Dead In The Water by Stuart Woods

Author:Stuart Woods [Woods, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-11-26T16:58:01.702000+00:00

CHAPTER

Sir Winston stared across the table at Stone, waiting for an answer. Stone thought fast, but there was not much he could do in the way of obfuscation. Sir Winston had seen him at dinner with Libby Manning and had, no doubt, noticed the passing of documents between them. He decided to follow Mark Twain’s advice: when in doubt, tell the truth.

“Elizabeth Manning was the first wife of Paul ‘ Manning,” Stone said.

Sir Winston’s eyebrows went up. “Ahhhh,” he breathed. “Not a sister or a cousin, but an ex-wife?” “Yes.”

“Tell me, Mr. Barrington, how many ex-wives did Paul Manning have?”

“Just the one, to my knowledge.”

“And what brought the first Mrs. Manning to our beautiful island?”

“Your beautiful island, I expect; and, perhaps, some curiosity about the death of Paul Manning. She’d read about it in the American papers, you see, and she wondered if she could be of any assistance.”

“Ah, yes,” Sir Winston said, an edge in his voice. “It seems a great many people read about Mr. Manning’s death in the American papers. I have heard from a number of them, including Senators Dodd and Lieberman of Connecticut.”

“Yes, I believe Mr. Manning was a very substantial contributor to the Democratic Party,” he lied, “and a personal friend of the President and Mrs. Clinton.” The champagne was taking effect now, and he had trouble keeping a straight face.

“Indeed?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that the president is an avid reader of Mr. Manning’s books.” He stopped himself from adding that Paul Manning was also an investor in the Whitewater real estate venture and a financial advisor to the First Lady.

Sir Winston cleared his throat loudly. “To return to the first Mrs. Manning, what business did you and she discuss during her visit?”

Stone wondered if, somehow, Libby’s copy of the agreement had been found. “Sir Winston,” he said, “I am sure you understand that I am bound by the confidentiality strictures of the attorney-client relationship, but I think it would not be untoward for me to tell you that Elizabeth Manning, who was not a wealthy woman, had some notion of participating in her former husband’s estate. He had been paying alimony to her during the past ten years, a requirement of their divorce decree which had recently expired.”

“And did she participate in Mr. Manning’s estate?”

“Elizabeth Manning was disappointed to learn that had not been mentioned in Mr. Manning’s will, and, requirement for alimony having expired, she was

L to nothing further.”

“So why were you and Mrs. Manning exchanging at dinner the other evening?”

“I can tell you only that the second Mrs. Manning,

of a kind nature, felt moved to improve the circumstances of the first Mrs. Manning.” “Improve to what extent?”

“I’m afraid that client confidentiality prevents me saying more.”

Sir Winston stared at him for a long moment, then nodded at the waiter, who disappeared and came back with two platters of lobster salad. Sir Winston ate his lobster, sipped his champagne, and stared out to sea.

Stone ate his lunch, too, grateful for the opportunity to collect his thoughts.

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