Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of [Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water
    Adventure FictionFictionThriller

    [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.
    PreviousNext
    [Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water

    Chapter 8

    by Stuart, Woods,

    Stone, rest­less and anx­ious, spends a sleep­less night aboard his yacht before gath­er­ing cloth­ing and per­son­al items for his client, Alli­son Man­ning, from her boat, *Expan­sive*. Despite his belief in her inno­cence, he search­es the yacht for any incrim­i­nat­ing evi­dence, wear­ing gloves to avoid leav­ing fin­ger­prints. His inter­nal con­flict between respect­ing her pri­va­cy and uncov­er­ing the truth peaks when he attempts, unsuc­cess­ful­ly, to open her locked brief­case. Ulti­mate­ly, he aban­dons the effort, decid­ing it’s not his place to invade her pri­va­cy fur­ther, and leaves with the gath­ered items.

    Stone heads to the Shipwright’s Arms, where he con­tacts his col­league, Bill Eggers, in New York, urgent­ly seek­ing an Eng­lish bar­ris­ter to defend Alli­son in her mur­der tri­al. Eggers con­nects him with a high-priced Lon­don lawyer demand­ing a hefty retain­er and hourly fee, which Stone reluc­tant­ly con­sid­ers, know­ing Allison’s finan­cial sit­u­a­tion is unclear. Mean­while, Thomas Hardy reas­sures Stone about their local ally, Sir Leslie Hewitt, despite con­cerns about his reli­a­bil­i­ty. The finan­cial and logis­ti­cal chal­lenges of secur­ing top-tier legal help weigh heav­i­ly on Stone as he pre­pares for the upcom­ing hear­ing.

    At Gov­ern­ment House, Stone, Thomas, and Sir Leslie meet Alli­son, who appears exhaust­ed and dis­tressed. Sir Leslie out­lines the hearing’s infor­mal pro­ce­dures, explain­ing that the judge will rely on the prosecutor’s affi­davit rather than requir­ing evi­dence presentation—a stark depar­ture from stan­dard legal prac­tices. Stone is shocked by this lack of due process, but Sir Leslie insists the sys­tem oper­ates on stream­lined, albeit ques­tion­able, pro­to­cols. The focus shifts to secur­ing bail, with Allison’s yacht poten­tial­ly serv­ing as col­lat­er­al, though the odds seem stacked against her.

    The chap­ter high­lights the ten­sion between Stone’s com­mit­ment to jus­tice and the flawed legal sys­tem of St. Marks, where effi­cien­cy over­rides fair­ness. His frus­tra­tion grows as he nav­i­gates bureau­crat­ic hur­dles, finan­cial con­straints, and eth­i­cal dilem­mas. The stage is set for a con­tentious hear­ing, with Stone and Sir Leslie scram­bling to mount a defense in an envi­ron­ment where the rules are opaque and stacked in favor of the pros­e­cu­tion. Allison’s fate hangs in the bal­ance as Stone grap­ples with the lim­i­ta­tions of the local judi­cia­ry.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. What internal conflict does Stone experience when searching Allison Manning’s yacht, and how does he resolve it?

      Answer:
      Stone experiences a professional conflict between his role as a lawyer respecting client confidentiality and his instincts as a former cop wanting to uncover all possible evidence. He initially searches the yacht wearing rubber gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, demonstrating his caution. The conflict peaks when he discovers Allison’s locked briefcase—he attempts to open it but stops after failing to crack the combination. Ultimately, he decides to respect her privacy, concluding, “it was none of his business anyway.” This shows his ethical boundaries despite his curiosity.

      Answer:
      The St. Marks legal system, while based on English law, has streamlined its procedures to the point of removing fundamental safeguards. Sir Leslie explains that the preliminary hearing won’t involve examining evidence—the judge will simply accept the prosecutor’s affidavit as sufficient for trial. Stone finds this shocking, as American courts would require evidence presentation and allow challenges at this stage. This “gentlemanly” approach prioritizes efficiency over due process, making the system vulnerable to political influence, as seen in Allison’s case where local lawyers refuse to defend her.

