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Informationen zum Autor Stuart Woods Klappentext In this perfect mix of sexy intrigue and swift suspense in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Stone Barrington investigates the suicide of a CIA officer-his own cousin... Stone Barrington hasn't heard from his cousin, Dick Stone, in years. Then, an otherwise pleasant meal at Elaine's is interrupted by the CIA with news of Dick's death-apparently by his own hand. It seems that Dick Stone, a quiet family man who doubled as a CIA agent, methodically executed his wife, daughter, and then himself...or did he? Appointed executor of Dick's will, Stone must settle the estate and-with the help of his ex-partner Dino and friend Holly Barker-piece together the elusive facts of his cousin's life and death as a CIA operative. At every step, Stone knows he is being watched by Dick's family-and one of them just may be the killer. 1 ELAINE’S, LATE. Stone Barrington had already had a drink and had almost given up on Dino Bacchetti. It was unlike his former NYPD partner, now the lieutenant in charge of the detective squad at the 19th Precinct, to be late for eating or drinking. Stone was signaling a waiter for another drink and a menu when Dino trudged in. “Why are you trudging?” Stone asked. “I’m trudging because I’m depressed,” Dino said, waving at a waiter and making drinking motions. “And why, pray tell, are you depressed?” “Mary Ann and I have just split.” “Yeah, sure,” Stone said. “Just sleep on the sofa tonight, and everything will be fine in the morning.” “Not this time,” Dino replied, drinking greedily from the glass set before him. “Words were spoken that can’t be taken back.” “Take it from a lawyer,” Stone said, “the only words spoken that can’t be taken back are ‘Guilty, Your Honor.’” “Those were pretty much the words,” Dino said. “And who spoke them?” “Who the fuck do you think?” Dino asked. “You think she would ever cop to anything?” “What did you plead guilty to?” “To the new desk sergeant at the precinct.” Stone’s eyebrows went up. “Dino, are you switch-hitting these days?” “A girl desk sergeant.” “Oh.” “Yeah.” “So the sofa is not an option?” “Nah. I guess I’m moving in with you.” Stone blinked loudly. “Relax. It’s only ’til I can find a place.” “Stay as long as you like, Dino,” Stone said, patting his arm and hoping to God it wouldn’t be more than a day or two before Mary Ann relented and let him back in the house. “Thanks, pal, I appreciate it.” Dino nodded toward the door. “Look who’s coming.” Stone looked toward the door to find Lance Cabot and Holly Barker approaching. “May we join you?” Lance asked. “Sure.” Stone waved them to chairs. Lance was in charge of some sort of New York CIA unit that Stone didn’t really understand, and Holly had left her job as a chief of police in a small Florida town to work for him. Both Stone and Dino were contract “consultants,” and Stone didn’t really understand that, either, except that Lance sometimes asked him to do legal stuff. Stone and Holly were, occasionally, an item. Lance ordered drinks. “Why do I perceive that this isn’t a social visit?” Stone asked. “Because your perceptions are very keen,” Lance replied. “What’s up?” “Tell me everything you know about Richard Stone.” Stone blinked. It was the second time that day that Dick Stone’s name had come up. “He’s my first cousin,” Stone replied. “I said everything you know,” Lance pointed out. “Okay, he’s the son of my mother’s older brother, now deceased; he grew up in Boston, went to Harvard and Harvard Law. I think he’s something at the State Department.” “How long since you’ve seen him?” Stone thought about it. “We had dinner eight, nine years ago, when I was still a cop. Last time before that was a little more than twenty years a...
