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    [Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water

    by Stuart, Woods,
    In “Dead in the Water,” part of Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington series, the suave attorney and former NYPD detective finds himself embroiled in a high-stakes legal thriller. While vacationing in the Caribbean, Barrington is drawn into a case involving a wealthy woman accused of murdering her husband at sea. As he investigates, he uncovers layers of deception, maritime law complexities, and dangerous adversaries. The novel blends legal intrigue with action, showcasing Barrington’s wit and resourcefulness. Themes of justice, trust, and survival underpin this fast-paced entry in the popular series, appealing to fans of courtroom dramas and adventure alike.
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    [Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water

    Chapter 1

    by Stuart, Woods,

    Stone Bar­ring­ton wakes up dis­ori­ent­ed aboard a yacht in St. Marks, recall­ing the chaot­ic events that led him there. The pre­vi­ous night, his girl­friend, Arring­ton Carter, failed to meet him for their flight due to a last-minute work oppor­tu­ni­ty involv­ing Hol­ly­wood star Vance Calder. Though dis­ap­point­ed, Stone reluc­tant­ly agrees to trav­el ahead alone while Arring­ton promis­es to join him the next day. His jour­ney is plagued by delays, leav­ing him exhaust­ed upon arrival. Despite the set­backs, he remains opti­mistic about their planned vaca­tion and even con­tem­plates propos­ing to Arring­ton dur­ing the trip, reflect­ing on their deep­en­ing rela­tion­ship.

    Upon board­ing the char­tered yacht, Stone set­tles in and explores the mod­est ameni­ties, includ­ing a small tele­vi­sion and nav­i­ga­tion equip­ment. He notices a dis­tressed yacht, *Expan­sive*, enter­ing the har­bor, steered by a strik­ing young woman with a tat­tered main­sail. Intrigued, he con­sid­ers offer­ing assis­tance but hes­i­tates due to cus­toms pro­to­cols. The woman’s soli­tary pres­ence and the yacht’s con­di­tion pique his curios­i­ty, but he refrains from inter­ven­ing. Instead, he focus­es on enjoy­ing the trop­i­cal set­ting, swim­ming in the warm water and soak­ing up the sun, all while mus­ing about his rela­tion­ship with Arring­ton.

    Stone’s thoughts drift back to Arrington’s sud­den work com­mit­ment, which dis­rupt­ed their plans. Though he tries to be sup­port­ive, he feels a pang of resent­ment, espe­cial­ly giv­en the rar­i­ty of their time togeth­er. The chap­ter high­lights his inter­nal con­flict between under­stand­ing her career ambi­tions and his own desire for inti­ma­cy and com­mit­ment. His deci­sion to pro­pose sig­ni­fies a turn­ing point in their rela­tion­ship, as he grap­ples with bal­anc­ing his bach­e­lor instincts with the grow­ing appeal of a shared future.

    The chap­ter ends with a sense of unease as Stone observes the cus­toms offi­cer rush­ing to the police shack after inspect­ing *Expan­sive*. This sub­tle hint of impend­ing trou­ble con­trasts with the oth­er­wise idyl­lic set­ting, fore­shad­ow­ing poten­tial com­pli­ca­tions. Stone’s relaxed demeanor is momen­tar­i­ly dis­rupt­ed, leav­ing the read­er curi­ous about the mys­te­ri­ous yacht and its lone occu­pant. The blend of per­son­al reflec­tion and exter­nal intrigue sets the stage for the unfold­ing nar­ra­tive, blend­ing romance with sus­pense.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What was the initial cause of conflict between Stone Barrington and Arrington Carter at the beginning of the chapter?

      Answer:
      The conflict arose when Arrington failed to meet Stone at Kennedy Airport for their planned flight to St. Marks. She was delayed at The New Yorker office due to a sudden professional opportunity involving an interview with Vance Calder, a famous Hollywood actor. While Arrington was excited about this career breakthrough, Stone felt disappointed and abandoned, though he tried to mask his frustration. This situation created tension as Stone had to travel alone for their planned vacation, highlighting their differing priorities at that moment (Stone’s focus on their relationship versus Arrington’s career opportunity).

