“Thank you very much,” Stone said. “I wish you a happy time in the house.”
They were in the kitchen when the doorbell rang, and Stone went to answer it. Two uniformed state troopers stood on the porch with William Givers, handcuffed, between them.
“I’m Sergeant Miller,” one of them said. “Mr. Barrington?”
“That’s me.”
“I understand that you have a firearm that you took from this gentleman?”
“Correct, except for the gentleman part.” Stone took the weapon and its cartridges from his pocket and handed them to Miller. “It’s been cleared.”
Miller cleared it again himself, then turned to Givers. “William Givers, you are under arrest for the unlawful possession of a firearm in the State of Connecticut. You will come with us. Thank you, Mr. Barrington. We’ll be in touch to get a written statement.”
“I’ll fax you one on Monday,” Stone said. He went back into the house and took Eggers on a tour of the house’s systems, then called the security company and gave them the names of the new owners.
Stone and Eggers watched a football game on TV, while Susan and Margo continued working on the computer. As it grew late, Stone booked a room at the Mayflower and a dinner table at the West Street Grill, in Litchfield. The ladies joined them for a drink, then Stone and Susan went to change.
They were having dinner in Litchfield when Stone’s cell phone vibrated.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Dan. I thought you’d like to know that Givers was bailed out by a local attorney a few minutes ago.”
“No arraignment?”
“The attorney brought a judge with him. Givers will have to make a court appearance on Tuesday. Where are you?”
“In Litchfield.”
“So is Givers, so watch yourself.”
“Did you give him his gun back?”
“No, and we kept the shotgun we found in his car, too, and the two boxes of ammo for the handgun and the shotgun, or riot gun, I should say; it has a short barrel.”
“So much for public relations,” Stone said.
Brady laughed. “Yeah.”
“I’ll fax you an affidavit on Monday morning. Will I need to make an appearance?”
“Not unless he’s tried. I expect he’ll plead to a lesser charge, pay a fine, and walk.”
“Well, I’m glad to have caused him some trouble, anyway.”
“Do you think you’ve heard the last of these people?”
“I doubt it, but I’m leaving the country at the end of next week, and they won’t know where I am.”
“Good idea. Let ’em cool off.”
“Thanks, Dan, and take care of yourself.”
“Same to you. Thanks for helping us get him off the street, at least for a while.”
Stone hung up and went back to his dinner.
20
They spent a lazy Sunday morning in bed, watching the political shows and reading the Times. “How’d you and Margo do with your computer program?”
“Very well, with only a couple of glitches, and I’ve already e-mailed that news to the software team. Margo and I are going to meet at your house in a couple of days and nail down the materials she’ll need, and my team will ship them to her late next week. They’ll get to work on the draperies, too, and she’ll have them in about three weeks. A firm in New York I’ve worked with before will do the painting and installations, and we’ll find an upholsterer to redo some of the furniture.”
“So long-distance design works, huh?”
“I am absolutely delighted with the computer program, and with the client’s willingness to make decisions from looking at pictures on a screen. This is going to make me a lot more productive.”
“I’m glad to hear it, if it will make it easier for you to come to New York.”
“It just might,” she replied.
They had lunch downstairs and then left for New York.
They drove back to I-84 West, and as they crossed the state line, they passed a black BMW SUV, parked on the shoulder. Stone watched in his mirror as the driver started the car and pulled into traffic behind them.
“What is it?” Susan asked.
“Another black SUV. Let’s see if he follows us when we get onto I-684.” The SUV followed. Stone called Dan Brady.
“Sorry to trouble you again, Dan, but I’ve got another one on my tail, this time a black BMW SUV.”
“Where are you?”
“In New York State, and I don’t know anyone on the state police here.”
“I’ll call somebody, and they’ll be in touch. What’s your position?”
“On I-684 South, middle lane, coming up on the Hardscrabble Road exit. I’ll be turning off at the Sawmill, at Exit 5.”
“What are you driving?”
“A Blaise. I hope they’ll know what that is.”
“I’m on it,” Dan said, then hung up.
Stone tried driving faster, then slower, and the BMW kept pace, always two or three cars back. As he left the interstate and turned onto the Sawmill his phone rang. “Yes?”
“Mr. Barrington, this is Lieutenant Schwartz of the New York State Police. We hear from Colonel Brady in Connecticut that you’re driving a Blaise and being pursued by a black BMW SUV. Is that correct?”
“That is correct.”
“We should have eyes on you and him within about five minutes.”
“I’m on the Sawmill now, passing Katonah.”
“Stand by.” He was quiet for a moment, then came back. “We’ve got you,” he said. “Pull off the Sawmill at the next exit, and I’ll have him stopped there. You stop, too.”
“Lieutenant, your trooper should know that the last one who followed me was armed with a handgun and a shotgun, both loaded.”
“I heard that from Colonel Brady,” he said. “We’ll have two cars on the stop. Slow down to forty when you’re off the Sawmill, and stay on this line with me.”
“Will do.”
Stone saw an exit coming up and put on his blinker. He left the Sawmill and slowed to forty mph; so did the BMW. As he watched in the mirror he saw two New York State Police cars coming up from behind. One passed the BMW, and the other pulled in behind. Once they had him boxed, their lights came on, and they pulled him onto the shoulder.
“Stay in your car,” Schwartz said.
“Yes, sir.” He watched in his mirror as two troopers pulled a man from the BMW, while two other troopers stood behind his car, weapons drawn. He saw the man being frisked and relieved of a handgun, then cuffed. One of the troopers then opened the rear door and removed what looked like an assault rifle.
“That’s it,” Schwartz said, “he’s in custody, and he doesn’t have a carry license. You may proceed on your way now, and we’ll be in touch if we need you further.”
“Thank you very much, Lieutenant, and goodbye.” Stone made a U-turn and got back on the Sawmill.
“You seem to have very good relations with the police,” Susan said, “and in two states. I’m impressed.”
“Dan Brady did all the work,” Stone said.
“Do you think that man really meant you harm?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think he was armed to protect himself from me.”
21
Stone was at his desk the following morning when Dino called. “I’m messengering something to you,” he said. “I want you to read it immediately, then messenger it back to me.”
“All right.” Joan walked in with a package. “I think it’s already here.” Stone unwrapped it and found an FBI file about an inch thick, with the name Donald Beverly Calhoun on it.
“Read it and call me back,” Dino said.
Stone started to read.
It was nearly lunchtime when he finished and called Dino. “Thank you,” he said.