“I mean that Charley Boggs was found floating face down in Garrison Bight this morning, not far from his houseboat, dead as a mackerel.”
“I saw him get into a fight last night at Louie’s Backyard. He lost.”
“Was he alive after the fi ght?”
“Yes, he left under his own steam.”
“You might want to pass that news on to Tommy Sculley,” Dino said. “I expect he’d want a chat with the other fi ghter.”
5 6
L o i t e r i n g w i t h I n t e n t
“I’ll call him in a few minutes,” Stone said.
“What, after you’ve fucked the blonde again?”
“None of your business. And don’t worry, Charley Boggs isn’t going anywhere.”
“Okay, you fuck the girl, and I’ll call Tommy. Give me a description of the fi ghter.”
“White male, fi ve-nine, a hundred and seventy, dark hair, lots of stubble. Built like he labors for a living.”
“That’ll do. Go get back in bed.” Dino hung up. Stone got back in bed, and Annika snuggled up close to him. “I like it that we’re both blonde,” she said. “I mean blonde all over. That must be very rare in this country.”
“Now that you mention it, it is rare, at least for me.” He kissed her and their tongues played with each other.
“I hope you are fully rested from last night,” she said, “and ready to make love again.”
“I think I might just manage it,” Stone replied, “if you do most of the work.”
“All right,” she said, cheerfully. “We did the missionary position and the doggie position last night; now we will do the blow-job position. Lie on your back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Stone said, following instructions. She glanced at the clock. “You mustn’t take too long to come, because I must go to work.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
STON E G O T B AC K to the Marquesa in time to see Dino’s breakfast dishes taken away.
“Have you eaten anything?” Dino asked. “I’m referring to the like of bacon and eggs.”
“Nothing like that,” Stone said. He picked up the phone and ordered.
5 7
S t u a r t W o o d s
“As soon as you can get yourself together, we should go over to Boggs’s houseboat,” Dino said.
“Why?”
“Well, don’t you think we might find something there that could tell us more about your Evan Keating?”
“I suppose we might.”
“You don’t think very clearly first thing in the morning, do you?”
“I do, but I wasn?