      3. Analyze the significance of Stone’s phone call with Bill Eggers regarding the English barrister. What does this reveal about the challenges of Allison’s defense?

      Answer:
      The call highlights both the urgency and financial impracticality of securing quality defense counsel. The barrister demands a £200,000 retainer (over $350,000) plus £200/hour—an exorbitant sum that forces Stone to question Allison’s ability to pay. The logistical hurdles (international travel, short notice) compound the difficulty. This exchange underscores the isolation of St. Marks’ legal system and the extreme measures required to counter its biases. Stone’s sarcastic remark about the barrister being “wonderful” reflects his frustration with systemic barriers to justice.

      4. How does the chapter characterize the relationship between Stone and Allison Manning through their interactions?

      Answer:
      Their relationship grows increasingly complex. Stone’s actions—collecting her clothes, searching her yacht—blur professional boundaries, especially when he feels “odd” selecting her lingerie. Allison’s emotional dependence is clear when she rests her head on his shoulder in jail, whimpering with relief. However, Stone remains professionally detached, awkwardly patting her back. The unopened briefcase becomes a metaphor for their relationship: Stone wants to trust her (“an innocent woman”) but can’t fully access her secrets. This tension between intimacy and suspicion drives the chapter’s psychological undercurrent.

      5. Evaluate Sir Leslie Hewitt’s potential effectiveness as Allison’s defense counsel based on the chapter’s details.

      Answer:
      Sir Leslie appears both promising and problematic. His familiarity with St. Marks’ unique legal system is invaluable, as shown when he accurately predicts the hearing’s informal nature. Thomas Hardy’s reassurance that Leslie is “sharp when engaged” suggests competence, but Stone’s worry about Leslie’s possible senility introduces doubt. The barrister’s antiquated car and “gentlemanly” acceptance of truncated procedures may indicate he’s too entrenched in the local establishment to mount an aggressive defense. His success may hinge on whether he can balance insider knowledge with vigorous advocacy—a uncertainty that heightens the narrative tension.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Allison Manning was an innocent woman, he was sure of that, but if there was anything incriminating on this yacht, he wanted to know about it.”

      This quote captures Stone’s internal conflict between his professional duty to his client and his instinct to investigate. It represents a key turning point where he decides to search the yacht despite ethical reservations, showing the tension between legal ethics and practical concerns.

      2. “He was torn between his lawyer’s respect for his client’s privacy and the cop in him who wanted to know everything.”

      This powerful statement illustrates Stone’s dual nature as both a lawyer and former police officer. The quote is significant as it defines the central moral dilemma Stone faces throughout the chapter - balancing professional ethics with investigative instincts.

      3. “Stone, you must understand that although our court system is based on English law, over the years, in the interest of efficiency, certain procedures that the court thinks superfluous have been pared away from the process.”

      Sir Leslie’s explanation reveals the flawed judicial system of St. Marks. This quote is crucial as it introduces the chapter’s main conflict - the unfair legal procedures Allison will face, setting up the dramatic tension for the upcoming trial.

      4. “I assure you that if Sir Winston wants this to go to trial, it will go to trial, no matter what evidence might be presented, and no matter how we might challenge th…”

      This truncated quote (as it appears in the text) powerfully demonstrates the predetermined nature of the justice system in St. Marks. It’s significant as it reveals the hopelessness of Allison’s situation and the political nature of her prosecution.

    Quotes

    1. “Allison Manning was an innocent woman, he was sure of that, but if there was anything incriminating on this yacht, he wanted to know about it.”

    This quote captures Stone’s internal conflict between his professional duty to his client and his instinct to investigate. It represents a key turning point where he decides to search the yacht despite ethical reservations, showing the tension between legal ethics and practical concerns.

    2. “He was torn between his lawyer’s respect for his client’s privacy and the cop in him who wanted to know everything.”