      2. How does the author establish Stone Barrington’s character and personal circumstances in this chapter?

      Answer:
      The chapter reveals Stone as a 42-year-old bachelor who values his independence but has grown deeply attached to Arrington. His internal monologue shows he’s contemplative about commitment—considering marriage during their trip. His profession isn’t explicitly stated, but his familiarity with yachts and upscale lifestyle suggests sophistication. The narrative also portrays him as patient (handling travel delays), observant (noticing details about the mysterious yacht), and physically active (his swimming routine). His reaction to Arrington’s absence demonstrates emotional restraint, as he suppresses his disappointment to support her career.

      3. What narrative purpose does the mysterious yacht “Expansive” serve in this chapter?

      Answer:
      The Expansive introduces an element of intrigue that foreshadows future plot developments. Several unusual details grab Stone’s attention: the damaged mainsail, the unattended beautiful woman steering alone, and the customs officer’s urgent reaction. This creates suspense by suggesting something is amiss, potentially connecting to the “bad dreams” Stone referenced earlier. The yacht serves as a narrative hook—its unexplained circumstances pique curiosity while contrasting with Stone’s peaceful vacation plans. The woman’s description also mirrors Arrington’s attractiveness, possibly hinting at thematic parallels or future complications.

      4. Analyze how weather functions symbolically in this chapter.

      Answer:
      Weather operates on multiple symbolic levels: the snow in New York represents Stone’s chilly emotional state after Arrington’s absence, while the tropical climate of St. Marks reflects his desire for warmth in their relationship. The impending New York snowstorm mentioned on CNN creates dramatic irony—readers wonder if it will disrupt Arrington’s plans as travel delays disrupted Stone’s. The “bright blue water” of the harbor symbolizes renewal, mirroring Stone’s hope to revitalize their relationship through this trip. These contrasts between climates emphasize the chapter’s tension between professional obligations and personal fulfillment.

      5. How does the chapter establish the dynamic between personal relationships and professional ambitions?

      Answer:
      The chapter contrasts Stone’s and Arrington’s priorities through their airport conflict. Arrington’s excitement about the Vance Calder interview (“this break for me”) demonstrates her career ambition, while Stone’s marriage plans show his relationship focus. Their phone conversation reveals negotiation tactics—Arrington uses flirtation (“bounce you off the bedsprings”) to smooth over her absence, while Stone’s terse responses (“That’s great”) conceal disappointment. The narrative suggests this tension may deepen, especially with Vance Calder’s reemergence in their lives. This dynamic raises questions about whether their relationship can withstand competing commitments, a theme likely to develop further.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Stone Barrington slowly opened his eyes and stared blearily at the pattern of moving light above him. Disoriented, he tried to make sense of the light. Then it came to him: he was aboard a yacht, and the light was reflected off the water.”

      This opening passage effectively sets the scene and establishes Stone’s disoriented state, hinting at the troubled events of the previous night while introducing the nautical setting that will be central to the chapter.

      2. “Vance Calder was, arguably, Hollywood’s premier male star, often called the new Cary Grant, and he had played an important part in Stone’s and Arrington’s lives already.”

      This quote introduces the significant character of Vance Calder and his impact on the protagonists’ relationship, foreshadowing potential complications arising from Arrington’s professional involvement with the famous actor.

      3. “Living with Arrington, though, had made a lack of freedom seem very attractive, and he was determined to hang on to her, even if it came to marriage.”

      This reveals Stone’s internal conflict between his lifelong bachelorhood and his growing commitment to Arrington, showing a pivotal character development moment where he considers sacrificing his independence.

      4. “She was small and blond, wearing a bikini bottom and a chambray shirt knotted under her breasts, leaving a fetching expanse of tanned midriff showing between the two.”

      This vivid description of the mysterious woman on the neighboring yacht introduces an intriguing new character and creates suspense about her role in the unfolding story, while showcasing the author’s talent for visual storytelling.

      5. “As he did, he saw the customs officer leave the yacht and, at a dead run, head for the little police shack fifty yards away. Odd.”

      This closing quote builds suspense and foreshadows trouble, leaving readers curious about what has transpired on the neighboring yacht and how it might impact Stone’s vacation.

    Quotes

    1. “Stone Barrington slowly opened his eyes and stared blearily at the pattern of moving light above him. Disoriented, he tried to make sense of the light. Then it came to him: he was aboard a yacht, and the light was reflected off the water.”

    This opening passage effectively sets the scene and establishes Stone’s disoriented state, hinting at the troubled events of the previous night while introducing the nautical setting that will be central to the chapter.

