“I already found that out,” she said. “He’s useless. How long is this going to take?”
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“You’ll be done by nine tonight. Larry’s renting a car, and we’ll meet at a place he knows, where I’ll give you the details.”
“How much?”
“Ten grand for very little work in advance. All you have to do is get him to a dock in the boat.”
“All right, I’ll see you later.” She hung up. Manny sat down at his desk, pleased with himself. This one was going to be a piece of cake, and it would make up for the failure in Key West.
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STON E A N D D IN O looked up to see Evan and the car coming. He stopped, and they got inside, Stone behind the wheel.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
“Perfectly,” Evan replied. “He searched me and the briefcase for a wire, but he didn’t find anything. While I was there he got a call from his hit man, and we’re on for tonight.”
“Hey, that’s quick service!” Dino said.
“I told him to use the boat, as we’d planned.”
Stone got on the phone to Tommy Sculley. “Hey, Tommy, we’re on for tonight.”
“Tonight? I’d better get my ass in gear. I’ve alerted the county sheriff, and they’re standing by. I guess I’d better seaplane it up there and land on the waterway. It’s the fastest way to Mike’s place from Key West.”
Evan spoke up. “Put it on speaker.”
Stone did.
“Tommy,” Evan said, “I told him Mike has a drink on his back porch at sunset every night, so you need to be there while it’s still broad daylight.”
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“Okay, I’ll alert everybody.”
“Something else: I’m going to meet Manny White at a place in South Beach called the Steak Shack, at seven-thirty. He’s to get a call there when the job is done, and I’ll give him the rest of the money. The bartender and the waitress are supposed to be my alibi.”
“You done good, kid,” Tommy said. “The sheriff’s guys will bust the hit man when he brings the boat back to the marina, and the state cops can bust Manny as soon as the money changes hands.”
“Tommy,” Stone said, “for God’s sake tell the state cops to be careful. This is apparently a restaurant where Manny is well known, and we don’t want to spook him by having cops at half the tables. Have them look in from outside, or Evan can phone them when it’s done. They can bust Manny on his way out of the place.”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” Tommy said. “Where are you two guys gonna be?”
Stone looked at Dino. “What’s your preference?”
“We’re here, let’s stay here,” Dino said. “We can go in with the state cops after the money changes hands. Anyway, I’d like to see the look on Manny’s face.”
“Me too,” Stone said. “You get that, Tommy?”
“I got it. Just don’t let Manny spot you, or he’ll walk out.”