“A sound strategy.”
While Bob wandered into the study for a nap, Stone led the others up to his bedroom, where several Matilda Stones hung on the walls.
Josie sucked in a breath and then began making her way around the room, spending time looking at each painting.
“Exquisite,” she said after she took in the last. “This is quite the collection. How many do you own?”
“Seventeen.”
“Are you trying to corner the market?”
“If I could, I would. I have standing requests at all the main galleries and auction houses to inform me if any of my mother’s pieces come on the market.”
She nodded. “I would probably do the same if she were my mother.”
Stone showed them the rest of the townhouse, then took them back down to his office.
“Peter and Ben mentioned you had quite the adventure a couple of weeks ago,” Josie said.
“You could say that,” Stone said. “How much did they tell you?”
“Everything you told us,” Peter said.
“I’m glad you didn’t go down with the boat,” Josie said.
“As am I,” Stone said.
“See, Peter,” Ben said. “She got it right.”
“I got what right?” Josie asked.
“Peter called it a ship at dinner last night.”
Josie tsked at Peter. “Yachts are boats, ships are much larger.”
“You should definitely make a deal with her,” Stone said to Peter and Ben. “She’s clearly highly intelligent.”
“Thank you, Stone,” Josie said, blushing a little. “I understand you’re looking for a submarine to help take a look at the wreckage.”
“I am, though more for the Coast Guard officer in charge of the investigation. I’m hoping she’ll be able to figure out why the yacht sank. Peter mentioned you have access to one.”
“More than one, actually. Xavier has four subs. Two of which are on the East Coast.”
“Do you think he would let us use one?”
“Probably, but I have a better idea. Xavier also has several ROVs, which could do the job better than a sub.”
“ROV?”
“Remotely operated vehicle. They’re unmanned and usually a lot smaller, so they can get into places subs can’t.”
“I hadn’t even considered that. An ROV sounds perfect.”
“One of Xavier’s exploration ships is stationed right here in New York. If you’d like, I’ll give him a call and see if it’s available.”
“I would appreciate that, thank you.”
She pulled out a business card and handed it to him. “The phone number is my cell.”
