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ELAINE’S, EARLY

Stone Barrington had just walked through the door when his cell phone vibrated in his jacket pocket He dug it out, while Gianni led him back to his usual table Dino wasn’t there yet

“Hello?”

“Stone?” An unfamiliar female voice

“Yes”

“It’s Holly Barker”

It took only a nanosecond for Stone to display her iht brown hair, sun-streaked, well put together, badge “Hello, Chief, how are you?”

“Confused”

“How can I help?”

“I’m in a taxi, and I don’t knohere to tell the driver to take ood hotel, not too expensive?” “In what city?”

“In New York I’m headed for the Midtown Tunnel, I think”

“Why don’t you stay at uest room”

“I have a friend with me”

“Male or female?”

“Female”

“My secretary is there right noorking late I’ll call and tell her to expect you” He gave her his Turtle Bay address “There are three guest roo beds and one with twins, all on the top floor You choose”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you to any trouble”