“Name of the boat?”
“Hotshot.”
“Spell.”
“Hotel, oscar, tango, sierra, hotel, oscar, tango.”
“Length?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have that information.”
“Skipper’s name?”
“Don’t know.”
“Home port?”
“Maybe Newport, but I’m not at all sure.”
“That was Eldon and Elmer who?”
“No, that’s Eben and Enos Stone. And Lieutenant, if you can find out if they’re aboard without letting them know you’re checking, I’d appreciate it. I don’t want them to run.”
“What do you want me to do if they try to run?”
“If they do, please try to find out where they’re going and call me as soon as possible.” Young gave the man his cell phone number.
“I could detain them on some charge or other, maybe dumping their holding tank in the marina.”
“I don’t think that would help. Anyway, it’s not their boat.”
“I could think of something else.”
“Lieutenant, their father is a big-time Boston lawyer; I don’t think that would be helpful. I just need to know if they’re actually present on Nantucket.”
“Tell me, Sergeant, how is knowing that going to help you?”
“Well, if they’re on the boat, then their alibi for my time frame might be good.”
“Might be good?”
“We’re talking about a period of four days. They say they were in Newport until yesterday, partying, and the race started yesterday morning.”
“Have you talked to the police in Newport?”
“Yes, and they’re investigating as we speak.”
“And you just want to know if they’re on the boat.”
“I want to know if they’re on Nantucket.”
“And you don’t want me to detain them?”
“No, sir, please don’t do that.”
“I guess you want the collar yourself, huh?”
“I don’t have enough evidence for a collar. If they’re on Nantucket, I’ll have even less. If they’re not on Nantucket, then I may have some basis on which to proceed.”