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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 30

    by Stuart, Woods,

    The chap­ter opens with Stone hav­ing break­fast at a table when he is joined by Hilary Kramer, a jour­nal­ist from the New York Times. Their con­ver­sa­tion quick­ly turns somber as Stone reveals he wit­nessed a plane crash ear­li­er that morn­ing. The crash involved Chester’s plane, which car­ried two pas­sen­gers, includ­ing Eliz­a­beth Man­ning, a Palm Beach socialite and the ex-wife of Paul Man­ning. Stone explains the tech­ni­cal failure—an engine fire—and describes the trag­ic out­come: Chester’s body was recov­ered, but the two women were lost when the plane sank in deep water. Kramer begins tak­ing notes, sens­ing a sto­ry.

    Jim For­rester, anoth­er jour­nal­ist, joins them and shares his own health woes from food poi­son­ing. The dis­cus­sion shifts to Eliz­a­beth Manning’s back­ground and her pos­si­ble motives for vis­it­ing. Stone spec­u­lates she may have sought a share of Paul Manning’s estate, though he down­plays her legal claim. Kramer probes fur­ther, ask­ing if Man­ning could have aid­ed Allison’s tri­al, but Stone dis­miss­es the idea. The group also ques­tions whether local author­i­ties will inves­ti­gate the crash, giv­en the logis­ti­cal chal­lenges of recov­er­ing the wreck­age from deep waters.

    Kramer’s per­sis­tent ques­tion­ing hints at her sus­pi­cion that Stone is with­hold­ing infor­ma­tion. Stone main­tains he knows lit­tle about Eliz­a­beth Man­ning, though he pri­vate­ly recalls her lawyer’s involve­ment in a finan­cial nego­ti­a­tion with Alli­son. The tone remains tense as Kramer clos­es her note­book, unsat­is­fied but resigned to fil­ing her sto­ry. Mean­while, Forrester’s sud­den ill­ness pro­vides a brief moment of dark humor before he rush­es off.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with Stone receiv­ing a fax reveal­ing Eliz­a­beth Manning’s divorce decree, which shows her alimo­ny pay­ments had recent­ly end­ed. This dis­cov­ery explains her des­per­a­tion to secure funds, includ­ing her suc­cess­ful extrac­tion of $400,000 from Alli­son. Stone reflects on the irony of the sit­u­a­tion, shak­ing his head at the cal­cu­lat­ed maneu­ver­ing behind Manning’s seem­ing­ly casu­al vis­it. The chap­ter ends on a note of unre­solved ten­sion, leav­ing read­ers to pon­der the broad­er impli­ca­tions of the crash and Manning’s motives.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What were the circumstances surrounding the plane crash described in the chapter, and what key details did Stone provide about the incident?

      Answer:
      The plane crash involved Chester’s aircraft, which had two passengers aboard and resulted in all fatalities. Stone witnessed the crash with Thomas, noting that Chester skipped the critical pre-flight “runup” check—a procedure to test engine components like magnetos and oil pressure. They observed engine flames before the pilot attempted to dive to extinguish the fire, stalled, and cartwheeled into deep water (over 100 fathoms). The fuselage sank with the two female passengers, while Chester’s body was recovered. Stone also mentioned the challenges of investigating due to the depth and lack of local resources.

      2. How does Elizabeth Manning’s background and motives connect to the broader narrative, and what ethical dilemma does Stone face in discussing her?

      Answer:
      Elizabeth Manning, Paul Manning’s ex-wife, visited St. Marks hoping to claim part of his estate, though her alimony had recently expired. Stone reveals she leveraged Allison (Paul’s widow) for $400,000 with his indirect help—a fact he omits when questioned by Kramer. This creates tension, as Stone navigates between honesty and protecting sensitive information. Her death in the crash adds irony, as her financial desperation (revealed via the faxed divorce decree) underscores her tangential yet impactful role in the estate dispute.

