I'd love to. Let me see if I can swap shifts with someone.
Would you like me to put the movie on hold?
Yes,
she said, reaching for him.
I thought you were going to make phone calls.
Later.
Stone thought later was a good idea.
LAT ER , SH E M A D E the calls and swapped her shift, then she snuggled next to Stone. When are you leaving?
she asked. Stone looked at his watch: past midnight. Tomorrow morning , he said. We'll get an early start.
Is there room in your airplane for me?
she asked. He turned and looked at her. Are you really thinking about moving to New York?
I have an interview for a job in three days,
she said. It sounds good. Of course, I'll have to let my house and find an apartment in New York.
You won't have to find an apartment; you'll be staying with me.
In your apartment?
In my house.
You have a whole house?
I do. It was left to me some years ago by my great-aunt, and I renovated it, did much of the work myself.
Tell me about it.
It's simpler just to show you.
How much luggage can I take on your airplane?
Two bags, not gigantic. Anything you need more than that, ship it.
Okay,
she said. This is exciting.
Yes, it is.
We have had a great deal of lovemaking since you've been here, haven't we?
she asked.
More than I've ever had before,
Stone said.
And you aren't tired of me?
Not in the least. I'm not sure how long I can keep up the pace, though. I may need a little rest now and then.
Maybe now and then,
she said, throwing a leg over him. STON E W E N T B AC K to the Marquesa in the morning, had breakfast and called Bill Eggers.
Morning, Bill.
Good morning.
I thought you'd like to know that Evan Keating and his girlfriend, Gigi Jones, are getting married today.
Congratulate them for me,
Eggers said.
I'll do that.
You can tell Evan, if his grandfather hasn't already, that the sale of Elijah Keating's Sons closed yesterday, and that I've wired his share of the proceeds to his bank in Miami. And it's more than he expected, because old Eli got another fifty million out of the buyers.
So Evan's share is four hundred and twenty-fi ve million dollars?
How'd you know that?
Because Evan showed me the contract.
Oh.
What does a kid his age do with that much money?
He'll think of something,
Eggers said.
Chapter 50
STON E PI C K ED U P Annika, who looked fetching in an actual dress, something he hadn't seen her in, and they drove back to the Marquesa.
Do you go to a lot of weddings?
she asked.
Not if I can help it,
he replied. I had to go to one last year that I couldn't avoid.
How about you?
he asked.
My only family is a sister, Greta, who lives in Washington, D. C., and she's not married yet, so I've been to fewer weddings than most, I suppose. Once in a while one of the girls at the hospital gets married.
THE Y P I C K E D UP Dino at the cottage and walked up the path to Evan and Gigi's cottage, where Evan was seated on the front porch with a man in a suit. He greeted them and introduced the justice of the peace. Stone introduced Annika.
We've met,
she said.
Of course, in the hospital,
Evan replied.
I'm glad you recovered so well.
Thank you. Gigi's inside doing God-knows-what,
he said.
She'll let us know when we can go in. I'd offer you some champagne, but Gigi says we have to wait until after the ceremony.
Stone whispered in his ear, I just heard that the deal for the sale of the business closed yesterday, and there's four hundred and twenty-five million dollars in your Miami bank account.
Evan laughed, the first time Stone had seen him do so. Well, that's a nice wedding present. Oh, I forgot.
He pulled an envelope from his pocket. I've made a will, and I'd like for you and Dino to witness it, if that's all right.
Of course,
Stone said, reaching for his pen. Ask the JP to sign, as well. Three signatures is good.
Evan put the last page of the handwritten will on the porch table and signed it, then Stone, Dino and the JP added their signatures and addresses.
Be sure and initial all the pages, too,
Stone said. Evan did so, then put the will into the envelope. I'd like you to continue as my attorney, so will you put this in your safe?
Of course,
Stone said, then he handed him his card. Here's my New York number, if you should need me.
Gigi stuck her head out the door. All right, you can come in,
she said.
Everyone filed into the living room of the cottage, where she had placed flowers here and there. She was wearing a white lace dress, and Stone thought she looked lovely.
The JP arranged everybody, then read the standard wedding ceremony, while Evan and Gigi made the appropriate responses. Stone noticed that Gigi didn't have a problem with vowing to obey. The JP pronounced them man and wife, they kissed, then Evan opened a couple of bottles of Dom Perignon, while Gigi distributed champagne flutes. They toasted and drank for a few minutes, then they went off to lunch in the hotel's restaurant.
The JP accepted an envelope, then excused himself, leaving the five of them at a round table in a far corner of the restaurant. More champagne was drunk.
Where are you going to live?
Stone asked Evan.
Here, in the winter,
Evan replied. We like living on the boat, but I expect I'll buy a house pretty soon. The rest of the year we'll just wander, until we find someplace we like for the summers.
Sounds like an interesting life,
Stone said.
Stone,
Gigi said, I want to apologize for hitting you when we first met. I thought you were some sort of threat to Evan, and I just reacted.
Thank you, Gigi,
Stone said. I seem to have recovered, and if not, I know a doctor who can help me.
He kissed Annika on the ear. Where are you from, Gigi?
he asked, changing the subject.
I'm from Coral Gables,
she replied.
And what did you do before you were married?
Oh, lots of things,
she said. I sold real estate, I sold boats, I started a couple of small businesses. I was even a private investigator for a while. That's how I met Evan.
