“Tell you what?”
“What you were doing.”
“Ah, that. Commander Choi and I were interviewing the other survivors from theAmanda Jae. Or at least, that was our intent. We ended up talking to only one person.”
“The other ones gave you the cold shoulder?”
“You could say that.”
Stone filled him in on his and Choi’s day.
“By the way,” Stone said when he finished. “The commander gave me the impression that she might be leaving the Coast Guard in a year.”
“Then she should start thinking about her future now,” Dino said.
“That’s what I told her. I bet you’ll be hearing from her in a month or two.”
Dino raised his drink. “Here’s hoping.”
They clinked glasses and drank.
A hostess approached. “Mr. Barrington, Mr. Bacchetti, your table is ready.”
As she guided them through the dining room, a familiar voice called, “Stone, Dino.”
Bill Eggers was at a table with two men Stone didn’t recognize.
Stone and Dino stopped and shook hands with Woodman & Weld’s managing partner.
“Allow me to introduce Duncan Pierce and Rory MacCoy. Duncan, Rory, this is New York Police Commissioner Dino Bacchetti, and one of Woodman & Weld’s partners, Stone Barrington.”
“We’ve heard of both of you,” Duncan said, his Scottish brogue heavy. He shook their hands. “What an honor.”
Rory shook next. “Very pleased to meet you.”
“Duncan and Rory are the ones we’re in talks with to run the new Edinburgh office,” Bill explained.
“Right,” Stone said, remembering the names now. “How are you both finding New York?”
“Exactly as I expected,” Rory said. “Fabulous. I brought my wife, and we’ve already seen three shows.”
“I’ve been here many times,” Duncan said. “But I have never once not enjoyed my time here.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“By the way,” Bill said to Stone. “I passed on the information about the wreck to Terry Adams. He was very relieved to hear the news. He expects the suits to be dropped any day.”
“Glad to hear it.” The mention of the suits triggered a thought in Stone’s mind. “Correct me if I’m mistaken, but didn’t you say that Whittaker had signed up some but not all of the families of those presumed dead for the potential wrongful death suit?”
Bill nodded. “I believe that’s what Terry told me. Five out of six, or something like that.”
“Would you mind finding out for me which family isn’t involved?”
“Not at all.”
“Thanks, Bill.” Stone nodded to Duncan and Rory. “We’ll leave you to your dinner. Enjoy the rest of your trip, gentlemen.”
He and Dino followed the patiently waiting hostess to their table.