    2. “Vance Calder was, arguably, Hollywood’s premier male star, often called the new Cary Grant, and he had played an important part in Stone’s and Arrington’s lives already.”

    This quote introduces the significant character of Vance Calder and his impact on the protagonists’ relationship, foreshadowing potential complications arising from Arrington’s professional involvement with the famous actor.

    3. “Living with Arrington, though, had made a lack of freedom seem very attractive, and he was determined to hang on to her, even if it came to marriage.”

    This reveals Stone’s internal conflict between his lifelong bachelorhood and his growing commitment to Arrington, showing a pivotal character development moment where he considers sacrificing his independence.

    4. “She was small and blond, wearing a bikini bottom and a chambray shirt knotted under her breasts, leaving a fetching expanse of tanned midriff showing between the two.”

    This vivid description of the mysterious woman on the neighboring yacht introduces an intriguing new character and creates suspense about her role in the unfolding story, while showcasing the author’s talent for visual storytelling.

    5. “As he did, he saw the customs officer leave the yacht and, at a dead run, head for the little police shack fifty yards away. Odd.”

    This closing quote builds suspense and foreshadows trouble, leaving readers curious about what has transpired on the neighboring yacht and how it might impact Stone’s vacation.

    FAQs

    1. What was the initial cause of conflict between Stone Barrington and Arrington Carter at the beginning of the chapter?

    Answer:
    The conflict arose when Arrington failed to meet Stone at Kennedy Airport for their planned flight to St. Marks. She was delayed at The New Yorker office due to a sudden professional opportunity involving an interview with Vance Calder, a famous Hollywood actor. While Arrington was excited about this career breakthrough, Stone felt disappointed and abandoned, though he tried to mask his frustration. This situation created tension as Stone had to travel alone for their planned vacation, highlighting their differing priorities at that moment (Stone’s focus on their relationship versus Arrington’s career opportunity).

    2. How does the author establish Stone Barrington’s character and personal circumstances in this chapter?

    Answer:
    The chapter reveals Stone as a 42-year-old bachelor who values his independence but has grown deeply attached to Arrington. His internal monologue shows he’s contemplative about commitment—considering marriage during their trip. His profession isn’t explicitly stated, but his familiarity with yachts and upscale lifestyle suggests sophistication. The narrative also portrays him as patient (handling travel delays), observant (noticing details about the mysterious yacht), and physically active (his swimming routine). His reaction to Arrington’s absence demonstrates emotional restraint, as he suppresses his disappointment to support her career.

    3. What narrative purpose does the mysterious yacht “Expansive” serve in this chapter?

    Answer:
    The Expansive introduces an element of intrigue that foreshadows future plot developments. Several unusual details grab Stone’s attention: the damaged mainsail, the unattended beautiful woman steering alone, and the customs officer’s urgent reaction. This creates suspense by suggesting something is amiss, potentially connecting to the “bad dreams” Stone referenced earlier. The yacht serves as a narrative hook—its unexplained circumstances pique curiosity while contrasting with Stone’s peaceful vacation plans. The woman’s description also mirrors Arrington’s attractiveness, possibly hinting at thematic parallels or future complications.

    4. Analyze how weather functions symbolically in this chapter.

    Answer:
    Weather operates on multiple symbolic levels: the snow in New York represents Stone’s chilly emotional state after Arrington’s absence, while the tropical climate of St. Marks reflects his desire for warmth in their relationship. The impending New York snowstorm mentioned on CNN creates dramatic irony—readers wonder if it will disrupt Arrington’s plans as travel delays disrupted Stone’s. The “bright blue water” of the harbor symbolizes renewal, mirroring Stone’s hope to revitalize their relationship through this trip. These contrasts between climates emphasize the chapter’s tension between professional obligations and personal fulfillment.

    5. How does the chapter establish the dynamic between personal relationships and professional ambitions?

    Answer:
    The chapter contrasts Stone’s and Arrington’s priorities through their airport conflict. Arrington’s excitement about the Vance Calder interview (“this break for me”) demonstrates her career ambition, while Stone’s marriage plans show his relationship focus. Their phone conversation reveals negotiation tactics—Arrington uses flirtation (“bounce you off the bedsprings”) to smooth over her absence, while Stone’s terse responses (“That’s great”) conceal disappointment. The narrative suggests this tension may deepen, especially with Vance Calder’s reemergence in their lives. This dynamic raises questions about whether their relationship can withstand competing commitments, a theme likely to develop further.

    Note