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“We did not, at any time.”
“Evan,” Stone said, “did Charley Boggs earlier infl ict a knife wound on you?”
“Yes, he did,” Evan replied, patting his ribs on his left side. “I’ll show you the wound, if you like.”
Stone interrupted. “So you see, Evan had good reason to fear violence from Charley Boggs.”
“Charley wasn’t really a violent guy,” Evan said. “It was the drugs. He was using a lot of cocaine, and it was making him crazy.”
“Evan,” Myers said, “do you have any idea why anyone would put drugs on your boat?”
“No, I do not.”
Stone spoke up. “I have already posited to Agent Corelli that someone might have wished to use a boat familiar to the Key West authorities to move drugs into the harbor.”
“Yes, I know,” Myers said.
“Is there anything else, gentlemen?” Stone asked. Myers looked at Corelli, who shook his head. “Not at this time,”
Myers said.
“Will you release Evan’s boat?” Stone asked. “He lives aboard it, and he’s being put to the expense of staying in a hotel.”
“I’ll direct the Coast Guard to do so,” Myers said, “but I must tell you that if evidence surfaces that indicates the involvement of Mr. Keating in drug dealing, his boat will be subject to impounding again.”
“I understand,” Evan said.
Stone and Evan rose, everybody shook hands, and they left the building and went to Stone’s car.
“That seemed to go well,” Evan said.
“Yes, it did. I’m greatly relieved,” Stone replied.
“I have your fee back at the Marquesa,” Evan said.
“Thank you,” Stone said. “If you see any other sort of trouble coming down the pike, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me now.”
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“What sort of trouble?”
“Do you expect to be stabbed, shot at or charged with any crime?”
Evan laughed. “No, I don’t. I hope to lead a more peaceful life from here on.”
“Good,” Stone replied.
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LAT E I N T H E afternoon, Stone and Dino were having a drink on their front porch when Evan Keating came down the walkway and stopped.