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Back Loitering With Intent Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. Stuart Woods
  2. 1
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  8. 7
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  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
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  14. 13
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  64. AUTHOR’ S NOTE

“You didn’t tell him about the cell phone.”

“That would just have raised his expectations,” Stone said, pick-ing up his sandwich again.

“So what are we going to do this afternoon?” Dino asked. “We’re sort of out of leads.”

Stone brightened. “Tennis, anyone?”

11

11

THE OLDE ISL AND Tennis Club was on the tourist map, next to and part of the Casa Marina Hotel, the first big tourist draw to Key West, built by the Standard Oil and railroad magnate Henry Flagler. Stone and Dino called Chuck Chandler, then dressed and drove over. They found Chuck in the pro shop.

“Hey, guys,” Chuck said. “You want to go hit some balls? That’ll give me a chance to look at your game.”

Stone and Dino had played together before. Stone had the better serve and stroke, and Dino was good at the net. Chuck stood back and hit against the two of them. After a few minutes, Chuck said,

“Okay, let’s play a set. I’ll use the singles lines.”

Half an hour later, when Chuck had won six-two, they took a break and had a soft drink.

“Have you taken the boat out yet?” Stone asked.

“Just the run from the Peninsula yard on Stock Island to the yacht club. It’s tough to get much time off during the winter season—I’m so booked up with students.”

“Are you living aboard?”

Chuck laughed. “That’s the only way I can afford the boat. I can’t buy a house, too, not with real estate prices the way they are down here. I’m comfortable, though. The old boat was a lot more cramped, and every time I bought a piece of clothing, I had to throw one away.”

“What did you do with the old boat?” Stone asked.

“I sold it to the first guy who looked at it. I think I may not have asked enough.”

“I’ve heard about the Peninsula Marina. Is that where you did the work?”

“Yeah, I rented a shed in the yard.”

“Did you ever run into a guy named Evan Keating in the marina there?”

“Sure did; I sold him my boat.”

Stone broke into a broad smile. “Finally!” he said.

“Finally what?” Chuck asked.

“We came down here to fi nd Keating; I’ve got some documents for him to sign. I saw him once, but he got away from me, and we haven’t been able to find him. Do you have an address for him?”

“No, but as far as I know, he’s living aboard my old boat. At least that’s what he told me he was going to do.”

“Where is he berthed?”

“I don’t know. I know the Peninsula didn’t have a berth for him.”

“Where did you keep the boat?”

“In the same slip at the yacht club where the new boat is.”