“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 hadbeen 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.”