    This powerful statement illustrates Stone’s dual nature as both a lawyer and former police officer. The quote is significant as it defines the central moral dilemma Stone faces throughout the chapter - balancing professional ethics with investigative instincts.

    3. “Stone, you must understand that although our court system is based on English law, over the years, in the interest of efficiency, certain procedures that the court thinks superfluous have been pared away from the process.”

    Sir Leslie’s explanation reveals the flawed judicial system of St. Marks. This quote is crucial as it introduces the chapter’s main conflict - the unfair legal procedures Allison will face, setting up the dramatic tension for the upcoming trial.

    4. “I assure you that if Sir Winston wants this to go to trial, it will go to trial, no matter what evidence might be presented, and no matter how we might challenge th…”

    This truncated quote (as it appears in the text) powerfully demonstrates the predetermined nature of the justice system in St. Marks. It’s significant as it reveals the hopelessness of Allison’s situation and the political nature of her prosecution.

    FAQs

    1. What internal conflict does Stone experience when searching Allison Manning’s yacht, and how does he resolve it?

    Answer:
    Stone experiences a professional conflict between his role as a lawyer respecting client confidentiality and his instincts as a former cop wanting to uncover all possible evidence. He initially searches the yacht wearing rubber gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, demonstrating his caution. The conflict peaks when he discovers Allison’s locked briefcase—he attempts to open it but stops after failing to crack the combination. Ultimately, he decides to respect her privacy, concluding, “it was none of his business anyway.” This shows his ethical boundaries despite his curiosity.

    Answer:
    The St. Marks legal system, while based on English law, has streamlined its procedures to the point of removing fundamental safeguards. Sir Leslie explains that the preliminary hearing won’t involve examining evidence—the judge will simply accept the prosecutor’s affidavit as sufficient for trial. Stone finds this shocking, as American courts would require evidence presentation and allow challenges at this stage. This “gentlemanly” approach prioritizes efficiency over due process, making the system vulnerable to political influence, as seen in Allison’s case where local lawyers refuse to defend her.

    3. Analyze the significance of Stone’s phone call with Bill Eggers regarding the English barrister. What does this reveal about the challenges of Allison’s defense?

    Answer:
    The call highlights both the urgency and financial impracticality of securing quality defense counsel. The barrister demands a £200,000 retainer (over $350,000) plus £200/hour—an exorbitant sum that forces Stone to question Allison’s ability to pay. The logistical hurdles (international travel, short notice) compound the difficulty. This exchange underscores the isolation of St. Marks’ legal system and the extreme measures required to counter its biases. Stone’s sarcastic remark about the barrister being “wonderful” reflects his frustration with systemic barriers to justice.

    4. How does the chapter characterize the relationship between Stone and Allison Manning through their interactions?

    Answer:
    Their relationship grows increasingly complex. Stone’s actions—collecting her clothes, searching her yacht—blur professional boundaries, especially when he feels “odd” selecting her lingerie. Allison’s emotional dependence is clear when she rests her head on his shoulder in jail, whimpering with relief. However, Stone remains professionally detached, awkwardly patting her back. The unopened briefcase becomes a metaphor for their relationship: Stone wants to trust her (“an innocent woman”) but can’t fully access her secrets. This tension between intimacy and suspicion drives the chapter’s psychological undercurrent.

    5. Evaluate Sir Leslie Hewitt’s potential effectiveness as Allison’s defense counsel based on the chapter’s details.

    Answer:
    Sir Leslie appears both promising and problematic. His familiarity with St. Marks’ unique legal system is invaluable, as shown when he accurately predicts the hearing’s informal nature. Thomas Hardy’s reassurance that Leslie is “sharp when engaged” suggests competence, but Stone’s worry about Leslie’s possible senility introduces doubt. The barrister’s antiquated car and “gentlemanly” acceptance of truncated procedures may indicate he’s too entrenched in the local establishment to mount an aggressive defense. His success may hinge on whether he can balance insider knowledge with vigorous advocacy—a uncertainty that heightens the narrative tension.

    Note