      3. Analyze the significance of the “runup” procedure in aviation safety, based on Stone’s explanation. Why might its omission have contributed to the crash?

      Answer:
      A “runup” is a pre-flight check for piston-engine aircraft, involving revving engines to test magnetos, propeller function, and oil pressure. Stone emphasizes its importance for identifying potential failures before takeoff. Chester’s omission likely masked critical engine issues (e.g., faulty magnetos or low oil pressure), which later caused the fire. Had he performed the runup, he might have detected and addressed the problem, preventing the catastrophic failure. This detail highlights procedural negligence as a key factor in aviation accidents.

      4. How does the chapter use Jim Forrester’s illness and Kramer’s questioning to advance the plot and develop character dynamics?

      Answer:
      Forrester’s illness (from street food) injects dark humor and contrasts with the gravity of the crash discussion. His abrupt exit underscores the chaotic atmosphere, while Kramer’s persistent questioning reveals Stone’s guardedness and ethical boundaries. Her probing about Elizabeth Manning forces Stone to withhold truths, showcasing his legal tact. Their exchange also hints at broader themes of media scrutiny and the unreliability of public narratives, as Kramer seeks a “footnote” for her story despite incomplete information.

      5. What does the faxed divorce decree reveal about Elizabeth Manning’s financial situation, and how does this information reframe her actions earlier in the chapter?

      Answer:
      The decree shows Elizabeth’s \(3,000/month alimony ended three weeks prior, leaving her desperate for income. This context reframes her demand for money from Allison as an act of survival rather than greed. Stone's realization—coupled with his role in facilitating her \)400,000 settlement—adds moral complexity. Her death shortly after securing the funds underscores the futility of her efforts, while the fax serves as a narrative device to expose hidden motivations and Stone’s complicity.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Chester didn’t do a runup before he leapt off… With piston engines, you rev up to a couple of thousand rpms, then test the magnetos and the propeller and look for low oil pressure or other problems. It’s the last thing you do before takeoff, and it’s a very important check.”

      This quote reveals the likely cause of the fatal plane crash and underscores the critical importance of pre-flight checks in aviation. Stone’s technical explanation serves as both a plot point and a subtle commentary on how small oversights can lead to disaster.

      2. “Stone, you’ve answered all of my questions, but why do I have the feeling there’s something you haven’t told me?”

      This exchange highlights the tension between Stone and the journalist, showing Stone’s careful navigation of truth while hinting at deeper layers to the story. It represents the chapter’s theme of hidden information and selective disclosure.

      3. “Plaintiff shall pay to the defendant the sum of three thousand dollars a month on the first day of every month… beginning immediately and continuing for a period of ten years… Libby Manning’s alimony had run out three weeks earlier.”

      This revelation provides crucial backstory about Elizabeth Manning’s financial motives, explaining her desperate actions. The legal document excerpt serves as a turning point in understanding character motivations and the story’s financial stakes.

      4. “She must have been desperate, he thought, but she had been cool enough to shake down Allison for four hundred thousand dollars, with his help.”

      This internal reflection by Stone exposes both Elizabeth Manning’s calculated actions and Stone’s own complicity. It’s a key moment of self-awareness that reveals moral complexities in the narrative.

    Quotes

    1. “Chester didn’t do a runup before he leapt off… With piston engines, you rev up to a couple of thousand rpms, then test the magnetos and the propeller and look for low oil pressure or other problems. It’s the last thing you do before takeoff, and it’s a very important check.”

    This quote reveals the likely cause of the fatal plane crash and underscores the critical importance of pre-flight checks in aviation. Stone’s technical explanation serves as both a plot point and a subtle commentary on how small oversights can lead to disaster.

    2. “Stone, you’ve answered all of my questions, but why do I have the feeling there’s something you haven’t told me?”

