Stuart Woods - D.C. Dead

Table of Contents

Chapter 46

BOOKS BY STUART WOODS

FICTION

Son of Stone
Bel-Air Dead
Strategic Moves
Santa Fe Edge
Lucid Intervals
Kisser
Hothouse Orchid*
Loitering with Intent
Mounting Fears
Hot Mahogany
Santa Fe Dead
Beverly Hills Dead
Shoot Him If He Runs
Fresh Disasters
Short Straw
Dark Harbor
Iron Orchid*
Two-Dollar Bill
The Prince of
Beverly Hills
Reckless Abandon
Capital Crimes
Dirty Work
Blood Orchid*
The Short Forever
Orchid Blues*
Cold Paradise
L.A. Dead
The Run
Worst Fears Realized
Orchid Beach*
Swimming to Catalina
Dead in the Water
Dirt
Choke
Imperfect Strangers
Heat
Dead Eyes
L.A. Times
Santa Fe Rules
New York Dead
Palindrome
Grass Roos
White Cargo
Deep lie
Under the Lake
Run Before the Wind
Chiefes

TRAVEL

A Romantics Guide to the Country Inns of Britain and Ireland (1979)

MEMOIR

Blue Water, Green Skipper (1977)

*A Holly Barker Novel A Stone Barrington Novel

A Will Lee Novel An Ed Eagle Novel

G. P. PUTNAMS SONS / NEW YORK

PUTNAM

G. P. PUTNAMS SONS
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Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R ORL, England

Copyright 2012 by Stuart Woods All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions. Published simultaneously in Canada

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Woods, Stuart.

D.C. dead / Stuart Woods. p. cm.

ISBN : 978-1-101-55366-4

1. Barrington, Stone (Fictitious character)Fiction. 2. Private investigatorsFiction. 3. Washington (D.C.)Fiction. I. Title.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

ALWAYS LEARNING

PEARSON

This book is for Emmi Storrs

STONE BARRINGTON AND DINO BACCHETTI ENTERED ELAINES on a Sunday evening, and drinks were brought to them immediately.

They took their usual table, and Elaine came over afonnd sat down. You two are oddly dressed, she said. For you. Whats going on?

Oh, Stone said, we delivered our sons to Yale for their freshman year this afternoon, and were dressed for humping boxes of their gear up to their apartment.

Elaine nodded. So the boys are off?

Theyre off, Dino said.

No wonder you both look so glum, Elaine said.

Stone looked at Dino. Do I look glum?

Yeah, Dino said.

So do you.

Youre empty nesters now, Elaine chortled. Never thought Id see the day.

Stone shook his head. Nine months ago I didnt have a son, at least not one Id ever met. Now I dont have a son again.

Elaine reached over and patted his cheek. You havent lost a son, she said, youve gained a college boy. She got up and continued her rounds of the regulars tables.

I guess thats one way to look at it, Stone said. Do you think hell ever come home again?

Probably not, Dino replied. Youve seen the last of that kid.

Oh, shut up. Youre in the same spot.

Nah, Dino said, youre worse off. At least Im not used to having Ben around the house all the time. Hes been at prep school for four years, and then his mother yanked him to her place every chance she got. This afternoon, why didnt you raise the subject of visits home?

I thought about it, Stone said, but I was afraid I wouldnt like the answer. After all, the kids got the money he was paid for his film, which is more than I had a year ago, so he doesnt need me for anything.

He just doesnt need you for buying stuff, Dino pointed out. He still needs a father.

You really think so?

Ben needs me, Im sure of that. Why wouldnt Peter need you, what with his mother dead and all?

Hes got Hattie. Theyre sleeping together, you know.

Dino laughed aloud. No shit? What were you doing your freshman year?

Stone shrugged. Fucking my brains out, if I recall correctly.

Actually, you continued to do that, at least until you and Arrington got married.

Stone managed a smile. If anything, the activity increased after that.

Im getting worried about you, kiddo, Dino said. Youre gonna have to get back in the saddle pretty soon or youre gonna forget how.

Yeah, I think about that a lot. Its just that... well, its like not being hungry at dinnertime. I just dont have an appetite.

Dino turned and watched as a very pretty brunette in a short skirt came through the door and took a seat at the bar, crossing her long legs. Doesnt that do anything for you?

Sort of, Stone replied. I mean, I remember what it was like, the way you remember how you roller-skated when you were a kid, but it just isnt all thamilt alt appealing.

Dino felt for Stones pulse and looked at his watch. Your vital signs seem normal.

Thats something, I guess.

Look whos here, Dino said, nodding toward the door.

Stone turned in time to see a tall redhead in a well-cut pantsuit enter the restaurant. She headed for their table and sat down. Hello, sailors, she said, leering a little.

Stone leaned over and kissed her. Hello, Holly. What brings you to town?

Dino kissed her, too. Same question here.

Agency business, Holly Barker replied. She was an assistant deputy director for the CIA. I hope you guys remember that youre still under contract to us as consultants.

How could we forget? Stone asked. Lance keeps reminding us. Lance Cabot was Hollys boss, deputy director for operations, or DDO.