The waiter interrupted them to present a huge crown roast of lamb, which, apparently, was the wedding feast. Everyone applauded and then, when the lamb had been served, began eating.
Have you spent your whole career as a lawyer?
Evan asked Stone.
No, I was a police detective, which is where Dino and I met; we were partners.
Are you still a cop, Dino?
Gigi asked.
I certainly am,
Dino replied.
Dino is the lieutenant in charge of the detective squad at the Nineteenth Precinct, on the Upper East Side of New York City, Stone explained. That's how we both knew Tommy Sculley, who moved down here when he retired.
Sculley seems like a good guy,
Evan said.
He is,
Stone replied. We hadn't seen him in years, until we came down here looking for you.
Well, I'm glad you found me,
Evan said.
By the way,
Stone said, you should see somebody right away about investing the proceeds of the sale; you're losing a lot of interest every hour you wait.
My grandfather is already dealing with that,
Evan replied.
He's been heavily into investing ever since he retired from the company, nearly twenty years ago, and he's done very well. He just has more to play with now. He's put me on an allowance.
I hope he hasn't been too strict with you,
Stone said.
No, very liberal. And I don't have to mow his lawn to earn it, the way I used to.
Stone laughed. I used to have to sweep out my father's woodworking shop every day to earn mine.
Annika, who was sitting next to Evan, reached for the bread basket and knocked over Evan's champagne, some of it into his lap.
Oh, I'm sorry,
she said, half rising and bending over to use her napkin on the spill.
There was a sound of breaking glass, and Annika fell sideways into Evan.
Stone turned and saw blood on Evan's jacket. Gun!
Stone yelled.
Everybody down!
He threw himself at Annika and Evan, while on the other side of the table Dino got Gigi to the fl oor. Stone lifted his head and looked out the shattered window behind him but saw no one. He turned his attention to Evan, who was covered in blood. Somebody call 911 for an ambulance and the police!
Stone yelled, as he reached to pull Annika away from Evan. He couldn't believe that Evan had, once again, been the target of an assassin. Then he realized that the blood on Evan's jacket was not Evan's. It was Annika's.
Chapter 51
DI N O PU T H I S head up and caught a glimpse of a motorcycle turning the corner from Simonton Street. Motorcycle! h e yelled, pointing. He got a glimpse of a black helmet, before the machine disappeared down the block.
Stone tossed him the car keys. Go!
he yelled. I'll call Tommy!
Dino ran, as Stone grabbed his cell phone. Evan was giving Annika CPR.
Dino got out of the restaurant in time to see the bike turn left at the next corner. He leapt into the rental car, which was parked in front of an antiques store across the street, and burned rubber. He was turning the corner when his cell phone rang. Yeah?
It's Tommy. Where are you?
The motorcycle turned left a block from the restaurant.
Elizabeth Street?
Yeah, that's it,
Dino said, checking the sign at the next corner.
Now he's turning right on that busy street, what is it?
Eaton.
Yeah.
I'm going to block the bridge from the island,
Tommy said. I'll call you back as soon as I've given the order.
Okay.
Dino slapped his phone shut and made the turn onto Eaton, scaring the life out of a woman trying to cross the street. He could see the motorcycle, three or four blocks up the straight street, passing cars with abandon. His phone rang again. Yeah?
I've got two cars on the way to the turnoff for U. S. One. Anybody leaving the island has to go that way.
The bike is red, looks Japanese,
Dino said. I can't get close enough for a plate, but he's wearing a green windbreaker and a black helmet. He'll be at the entrance to the Navy base in a few seconds.
I've got another car headed to the intersection of Eaton and Roosevelt Boulevard,
Tommy said. I've told them to ram him, if possible.
He's past the Navy entrance,
Dino said, headed toward the bridge over Garrison Bight, where the sports fi shermen dock.
My car is at the light he's coming up to,
Tommy said.
I'm closing in on him just a little,
Dino said. He whipped around a car and jammed the accelerator to the floor as he ran up the bridge. He had to slow for a curve after leaving the bridge, and he looked up to see the intersection ahead. A police car on the other side of Roosevelt was plowing through the intersection as the motorcycle reached it. The rider braked, slid sideways, then regained balance, missing the cop car by inches. He turned onto Roosevelt and accelerated.
Your guy at Roosevelt missed him,
Dino said. He's headed up the boulevard now, and he must be doing eighty. Your car is backing up to get onto Roosevelt.
Dino turned on his flashing caution lights and began using his horn.
Don't kill yourself or anybody else!
Tommy said. We'll head him off at the pass.
Dino eased off and got stuck behind a line of traffic. Ten seconds later, he was in oncoming traffic, blowing his horn over and over.
Now he was free and up to ninety miles an hour. He saw the bike make the curve to the right. By the time he got to the turn, he was in the wrong lane again, signaling for a left turn onto U. S. 1. He made the corner with a great screeching of tires and saw two cop cars blocking the bridge. The motorcycle was on the sidewalk, getting past them.
Shit!
Dino yelled, slamming on his brakes. He held his badge out the window, blowing his horn, but he had to come to a complete stop. That's the guy!
he yelled at the two policemen, who were watching the motorcycle disappear down the road. The cops dived into their cars and got them turned around, then Dino was bringing up the rear of a procession, as the two police cars headed up U. S. 1.