Stuart Woods' Finders Keepers

Stuart Woods' Finders Keepers

Chapter 1

"Unless Larry says I missed something, I think that's it," Ben Whitman said. He was CEO and lead architect at Whitman & Whitman. The other Whitman, his father, had retired over a decade earlier.

Ben was the designer of the Arrington Group's newest property, the Arrington Vineyard. The nearly completed resort was the reason Stone Barrington, Mike Freeman, and Marcel DuBois had come to Martha's Vineyard that day.

"That was everything on my list," Larry Chandler said. Larry was the project manager. He oversaw every aspect of construction in preparation for the quickly approaching grand opening.

"Gentlemen, we can't thank you enough," Stone said. "Despite the setbacks, you have delivered as promised and then some. I have a feeling this could become our most popular property yet."

"I agree," Mike said.

"My heart will always be with our Paris hotel," Marcel said, "but I can't deny that the Arrington Vineyard will be a close second."

The sentiment was understandable as Marcel oversaw the Arrington properties in Europe, the Paris hotel being the first of that group.

At one time, the land upon which the Arrington Vineyard was now being built had been split between three separate properties, each with a lavish mansion. All three had been owned by Stone's late client, Shepherd Troutman.

But the homes had been burned to the ground by the same people who had subsequently planted a bomb in an airplane Stone was flying with Shep and Shep's father onboard. Luck had been on Stone's side, and he'd survived the semi-controlled crash into the sea. The Troutmans, however, had not.

To Stone's surprise, Shep had left him the Martha's Vineyard properties and a good deal more, with the hope that the land would be turned into an Arrington resort.

After several supply-chain-related delays, that dream was finally coming to fruition. Now all that was left to do was complete final details, train the staff, and prepare for the Arrington Vineyard's grand opening, scheduled for the following month.

The brand would expand again next year when construction on the Arrington Santa Fe was completed.

Ben and Larry escorted Stone and the others to the waiting Suburban in front of the resort's main building.

"Thank you, gentlemen," Mike said. "We'll see you at the next scheduled meeting, which I believe is sometime next week."

"On Wednesday," Ben said. "If anything unexpected comes up before then, we'll let you know."

Hands were shaken and goodbyes were exchanged.

Stone's phone vibrated as he climbed into the SUV. He answered the call.

"Are you in town or out of town?" Dino Bacchetti asked. He was the New York City commissioner of police and Stone's best friend. The two had been NYPD detectives together in the distant past.

"Hello to you, too," Stone said. "And I'm out of town but heading back."

"In time for dinner?"

"In plenty of time."

"There's a new place Viv wants to try out called Liesel's."

"I've heard of it. It's supposed to have great steaks. I'm in."

"Seven?"

"Works for me," Stone said.

"Alone? Or plus one?"

"Alone."

"You know, you'll have to get back on the horse at some point."

"Goodbye, Dino," Stone said and hung up.

It wasn't that he'd purposely been dateless for the last month. Holly Barker, the woman for whom he'd drop everything, was occupied campaigning for her second term as president. And Monica Reyes, the last woman he'd been spending time with, had taken a job in San Francisco, leaving him at loose ends. With a busy month at work and the grand opening of the Arrington Vineyard, he hadn't had time to rectify the situation.

"Let me guess. Dino?" Mike asked.

"One and the same. We're having dinner at Liesel's. Marcel, I know you're heading back to Paris, but, Mike, you're welcome to join us."

"I appreciate the invite," Mike said, "but I'll be in the middle of a video conference call with Singapore."

"The entire country?"

"Selected representatives."

"Then I guess I'm stuck with Dino. And Viv, if she's not on your conference call." Dino's wife, Viv, was COO at Strategic Services.

"She is not, but if she does show up, she won't be alone."

"Oh?"

"She's helping our new chief technology officer get settled."

"New to the city?"

"Brand spanking. Arrived yesterday."

"I look forward to meeting him."

Mike smirked.


Stone was sitting at the bar at Liesel’s, awaiting Dino and Viv’s arrival, when the man next to him pulled out a phone, glanced at the screen, then let out a derisive huff.

When he noticed Stone, he said, "Evening."

"Good evening," Stone said.

"I'm Paul. Paul Weston."

"Stone Barrington."

