hand on her cheek and kissed her. She responded nicely.
“What was that for?”
“For the fun of it. Also, we’re less likely to be disturbed by men with shotguns if we’re canoodling.”
This time she kissed him. “I prefer this to men with shotguns,” she said. They kissed some more. “How long do we need to do this?” she asked.
“Until the police break down the door,” Stone said. “Maybe longer.”
Perhaps three minutes later Stone heard the sound of doors slamming, and he peeked into the living room. People were lying on the floor in disarray, and some of them were getting up. Jack Coulter was the first to get to his feet.
“It’s all right now,” Coulter was saying. “I’m very sorry for the interruption. I assure you this was not the evening’s entertainment. I’ll call the police now.”
Stone stepped into the living room. “I’ve already called them,” he said.
“My friends,” Coulter said, “I think this is as good a time as any to announce dinner. Please take a few deep breaths, calm yourselves, then proceed to the dining room for the buffet, and we can talk to the police while we eat. You can wait until tomorrow to call your insurance agents.”
The pianist began to play again, and people began to make their way into the dining room. It was almost as if nothing had happened. Stone heard a woman say to her husband that it was their most exciting evening in years.
Another two minutes passed before men with body armor and automatic weapons burst into the living room, followed closely by Dino, his weapon drawn.
“They went thataway,” Stone said, pointing toward the elevators. “Didn’t you pass them on the way up?”
“No, they must have taken the service elevator,” Dino replied.
Jack Coulter walked over, and Stone introduced Dino. “There’s a back exit from the garage in the basement,” Jack said, “and an alleyway to the north.”
Dino spoke some words into a handheld radio, then directed the armored men to take the service elevator. “Now,” he said to the crowd, “was anybody hurt?”
There were negative murmurs from the crowd, some of whom were already seated and eating.
“It seems to have been for the jewelry,” Stone said. “There was quite a lot of it.”
“That reminds me,” Ann said, “may I have mine back?”
Stone dug it out of a pocket and gave it to her.
“Smart move,” Dino said.
“It was Stone’s idea.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dino barked to the crowd, “detectives are going to interview you individually. Please give them your cooperation.”
Stone tapped him on the shoulder. “Dino, I think I know one of the men, possibly two.”
“You want to share their names?”
“Two brothers named Drago. I had an encounter with them a few days ago in Central Park, and I think I recognized the voice of the one who spoke to us.”
“First names?”
“Crane told me, but I’ve forgotten.”
“Crane knows them?”
“She said that Don Dugan employs them as debt collectors.”
Jack Coulter spoke up. “What was that name?”
“Drago.”
“No, the other one.”
“Don Dugan?”
“He’s the man who sold us our security system. It was installed less than a week ago.”
Stone smiled and spread his hands. “There you go,” he said to Dino.
“Dugan is in the security business, too?” Dino asked.
“Incontrovertibly,” Stone said. “Are the doorman and receptionist downstairs all right?”
“They were both wearing a lot of duct tape and shut in a closet,” Dino said, “but they’re okay.”
“The receptionist was armed,” Stone said.
“That’s what he told us. We didn’t find his gun, but he was wearing a shoulder holster.” He turned to Jack. “Now we have to question your guests,” he said. “Where may we talk to them one at a time?”
“In my study, there,” Jack said, pointing. “My wife’s study is beyond that, if you want to talk to them two at a time.”
“Thank you,” Dino said. He turned and instructed the other detectives. “Start with the ones who’ve finished eating,” he said. “Stone, where were you when this went down?”
“Ann and I were on the terrace,” he said. He introduced them. “You’ve met before, when you were interviewed by your co-op board.”
“Ah,” Dino said. “That’s why you look familiar. Let’s have a look at the terrace.” He led the way outside; Stone, Ann, and Jack followed. “Where were you when this happened?”
“Standing at the railing,” Stone said. “I heard a shotgun being racked, and we moved over there.” He pointed. “Pretty quickly. One guy came out. Ann’s jewelry was in my pocket by then. He asked about my wristwatch, but I told him it had my name engraved