began the short drive to the main house.

Tamlyn’s eyes widened as they neared.

“Oh, my. It’s spectacular.”

Decorative lights lit up the outside of Windward Hall, making it look like a jewel in the night.

“Thank you,” Stone said.

“I’m quite fond of it.”

“How long has it been yours?”

“Several years now. I purchased it from the previous owner, before he died. I have Dame Felicity to thank for that.”

Tamlyn raised an eyebrow.

“How so?”

“She introduced them,” Dino said.

Stone pointed out the side window at some lights on the other side of the river.

“That’s her place across the Beaulieu River, and the location of tomorrow night’s party.”

“So close.” Her gaze shifted to a larger cluster of lights on the same side of the Beaulieu as Windward Hall.

“And who lives there?”

“Anyone who books a room. That’s one of our Arrington Hotels.”

“Mike mentioned one was in England. I didn’t realize it was next door to your home.”

“You should visit the Arrington in Los Angeles,” Dino said.

“He has a house on the hotel grounds.”

“Do you have homes at or near all your hotels?” she asked Stone.

“Not all,” he said.

The Range Rover stopped at the entrance to Windward Hall, and Stone led his friends inside and into the study, where he poured each a glass of port.

As he handed Dino his drink, Bugg rapped on the door and entered.

“Pardon the interruption, sir,” he said.

“But I wanted to let Miss Thompson know that her ride into the city will be waiting out front at eight a.m.”

Tamlyn would be spending most of Saturday in London.

“Thank you, Major,” Tamlyn said.

“I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all, madam.”

“And where will I find my room?” she asked.

“I’ll show you once we finish here,” Stone said.

“I assume I’m in my regular room?” Dino said.

“You are, Commissioner,” the major replied, then looked at Stone.

“Will there be anything else?”

“I think that’s all for tonight,” Stone said.

With a bow of his head, the major left.

“He’s quite efficient, isn’t he?” Tamlyn said.

“I can’t imagine how this place would run without him,” Dino said.

“Has he worked for you long?” Tamlyn asked Stone.

“He came with the house.”

“Lucky you.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

They sipped their drinks and talked about plans for the following day.

When Dino finished his port, he said, “I think I’ll call it a night. Unless you desire a chaperone.”

“Good night, Dino,” Stone said.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

Tamlyn covered her grin with her hand.

“I appreciate the offer, but I should be able to defend my honor on my own.”

“Then I bid you good night,” Dino said and headed to his room.

Once they were alone, Tamlyn said, “It’s obvious you two have known each other for a long time.”

“He was my partner when I was on the force.”

“You were a police officer?” she asked, surprised.

“For fourteen years.”

“You left to go to law school?”

“I left because a faction in the NYPD decided it was time for me to retire. Law school happened before I joined the police. I didn’t take the bar until after, when I needed to find a new way to support myself.”

“Seems you landed on your feet.”

“I’d say things have worked out okay.” Noticing that she was almost finished with her port, he said, “Would you like another?”

“I think one’s enough for tonight.”

“Then let me show you to your room.”

He took her upstairs to the guest room that had been prepared for her and led her inside.

He motioned at a door to the left.

“Your walk-in closet, where you’ll find robes and slippers.” He then pointed at the door on the right.

“And that’s your en suite, with shower and tub.”

“This is so much nicer than my friend’s guest room where I’d been planning on staying. One question, though.”

“Yes?”

“Where is your room?”

“Ah. I can show you that, too, if you’d like.”

“Please.”

He led her back into the hallway and to the door opposite the guest suite, which he then opened.

She raised an eyebrow.

“How convenient.”

“Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”

She brushed past him into his suite and looked around.

“There are two bathrooms?”

“I find it more efficient.”

She thought for a moment, then nodded.

“It’s actually brilliant.”

“Thank you.”

She walked to him.

“There is one problem with this room.”

“And what would that be?”

She put her arms around Stone’s neck and kissed him.

When their lips parted, she whispered, “My luggage isn’t in here.”

“An oversight,” he said.

“Which can be easily remedied.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

She kissed him again.

“Later, of course,” he said.

“Later is better.”

Stone used his foot to shut the door.