"Cool name."

"I owe it all to my parents."

"Heh. That's funny. Tell me, Stone, what is it with women?"

"I'm not sure what you mean," Stone said.

"My date was supposed to be here by six-forty-five. It's almost six-fifty, and not a peep."

"That doesn't seem that egregious."

"Maybe you're used to being stood up, bud. Not me." He huffed again. "She should have at least texted me, right?"

"Have you tried contacting her?"

"Why should I? She's the one who's late. She should be the one contacting me."

"I see." Stone turned back to his Knob Creek, hoping that would end their conversation.

Weston tapped his arm. "Am I wrong?"

Without looking at him, Stone said, "Not for me to say."

"Then I'll say it. I'm not." He checked his phone as if a text might have snuck in while he wasn't looking. From his frown, none had. "If she wasn't loaded, I'd be outta here. Know what I mean?"

Stone's silence was met with another tap against his arm.

"Know what I mean?" Weston said.

Stone could think of several responses, but he doubted the man would have reacted well to any of them. Instead, he grunted noncommittally, hoping the guy would take the clue.

"Stone, do me a favor and don't let anyone take my seat, will you? I gotta hit the can."

"I'll do my best."

As Weston stood, he said, "Thanks, buddy," then patted Stone on the back like they were the best of friends and headed toward the restrooms.

Stone glanced at him as he walked away, thinking that Weston's date would do herself a favor by not showing up at all.

Stone was about to turn back to his drink when he noticed two men across the bar area watching Weston. They were both large and held drinks that looked untouched.

When Weston turned down the hallway toward the restrooms, the men set their drinks down and followed him.

Stone picked up his bourbon and tried to convince himself that they only needed to use the restroom themselves. The glass reached his lips, but he didn't take a drink.

"Dammit." He set the Knob Creek down.

"Something wrong, sir?" the bartender asked.

Stone frowned. "I think there might be."

"Anything I can help with?"


As Stone and the bartender approached the men’s restroom, a thud sounded from inside, followed by a moan of pain.

Stone glanced at the bartender. "Call the police and get some help."

The man nodded and raced back the way they'd come.

Stone reached for the door as more thuds echoed from inside and yanked it open. The room was small-a stall, a urinal, and a sink.

Weston was on the floor in front of the stall, curled in a fetal position, while one of the two brutes was in the middle of delivering a kick to his ribs.

"I think that's enough," Stone said.

The second man glanced at Stone. "Come back later, if you know what's good for you."

"You should be thinking about what's good for you."

The guy turned to fully face Stone. "This is none of your-"

"The police have already been called and are on their way."

The talker glared at Stone, then said to his friend, "Deliver the message and let's get out of here."

The other guy leaned down to Weston and hissed something into his ear that Stone couldn't hear. When he finished, he said in a louder voice, "Nod if you understand."

Weston nodded.

From the hall came the sound of several running
feet.

"You two should probably take a seat," Stone said. "You have a long night ahead of you."

"Yeah, that's where you're wrong," the talker said, then glanced at his buddy. "Come on."

As the two men made for the door, Stone stepped back into the hall to avoid being shoved out of the way.

Right then the bartender and the pair of waiters he'd brought with him skidded to a stop next to Stone.

For a beat, both groups stared at each other.

"Out of the way," one of the thugs said.

"We don't want any trouble," the bartender said. "But we're not letting you leave, either."

The other thug snorted and pulled out a pistol from under his jacket. "Is that right?"

"I believe these gentlemen were just leaving," Stone said to the bartender.

"Your friend's pretty smart," the first thug said. "You should listen to him."

"Enjoy your evening, gentlemen," the bartender said as he moved against the wall.

The others followed his lead.

Before either of the attackers could take another step, they heard the drone of a police siren.

"Is there another exit?" one of them asked.

Reluctantly, the bartender pointed the opposite way down the hall. "Emergency exit around the corner."

The two men sprinted away and disappeared around the bend in the hall.

The moment they were out of sight, Stone rushed into the restroom, with the bartender right on his heels.

Weston was still curled up on the floor and appeared to be unconscious. Stone checked his pulse. It was steady but weak.

"Did you tell nine-one-one we'd need an ambulance, too?" he asked.

The bartender nodded.

