Tommy motioned his chin in the direction of the bar. “Right over there, third stool from the left.”
Stone looked toward the bar. The man’s back was mostly to him, but he could catch a little profile. He was heavier than in his college photo and had longer hair, and he was dressed in jeans, cowboy boots and a flowered shirt, with the tail out, Hawaiian-style. He was talking to a beautiful girl on the next bar stool, with long, honeycolored hair, dressed in tight jeans and a leather jacket.
“Excuse me a minute,” Stone said, rising and walking toward the bar. He walked up to the two people, who turned and looked at him. Evan Keating had a thin, straight nose and bright blue eyes.
“Mr. Keating?” Stone said. “I’m sorry to intrude, but I just wanted to introduce myself.” He handed the young man his card. “My name is Stone Barrington, and I’ve been sent by my law firm to Key West to deliver some documents for your signature.”
“You must think I’m somebody else,” Keating said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m aware of that, Mr. Keating, but we could get together for a few minutes tomorrow morning. I’m sure you will find our conversation greatly to your advantage.”
Keating regarded him evenly for a moment without speaking, then he said, “Why don’t we step outside for a moment and discuss this?”
“Of course,” Stone replied.
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S t u a r t W o o d s
Keating got up and led the way out, while Stone followed. Outside on the sidewalk a bench had been placed as a waiting area for the restaurant, and Keating motioned Stone to sit down. Stone sat down next to Keat
ing, his back to the restaurant door.
“I know this will come as a surprise to you, but my law fi rm represents Elijah Keating’s Sons, and …”
Something struck the back of Stone’s neck, and the night exploded in stars.
2 0
5
STON E S WA M B A C K into consciousness, opened his eyes, then closed them again. Some sort of bright light had blinded him. A cool hand was resting on his forehead.
“Mr. Barrington?” a woman’s low voice said.
“What?” Stone replied. He tried to open his eyes again but it didn’t work.
“Can you look at me, please?”
“It’s too bright,” Stone said. Immediately, the brightness disappeared.
“Is that better?”
“Okay, yes.”
“Can you open your eyes now?”
Stone opened his eyes and found his vision filled with the face of a woman. “What happened?” he asked.
“We don’t know,” she replied.
Dino’s face replaced the woman’s, and Tommy Sculley was right behind him. “We found you face down on the sidewalk,” he said.
“I liked the other face better,” Stone said and tried to sit up straighter.
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S t u a r t W o o d s