They turned into Hal Rhinehart’s drive and stopped next to the shop. Rhinehart was at his drawing table in his office, working on a set of plans. “Good morning,” he said.
“Morning, Hal. I want you to meet Holly Barker, a friend of mine.”
Rhinehart shook Holly’s hand. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked.
“I wanted to ask you about something,” Holly said.
“Go ahead.”
“You know the Stone house has Assa locks.”
“Yes, and they’re the best.”
“If you wanted to get past one of them, how would you do it?”
“I’d find another way in,” he replied. “I wouldn’t waste my time working on an Assa.”
“I’m talking about the Stone house, specifically,” she said.
“That’s a very tight house,” he replied. “If I really wanted to get in, I’d try and steal a key from somebody. Otherwise, I’d pass it up for something easier.”
“Could you get a duplicate key made?” Holly asked.
Rhinehart shrugged. “I’d try and bribe the locksmith who installed it. He’d have to order a key or a blank from Assa, in Sweden. The trouble is, there’s no locksmith on the island; Dick Stone would have to have found one in a larger city to come and do the work, and there’s no way to know which one.“
“Suppose the bribery didn’t work. How would you get a key?”
“If I were in New York, I’d follow the maid to the subway and steal her handbag. As you can see, getting past an Assa would be a major pain in the ass.”
“Could you pick it?”
“I tried that once for two bloody hours and got nowhere. When you put the key into an Assa and turn it, something like ninety-two things have to happen inside the lock before it will open.”
“Could you make a copy of a key?”
“Sure, if I could get a wax impression. Then it could be cut from a solid piece of metal. That’s also a major pain. There are simpler ways to make a living as a burglar.”
A young woman carrying an infant came into the office. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy,” she said.
“This is my wife, Helene,” Rhinehart said, “and our baby, Dede. She’s nine months old.”
Holly made the appropriate nois
es with the baby. “Thanks for your help,” she said. “We’d better be going.” They said their goodbyes and went back to the car.
“Well?” Stone said.
“All right,” she said, “Rhinehart sold me. He’s a reformed character.”
“Good questions about the locks,” Stone said.
“Yeah, but no good answers. I’m stumped.”
“So am I.”
“I guess we’ll have to pursue other leads.”
“What other leads?” Stone asked.