“You’re not asleep, are you?”
“Nooooo.”
He deployed the fi nger again.
“More,” she said.
He could deny her nothing.
SH O R TLY AFTE R NINE , after finishing breakfast, he phoned Tommy Sculley.
“Lieutenant Sculley.”
“Tommy, it’s Stone Barrington.”
“Good morning, Stone, and what request do you have for me today?”
“Only a request for a meeting with you and somebody from the DA’s offi ce.”
“For what purpose?”
“My client says he can solve the Charley Boggs murder for you.”
“Which client?”
“I have only one in Key West.”
“Well, that’s very decent of him. What evidence does he have?”
“He has not yet informed me. I’m picking him up at the hospital at ten o’clock, so we can be there shortly after that.”
“Hang on a second.” Tommy put him on hold and came back two minutes later. “Okay, the assistant county attorney, Jim Rawlings, will be here. In my offi ce.”
15 6
L o i t e r i n g w i t h I n t e n t
“Thank you, Tommy. See you then.” Stone hung up, thinking this must have something to do with some drug deal that Evan and Charley had collaborated on.
STON E PU L L ED U P to the specified hospital door at ten o’clock, and Evan stepped out, his left arm in a sling, looked around furtively and got into Stone’s car.
Stone drove away. “Evan, let me give you a tip: When you’re leaving a building while worried about being shot at, don’t pause and look around; just dive into the car.”
“Thanks, that’s a good tip,” Evan said.
“How are you feeling?”
“A little sore, but the drugs are good.”
“Temperature gone?”
“Yes, my head is clear.”
“Good. We have a meeting with Tommy Sculley and Jim Rawlings, the assistant county attorney. Now perhaps you can tell me why you want the meeting?”
“I’m going to solve Charley Boggs’s homicide for them.”
“Yes, you mentioned that. How do you plan to do it?”