Loitering With Intent by Stuart Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

other.
    I hope you are fully rested from last night, she said, and ready to make love again.
    I think I might just manage it, Stone replied, if you do most of the work.
    All right, she said, cheerfully. We did the missionary position and the doggie position last night; now we will do the blow-job position. Lie on your back.
    Yes, ma'am, Stone said, following instructions. She glanced at the clock. You mustn't take too long to come, because I must go to work.
    Yes, ma'am, he replied. I'll be as quick as I can.
    STON E G O T B AC K to the Marquesa in time to see Dino's breakfast dishes taken away.
    Have you eaten anything? Dino asked. I'm referring to the like of bacon and eggs.
    Nothing like that, Stone said. He picked up the phone and ordered.
    As soon as you can get yourself together, we should go over to Boggs's houseboat, Dino said.
    Why?
    Well, don't you think we might find something there that could tell us more about your Evan Keating?
    I suppose we might.
    You don't think very clearly first thing in the morning, do you?
    I do, but I wasn't thinking about Charley Boggs.
    Oh.
    Yeah.
    I take it you had a pleasant evening.
    That is an inadequate description of my evening.
    I think I'm going to have to call Genevieve and get her down here, Dino said, referring to his girlfriend.
    If that will keep you from exploding with envy, by all means. She can ride back with us.
    Dino went inside to use the phone, and Stone had his breakfast. TH E Y A R R I V E D AT the Garrison Bight houseboat of Charley Boggs an hour later, with Stone freshly shaved and showered. Tommy Sculley was sitting in a teak chair on the rear deck reading the local newspaper.
    Take a pew, Tommy said. My crime scene people will let us in there in a few minutes.
    This is your idea of working a scene? Dino said, sitting down.
    First, they work it and show me any evidence, then I work it. Like that, we don't get in each other's way.
    This is where Charley Boggs liked to do his fishing, Stone said, sitting down. You think he fell in and drowned?
    Tommy nodded. I think he could have fallen in and drowned right after he caught the bullet in the back of the head. He might have lived long enough to drown.
    Any luck on the guy he fought with at Louie's last night? Stone asked.
    Tommy nodded. Guy name of Billy Guy. He jerked a thumb behind him, toward the row of charter fishing boats. He skippers a fisherman parked over there. My guy Daryl is talking to him now.
    That's quick work, Stone said.
    It's Key West; nobody who lives here can go into a restaurant or bar without being seen by somebody who knows him. It makes life simpler when you want to find a guy.
    Any news on what the fight was about?
    Daryl will bring us up to date after he pumps Billy. He's already talked to a couple of witnesses; you're next.
    Sounds like he won't need me, Stone said.
    You could be right, Tommy replied, turning the page of his newspaper.
    Anything worth reading in there? Dino asked.
    Nothing about Charley Boggs, Tommy said. He was found only a couple of hours ago.
    Do a lot of people in Key West get shot in the back of the head?
    Stone asked.
    Remarkably few compared to, say, New Orleans or Chicago. Last execution-style killing I can remember here was year before last. This one is the first gunshot killing of any kind this year. Hope it's the last.
    Daryl appeared on the gangplank. Permission to come aboard, skipper?
    Get your ass aboard, Tommy called back.
    Daryl, clad in jeans and a splashy shirt with a lot of tropical fruit on it, came onto the rear deck and seated himself on the railing, since all the chairs were occupied by his elders.
    So? Tommy asked. Are we charging Billy Guy with Charley's murder?
    Probably not, Daryl said.
    What was the fi ght about?
    Charley made an unkind comment about Billy's girl. Billy took exception and put a fist in Charley's face.
    I got sort of a sideways look at that, Stone said. The management separated them before it got any farther.
    Was Charley's