Stone's phone rang. When he saw it was Dino, he said, "I'll be right back," then returned to the hallway and answered the call. "Dino?"

"Where are you?"

"At Liesel's. Where are you?"

"At Liesel's. I don't see you."

"Because I'm at the restrooms."

"That's more information than I need to know. We'll be waiting at the bar when you're done."

"That's not why I'm back here."

"Do I want to know why you're back there?"

"Probably."

The police siren that had been growing louder suddenly cut off.

"Does it have anything to do with the two police officers who just ran into the restaurant?"

"Good guess. Bring them back here and tell Viv to keep an eye out for the EMTs."

"What have you got yourself tangled up in now?"

"Me? Nothing. I'm merely a bystander."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Based on what?"

"Past experience."

Chapter 2

Twenty minutes later, Weston had been taken to the hospital, and the detectives had the crime scene well enough in hand that Stone and Dino were able to sneak away.

They found Viv at a table, in the company of a woman with long dark hair and even darker eyes. She was laughing at something Viv said.

When Viv noticed them, she said, "I was beginning to think we'd be eating without you."

"Blame the delay on Stone sticking his nose into someone else's business," Dino said.

"If I hadn't, he likely would have left in a coroner's van instead of an ambulance," Stone said. "And think of the headache that would have caused you."

"On behalf of the New York City Police Department, I thank you."

"Shouldn't that come with a citation I can put on my wall?"

"I'll look into it and get back to you."

A waiter approached the table and said to Stone and Dino, "May I get you something to drink?"

"Johnnie Walker," Dino said, taking a seat.

"Knob Creek for me," Stone said, doing the same.

"Um, I'm not sure if we have that," the waiter said.

"You do. I had one at the bar earlier."

"Well, in that case, I'll be right back."

The waiter left.

Stone turned his attention to Viv's guest. "Hello. I don't believe we've met. I'm Stone Barrington."

The woman held out her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barrington. I'm Tamlyn Thompson." Her accent was a mix of smooth BBC British and something he couldn't immediately place.

He shook her hand. "Call me Stone. And the pleasure is all mine."

"Then you must call me Tamlyn."

"Tamlyn is Strategic Services' new chief technology officer," Viv said.

"Ah, Mike told me that he had a new CTO," Stone said. "Congratulations on your appointment."

"Thank you. I'm very excited."

"As you should be."

She smiled, then said, "Viv has been telling me all about you."

"Has she now?" He glanced at Viv. "Should I be worried?"

"I've told her nothing but the truth," Viv said.

"If that's the case, I'm surprised Tamlyn's still here," Dino said.

"It was touch and go there for a moment," Tamlyn said, the hint of a smile on her lips. "But I thought it would be rude if I were to leave Viv here on her own."

"Very magnanimous," Stone said.

"I try to make my parents proud."

"My advice," Stone said, "believe only half of what you heard."

"Which half?"

"The half that puts me in the better light."

The waiter returned with two glasses on a tray. He set one in front of Dino and the other in front of Stone.

"My manager wanted me to let you all know that your dinner is on us tonight, to thank you for your help with the situation earlier."

"Tell your manager thank you," Stone said.

"And that if he was trying to figure out a way to make sure we come again, he's succeeded," Dino said.

"I will pass your messages on. Would you like to order now? Or do you need a little more time?"

While the ladies ordered, Stone and Dino perused their menus, then made their selections: New York steak with roasted carrots for Stone, and stuffed pork chops with squash for Dino.

When the waiter left, Stone brought Viv and Tamlyn up to speed with what had happened to Weston.

"You didn't happen to recognize the men who attacked him, did you?" Viv asked, once he finished.

"I've seen their type before, but never them."

"Do people get beat up in restrooms in New York a lot?" Tamlyn asked.

"Not nearly as much as movies and TV would make you believe," Dino said.

"Is this your first time living in the city?" Stone asked.

"First time living in the States," she replied.

"Then you are in need of a guide."

"Are you offering?"

"I would be happy to provide that service."

"Viv told me you'd be helpful. Or is that one of those things I shouldn't remember?"

"That one is accurate and should be committed to memory."

"Done."

"Far be it from me to ever say my wife's advice is iffy," Dino said, then nodded toward Stone. "But I would proceed cautiously with this one."