“After breakfast, we’ll go back to New York. It would be too easy for him to find you.”
“All right.”
After breakfast Stone called the trooper and arranged to hire an off-duty officer to watch the house for the weekend; then they packed up and left for New York.
They were back on I-684 south when Stone pointed ahead of them. “Look,” he said. “That’s Daltry’s car on the flatbed; he’ll be in the truck.” He pulled her head into his lap. “Stay down until we’re out of sight.”
He caught a glimpse of Daltry sitting next to the truck driver as they passed. A glance in the rearview mirror detected no reaction from the man as they passed. He kept Celia’s head in his lap until they had exited the interstate onto the Saw Mill River Parkway.
They spent the remainder of their weekend cloistered in Stone’s house, cooking, massaging and making love.
36
Stone was sitting up in bed reading the Times when Celia came in with a breakfast tray and set it on his lap.
“Thank you,” he said.
“I’ve got to leave.”
“We’ve got to keep you under wraps for a while longer,” Stone said. “You’re welcome to stay here.”
“I have a friend in New Jersey who’s agreed to put me up. What’s more, I can see some clients out there for a while.”
“When do you want to go?”
“She’s expecting me for lunch.”
“I’ll get a car to take you out there as soon as Joan comes in. Leave me the address
and number, and I’ll keep you posted on events as they happen.”
She slipped out of her robe. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Stone was tempted to ditch his breakfast and join her, but he calmed himself. He finished his breakfast and was doing the Times crossword when Joan buzzed him.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. Did you have a good weekend in Connecticut?”
“It was cut short; we spent most of it here. Could you call the car service and get a car and driver to take Celia to New Jersey?”
“What time?”
“About an hour.”
“Will do. I’ve already called Bernard Finger’s office, but Sam Teich isn’t in yet, and Finger isn’t back from Las Vegas.”
“Please call Mrs. Finger and tell them we’re still waiting for the final accounting and expect to have it today.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“That’ll do it for now.”
She hung up. Celia came out of the bathroom fully dressed.
“The car will be here in an hour,” Stone said.
“I’ll get packed.”