“Thank you, Major. Can you also send someone to Mr. Bacchetti’s room to wake him?”
“I’ll see to it myself. Shall I cancel Miss Thompson’s ride to London?”
“I’m not sure. Let me check and let you know.”
“Very good.”
Stone hung up and returned to the bedroom, where he found Tamlyn sitting up with the lights on.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Jack’s wife and niece have been in a car accident.”
“Oh, no. Are they badly hurt?”
“Unsure. I have someone going to the hospital to find out more.”
“Poor Jack.”
“He’s on his way here, and we’re flying back as soon as he arrives. You are more than welcome to join us.”
“I wish I could, but I’m not even sure I would have been done in time to fly out with you on Monday.”
“In that case, you stay here as long as you need, though I’m sure it would be more convenient for you to stay at my home in London.”
“Now that’s an offer I’ll take you up on. Thank you.”
He gave her a kiss. “I’ll take a quick shower, then pack and get out of here so you can go back to sleep.”
She grabbed him before he could get away, kissed him, then said, “Does it have to be a quick shower?”
Chapter 24
Stone and Dino were waitingon the plane when Jack climbed on board, looking tired and ashen.
“Stone, I can’t thank you enough for this,” Jack said as he dropped into a seat.
“No thanks necessary. Besides, you’ve gone above and beyond for me, if you recall.”
Jack had been instrumental in helping Stone avoid becoming the victim of a mob assassin.
“Have you heard anything new?” Dino asked.
“I only know Hillary went into surgery about an hour ago.”
The flight attendant walked up to Jack’s seat with a glass of whiskey. “Mr. Barrington mentioned you might want this.”
“Mr. Barrington is correct,” Jack said, accepting the glass and taking a healthy gulp.
“Shall I inform the cockpit that we’re ready to depart?” the flight attendant asked Stone.
“Please,” Stone said.
She headed up front to relay the message.
Forty-five minutes later, they were flying westbound atforty thousand feet when the flight attendant brought the satellite phone to Stone.
“For you, Mr. Barrington.”
