anybody.
Nah, he was pretty much the dope in the thing. There was one very hot babe mixed up in it, though. She's doing time right now, ought to be out soon.
What's it like living here? Stone asked.
Beautiful in the winter, spring and fall; hot as hell in the summer, but no worse than New York. At least we get the breeze. You like boats?
Sure, who doesn't?
I'll take you out for some snorkeling, Tommy said. Snorkeling and a few drinks. We got a very nice little yacht club here, and I'll take you there for dinner. Tomorrow night?
Sure, Stone and Dino said simultaneously.
So, Tommy said, what brings you guys down here?
It's winter, isn't it? Dino answered.
I'm running a legal errand, Stone said. I've got to fi nd a guy and get him to sign some papers.
Anybody I know?
I doubt it. Kid hates his father, but the old man needs his signature on some papers to sell the family business. Means a lot of bucks for the whole family, the kid, too, so it shouldn't be too much trouble to persuade him. Stone showed Tommy the old photo of Evan. Tommy looked at it and screwed his face up. What's his name?
Evan Keating, Stone replied. Know him?
In a manner of speaking, Tommy replied. I busted him in a drug case yesterday, but it ain't going to stick.
Do you know where I can fi nd him?
Tommy motioned his chin in the direction of the bar. Right over there, third stool from the left.
Stone looked toward the bar. The man's back was mostly to him, but he could catch a little profile. He was heavier than in his college photo and had longer hair, and he was dressed in jeans, cowboy boots and a flowered shirt, with the tail out, Hawaiian-style. He was talking to a beautiful girl on the next bar stool, with long, honeycolored hair, dressed in tight jeans and a leather jacket.
Excuse me a minute, Stone said, rising and walking toward the bar. He walked up to the two people, who turned and looked at him. Evan Keating had a thin, straight nose and bright blue eyes.
Mr. Keating? Stone said. I'm sorry to intrude, but I just wanted to introduce myself. He handed the young man his card. My name is Stone Barrington, and I've been sent by my law firm to Key West to deliver some documents for your signature.
You must think I'm somebody else, Keating said. I don't know what you're talking about.
I'm aware of that, Mr. Keating, but we could get together for a few minutes tomorrow morning. I'm sure you will find our conversation greatly to your advantage.
Keating regarded him evenly for a moment without speaking, then he said, Why don't we step outside for a moment and discuss this?
Of course, Stone replied.
Keating got up and led the way out, while Stone followed. Outside on the sidewalk a bench had been placed as a waiting area for the restaurant, and Keating motioned Stone to sit down. Stone sat down next to Keating, his back to the restaurant door.
I know this will come as a surprise to you, but my law fi rm represents Elijah Keating's Sons, and . . .
Something struck the back of Stone's neck, and the night exploded in stars.
Chapter 5
STON E S WA M B A C K into consciousness, opened his eyes, then closed them again. Some sort of bright light had blinded him. A cool hand was resting on his forehead.
Mr. Barrington? a woman's low voice said.
What? Stone replied. He tried to open his eyes again but it didn't work.
Can you look at me, please?
It's too bright, Stone said. Immediately, the brightness disappeared.
Is that better?
Okay, yes.
Can you open your eyes now?
Stone opened his eyes and found his vision filled with the face of a woman. What happened? he asked.
We don't know, she replied.
Dino's face replaced the woman's, and Tommy Sculley was right behind him. We found you face down on the sidewalk, he said.
I liked the other face better, Stone said and tried to sit up straighter.
Let's get him up on the bench, the woman said, and hands gripped his arms and helped him upward.
What happened to you, Stone? Dino asked.
How the
Nah, he was pretty much the dope in the thing. There was one very hot babe mixed up in it, though. She's doing time right now, ought to be out soon.
What's it like living here? Stone asked.
Beautiful in the winter, spring and fall; hot as hell in the summer, but no worse than New York. At least we get the breeze. You like boats?
Sure, who doesn't?
I'll take you out for some snorkeling, Tommy said. Snorkeling and a few drinks. We got a very nice little yacht club here, and I'll take you there for dinner. Tomorrow night?
Sure, Stone and Dino said simultaneously.
So, Tommy said, what brings you guys down here?
It's winter, isn't it? Dino answered.
I'm running a legal errand, Stone said. I've got to fi nd a guy and get him to sign some papers.
Anybody I know?
I doubt it. Kid hates his father, but the old man needs his signature on some papers to sell the family business. Means a lot of bucks for the whole family, the kid, too, so it shouldn't be too much trouble to persuade him. Stone showed Tommy the old photo of Evan. Tommy looked at it and screwed his face up. What's his name?
Evan Keating, Stone replied. Know him?
In a manner of speaking, Tommy replied. I busted him in a drug case yesterday, but it ain't going to stick.
Do you know where I can fi nd him?
Tommy motioned his chin in the direction of the bar. Right over there, third stool from the left.
Stone looked toward the bar. The man's back was mostly to him, but he could catch a little profile. He was heavier than in his college photo and had longer hair, and he was dressed in jeans, cowboy boots and a flowered shirt, with the tail out, Hawaiian-style. He was talking to a beautiful girl on the next bar stool, with long, honeycolored hair, dressed in tight jeans and a leather jacket.
Excuse me a minute, Stone said, rising and walking toward the bar. He walked up to the two people, who turned and looked at him. Evan Keating had a thin, straight nose and bright blue eyes.
Mr. Keating? Stone said. I'm sorry to intrude, but I just wanted to introduce myself. He handed the young man his card. My name is Stone Barrington, and I've been sent by my law firm to Key West to deliver some documents for your signature.
You must think I'm somebody else, Keating said. I don't know what you're talking about.
I'm aware of that, Mr. Keating, but we could get together for a few minutes tomorrow morning. I'm sure you will find our conversation greatly to your advantage.
Keating regarded him evenly for a moment without speaking, then he said, Why don't we step outside for a moment and discuss this?
Of course, Stone replied.
Keating got up and led the way out, while Stone followed. Outside on the sidewalk a bench had been placed as a waiting area for the restaurant, and Keating motioned Stone to sit down. Stone sat down next to Keating, his back to the restaurant door.
I know this will come as a surprise to you, but my law fi rm represents Elijah Keating's Sons, and . . .
Something struck the back of Stone's neck, and the night exploded in stars.
Chapter 5
STON E S WA M B A C K into consciousness, opened his eyes, then closed them again. Some sort of bright light had blinded him. A cool hand was resting on his forehead.
Mr. Barrington? a woman's low voice said.
What? Stone replied. He tried to open his eyes again but it didn't work.
Can you look at me, please?
It's too bright, Stone said. Immediately, the brightness disappeared.
Is that better?
Okay, yes.
Can you open your eyes now?
Stone opened his eyes and found his vision filled with the face of a woman. What happened? he asked.
We don't know, she replied.
Dino's face replaced the woman's, and Tommy Sculley was right behind him. We found you face down on the sidewalk, he said.
I liked the other face better, Stone said and tried to sit up straighter.
Let's get him up on the bench, the woman said, and hands gripped his arms and helped him upward.
What happened to you, Stone? Dino asked.
How the
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