In this electrifying thriller from #1 New York Times -bestselling author Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington finds himself pitted against both man and nature. Stone Barrington and several friends are vacationing in Florida when an extreme weather event puts a damper on their trip. Even worse, the hurricane-force winds blow a powerful, noxious politician straight onto Stone's doorstep. Though they part ways before long, Stone soon learns that he hasn't seen the last of his new acquaintance. It turns out that this official has some shady associates who may have destructive plans afoot, and Stone needs an entrée to the inside to figure out their scheme. With the fate of nations at stake, Stone must summon all of his fearless daring to put an end to the audacious plot...but this time he might be in over his head.

ldquo;Stuart Woods is a no-nonsense, slam-bang storyteller.”—*Chicago Tribune

More Praise for Stuart Woods 

“A world-class mystery writer...I try to put Woods’s books down and I can’t.”—Houston Chronicle
“Mr. Woods, like his characters, has an appealing way of making things nice and clear.”—The New York Times
“Woods certainly knows how to keep the pages turning.”—Booklist

“Since 1981, readers have not been able to get their fill of Stuart Woods’ New York Times bestselling novels of suspense.”—Orlando Sentinel

“Woods’s Stone Barrington is a guilty pleasure...he’s also an addiction that’s harder to kick than heroin.”—Contra Costa Times (California)

Auteur

Stuart Woods

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In this electrifying thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington finds himself pitted against both man and nature.

Stone Barrington and several friends are vacationing in Florida when an extreme weather event puts a damper on their trip. Even worse, the hurricane-force winds blow a powerful, noxious politician straight onto Stone's doorstep. Though they part ways before long, Stone soon learns that he hasn't seen the last of his new acquaintance. It turns out that this official has some shady associates who may have destructive plans afoot, and Stone needs an entrée to the inside to figure out their scheme. With the fate of nations at stake, Stone must summon all of his fearless daring to put an end to the audacious plot...but this time he might be in over his head.

Résumé
In this electrifying thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington finds himself pitted against both man and nature.

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1

Stone Barrington set down his Citation CJ-3 Plus smoothly at Key West International Airport and taxied to the ramp.  The lineman waved him to the right, toward a large hangar next to the Fixed Base Operator’s own huge hangar.  Stone followed the lineman’s hand motions until he got the crossed-arm signal from the lineman, then he shut down the engines, ran through his final check list, turned off the main switch and struggled out of his seat.
He opened the door and put down the folding stairs.
“Afternoon, Mr. Barrington,” the lineman said.  “Do you want her in your new hangar?”  He pointed to the large one, now behind the airplane.  Stone had closed on the sale a few days before.
“Yes, please,” Stone replied.
“And your car was delivered,” the lineman said.  “They have the keys at the front desk.”  Raul, the caretaker of the house Stone had just bought, had left it there for him.

“If you want to drive your car onto the ramp, you’ll have to stop in at the sheriff’s office near the main entrance and get yourself a security badge that will allow you and your car onto the ramp.  Right now, I’ll cart your luggage out there for you.”
“Thanks very much,” Stone said.  “I’ll pick up the key and meet you there.”
“You want fuel now or later?”
“Later, please.”  It would be hot in the hangar, and he didn’t want the fuel to expand and leak out of the vents.  Stone walked into the FBO lobby, introduced himself and retrieved his car key, then met the lineman outside at his car, a Mercedes 550S Cabriolet, which had been included in the purchase of the house from his business associate, Arthur Steele of the Steele Group of Insurance Companies.  Arthur had cleverly rented him the house through an agent, knowing that once Stone had stayed in it, he would want to buy it.  Stone’s great weakness, along with attractive women and 100-proof bourbon, was houses, of which he now had too many.
He tipped the lineman generously, to make a good first impression.
The lineman closed the trunk. “Just give us a call when you want your airplane, and we’ll roll her out for you.”
“Thanks very much.”  Stone got into the car, started it, turned on the air conditioning and put down the top.  He drove out of the airport and turned down South Roosevelt Boulevard, along Smathers Beach.  A ten-minute drive later he was turning into his driveway, which was right next door to a “gentleman’s club” called Bare Assets.  He pulled into the carport, as opposed to the garage, and Raul came out of his small house and helped him in with the luggage.  They had first met on Stone’s last visit to Key West for the Steele Group’s board meeting, when he had been a tenant.  A housekeeper, Sara, was also part of the deal.
The house had once been three small houses on separate lots.  A previous owner had moved the smallest one over a dozen feet or so and bolted it to the center house, which contained his study, the dining room, living room, kitchen and bar.  The master suite was in the free-standing third house, which had been completely renovated.

Stone had just deposited his luggage in the master suite when his builder, Karl Walters, turned up to walk him through the house and show him the projects he had completed since Stone had bought it.  He showed Stone the new laundry room, the alterations to the kitchen, his study, with its new bookcases, one of them being a secret door to a kitchenette, where there was room for the safe he had ordered.  Then he saw the new bar and video room, just completed.
“It’s beautiful, Karl,” Stone said, and I appreciate your fast work on the place.”  Karl was semi-retired and their mutual attorney, Jack Spottswood had persuaded him to do the project.
“We aim to please,” Karl said.  “Your boat has had her bottom cleaned and repainted and is back in her berth at the Key West Yacht Club.”  Jack had just happened to have a recently-widowed client whose late husband’s newish Hinckley 43 Jetboat was for sale, and Stone had fallen for that, as well as the house.
Karl took him into the study and showed him how the hidden tel…