“Cabot and Dane? Seven.”
“Stay in this kitchen until I come back. Eamon’s at the door.”
Eamon scheduled the briefing for six-forty. Dane and Cabot were on their way down.
Eamon, Cabot, Dane, and I gathered at the kitchen table. Köhler took his coffee into the front parlor when I returned.
“Cabot. Eleanor confirmed that lunch is at noon. Twelve at the table plus her. You’re aGlobesociety reporter working on your wedding profile.”
“Confirmed.”
“Dane is your photographer. He’s from a freelance pool. Today his name is Dan Marsh. He’s a Rhode Island School of Design graduate. He’s shot two Vineyard weddings this fall.”
Dane absorbed the cover without reacting.
“Stanley, Maria will pour your coffee. She’ll be performing for you, and she’ll be reading you. Behave the way you’ve behaved in that house every other time you’ve been there. Change nothing.”
“Understood.”
“Dane will watch where she goes. If she steps out of the dining room for over three minutes, he’ll flag it.”
Eamon looked at Cabot. “If your gut tells you to leave, you leave. SayI’m not feeling welland stand. No explanation is required. Dane will get you to the car. I need you back here at five.”
He folded the detail sheet and slid it to Dane. “Burn this when you’re done.”
Eamon stood and looked at me last.
“Köhler and Wiley are your job today. Vega will be here, too. Don’t open the door.”
Eamon left by the side door. Cabot went up to change. That left Dane and me.
He picked up the canvas photographer’s jacket Eamon brought and tucked the folded sheet inside. The camera was in a bag at his feet. He looked the part.
“You’re going to come back with three phone numbers and a referral to a gallery owner in Nantucket,” I said.
He chuckled and patted my cheek.
I poured him a fresh mug. “Last coffee.”
He took it and set it on the countertop. “How was Köhler this morning?”
“He cried, and he ate. Best we can hope for so far.”
“And you—how are you?” Dane asked.
“I’m fine. I have a comm and a kitchen and two principals. I’m not the one walking into Maria’s house at noon.”
Reed was at the front door with his back to us.
“Be careful,” I said.
“Always.”
“Be more careful than always.”
He stepped. closer and wrapped one hand around the back of my neck, kissing me once, hard and brief.
“You get Wiley through the day,” Dane said. “I’ll get Cabot through the day. Back at six.”