    This exchange highlights the tension between Stone and the journalist, showing Stone’s careful navigation of truth while hinting at deeper layers to the story. It represents the chapter’s theme of hidden information and selective disclosure.

    3. “Plaintiff shall pay to the defendant the sum of three thousand dollars a month on the first day of every month… beginning immediately and continuing for a period of ten years… Libby Manning’s alimony had run out three weeks earlier.”

    This revelation provides crucial backstory about Elizabeth Manning’s financial motives, explaining her desperate actions. The legal document excerpt serves as a turning point in understanding character motivations and the story’s financial stakes.

    4. “She must have been desperate, he thought, but she had been cool enough to shake down Allison for four hundred thousand dollars, with his help.”

    This internal reflection by Stone exposes both Elizabeth Manning’s calculated actions and Stone’s own complicity. It’s a key moment of self-awareness that reveals moral complexities in the narrative.

    FAQs

    1. What were the circumstances surrounding the plane crash described in the chapter, and what key details did Stone provide about the incident?

    Answer:
    The plane crash involved Chester’s aircraft, which had two passengers aboard and resulted in all fatalities. Stone witnessed the crash with Thomas, noting that Chester skipped the critical pre-flight “runup” check—a procedure to test engine components like magnetos and oil pressure. They observed engine flames before the pilot attempted to dive to extinguish the fire, stalled, and cartwheeled into deep water (over 100 fathoms). The fuselage sank with the two female passengers, while Chester’s body was recovered. Stone also mentioned the challenges of investigating due to the depth and lack of local resources.

    2. How does Elizabeth Manning’s background and motives connect to the broader narrative, and what ethical dilemma does Stone face in discussing her?

    Answer:
    Elizabeth Manning, Paul Manning’s ex-wife, visited St. Marks hoping to claim part of his estate, though her alimony had recently expired. Stone reveals she leveraged Allison (Paul’s widow) for $400,000 with his indirect help—a fact he omits when questioned by Kramer. This creates tension, as Stone navigates between honesty and protecting sensitive information. Her death in the crash adds irony, as her financial desperation (revealed via the faxed divorce decree) underscores her tangential yet impactful role in the estate dispute.

    3. Analyze the significance of the “runup” procedure in aviation safety, based on Stone’s explanation. Why might its omission have contributed to the crash?

    Answer:
    A “runup” is a pre-flight check for piston-engine aircraft, involving revving engines to test magnetos, propeller function, and oil pressure. Stone emphasizes its importance for identifying potential failures before takeoff. Chester’s omission likely masked critical engine issues (e.g., faulty magnetos or low oil pressure), which later caused the fire. Had he performed the runup, he might have detected and addressed the problem, preventing the catastrophic failure. This detail highlights procedural negligence as a key factor in aviation accidents.

    4. How does the chapter use Jim Forrester’s illness and Kramer’s questioning to advance the plot and develop character dynamics?

    Answer:
    Forrester’s illness (from street food) injects dark humor and contrasts with the gravity of the crash discussion. His abrupt exit underscores the chaotic atmosphere, while Kramer’s persistent questioning reveals Stone’s guardedness and ethical boundaries. Her probing about Elizabeth Manning forces Stone to withhold truths, showcasing his legal tact. Their exchange also hints at broader themes of media scrutiny and the unreliability of public narratives, as Kramer seeks a “footnote” for her story despite incomplete information.

    5. What does the faxed divorce decree reveal about Elizabeth Manning’s financial situation, and how does this information reframe her actions earlier in the chapter?

    Answer:
    The decree shows Elizabeth’s \(3,000/month alimony ended three weeks prior, leaving her desperate for income. This context reframes her demand for money from Allison as an act of survival rather than greed. Stone's realization—coupled with his role in facilitating her \)400,000 settlement—adds moral complexity. Her death shortly after securing the funds underscores the futility of her efforts, while the fax serves as a narrative device to expose hidden motivations and Stone’s complicity.

    Note