Chapter 12

"Five minutes."

Stone stirred at the sound of Holly's voice and mumbled, "Five minutes until what?"

When she didn't answer, he reached over to pull her close, but he couldn't find her. He cracked open an eye. Her side of the bed was empty.

"Holly?"

He turned to find her exiting the bathroom, dressed in one of her trademark presidential business suits and with a phone to her ear.

"Yes. That will be fine." She hung up and gave Stone an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep."

Stone pushed up on his elbows. "What time is it?"

"Six."

"You look awfully formal for breakfast."

She sat beside him and took his hand. "An hour ago, North Korea performed an unannounced missile test. The missile came down within fifty kilometers of a joint naval exercise we're participating in with South Korea and Japan. No one was hurt, and it should all blow over, but…"

"But you're the president of the United States."

She nodded. "And it wouldn't look good if I suddenly started making statements from somewhere I'm not supposed to be." She leaned down and kissed him. "I'll make it up to you. I'm just not sure when."

"When are you leaving?"

"Now, I'm afraid. I'm catching a ride with Kate and Will to the airport."

"Let me see you out, at least."

He pulled on some clothes and walked her to the front door.

A half dozen suitcases were lined up in the entryway.

"I didn't realize you'd brought so much."

"Those would be ours," Kate said, walking up behind them.

Will was with her, carrying their still sleeping son.

The front door opened, and a Secret Service agent stepped in. "Madame President, Madame President, Mr. President, whenever you're ready."

Stone walked them to the Suburban while several agents carried the Lees' luggage to another vehicle.

"We'll be gone the rest of the month," Will said to Stone, following Kate into the SUV. "Stay as long as you want."

"Thanks and have a great trip," Stone said.

Holly wrapped her arms around him. "I was so looking forward to this."

"Me, too."

They kissed until Will rolled down his window and said, "I don't mean to be an asshole, but there's a beach in the Pacific calling my name."

Stone and Holly reluctantly parted.

"Don't have too much fun without me," she said.

"Me? Never."

She snorted. "Right." She entered the car, and the motorcade departed.

While Stone ate breakfast, he considered flying on to L.A. that day, but that would mean arriving more than a week before the Centurion board meeting. As much as he enjoyed Los Angeles, it couldn't compete with the peace and calm of Santa Fe. And after everything he'd been through in the last few months, a little bit of peace was welcomed.

Besides, Will and Kate weren't his only friends in town.

He picked up his phone and called Ed Eagle, a lawyer who worked out of an office in town.

"Stone, this is a nice surprise. How are you doing?"

"I'm good, Ed. And you and Susannah?"

"Happy and healthy."

"Glad to hear it."

"When are you going to come out and visit us again?"

"How about today?"

"Don't tell me you're already in town?"

"Guilty as charged."

"And you're not staying with us?"

"You do realize you're not the only ones I know here, right?"

"Ah, I get it. You'd rather stay with a couple of has-been ex-presidents than with your good old friends."

"I'll be sure to tell Will and Kate what you think of them when I see them."

"It's nothing I haven't said to them in person. Wait a second. Didn't Will tell me they were off on vacation this week?"

"Hawaii. They left this morning."

"And you're in that big house by yourself?"

"Yep. Just me and a half dozen Secret Service agents. Holly was here, but she ended up having to leave, too."

"That stuff with North Korea?"

"You are well informed."

"If you get lonely, our guest room's waiting for you."

"Thanks, Ed. I'm settled in here, so I should be fine. But I was thinking that we could grab a meal."

"How long are you here for?"

"A few days, maybe a week."

"I'd say more than one meal, then. How about we start with lunch today?"

"That sounds great."

"Come to my office around one, and we can go from here."

In a luxury townhouse on the other side of Santa Fe, Simon Duchamp had just finished breakfast and was about to head to the local Duchamp Gallery when his phone pinged. His PI friend had responded to his request.

Nico Savage worked for someone named Winston Petry, in New York City, as a lawyer and fixer who handled Petry's dirty work.

According to the PI, Savage made a good salary, but didn't have the kind of money to afford Simon's services. Which meant he had to be fronting for his boss, who was loaded. Apparently, Petry was the kind of guy who felt the law didn't apply to him.

Simon grinned. Loaded and not worried about being an upright citizen were two of his favorite traits in a client.

He called Savage on a burner phone.

"Nico Savage."

"Good morning, Mr. Savage. Reed Langston tells me that you'd like to talk."

"You're his art guy?"

Simon bristled at the description but kept it out of his voice. "I understand you might be interested in acquiring a particular piece?"

"Not one. Several."

"By several, you mean…?"

"Three should be enough."

Simon frowned at how arbitrary that sounded. "Okay. Which artists?"

"Matilda Stone."

"And?"

"Just her."

"I see. Are there particular pieces of hers you're interested in?"

"I'll send you a list."

"I just want to make sure you're aware, there is the possibility I might not be able to acquire three from your list. Are you okay with that?"

"If would be a shame, but if unavoidable, any Stone paintings will do."

"I'm sorry?"

"We want three. As many of those as you can from the list would be appreciated."

"I'll…see what I can do."