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Back Loitering With Intent Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. Stuart Woods
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
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  24. 23
  25. 24
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  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
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  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
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  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
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  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. AUTHOR’ S NOTE

“No, your household insurance reimburses you for your clothes and buys you a new set of golf clubs and tennis racket.”

“You make it all sound so attractive,” Dino said.

“Don’t worry, it will scare the shit out of you,” Stone replied. FIR S T, THE Y S AW some small islands to their left. Dino looked at the chart. “The Keys don’t run north-south,” he said.

“You’re very observant. They run

northeast-southwest, and

toward the end more west. Look.” He pointed out the window as an island swam into view through the haze. Key West Approach had them down to 1600 feet now.

“N123TF, Key West Approach, report Key West Airport in sight.”

Stone looked to his left and saw an airplane take off in the distance. “N123TF, airport in sight.”

“Fly direct Key West VOR, then enter a left downwind for runway niner. Contact Key West Tower on 118.2. Have a good day.”

“Thanks, and good day,” Stone replied, then switched frequencies. “Key West Tower, N123TF at the VOR, left downwind for niner.”

“N123TF, Key West Tower, cleared to land.”

Stone pointed as they approached the island. “We can see everything from here.” The island was laid out before them, every inch of it. “You been here before?”

“Once, a weekend with the ex. You?”

“My first time.”

Stone turned final at 500 feet and lined up on the runway. He made a smooth landing, and Ground Control directed him to parking.

They unloaded their gear, left refueling instructions and picked up their rent-a-car. Twenty minutes later they were parking in front of the Marquesa.

“Looks like somebody’s house,” Dino said. But after they had checked in and followed a bellman out a rear door, they found themselves in a large courtyard with two pools, surrounded by small cottages. Stone and Dino were shown to a pair of them connected by a front porch, and were soon sitting on the porch in rockers sipping something tropical with a little umbrella in it, ogling some girls in the pool at their feet.

“So,” said Dino, “when do we start looking for this kid, Evan Keating?”

“What’s your hurry?” Stone murmured, sipping his drink and watching the girls. “Tomorrow is soon enough.”

4

4

TO REACH THE restaurant, Stone and Dino walked out the front entrance of the hotel and to the street corner, to the front door of the dining room. It was a tastefully decorated space, with a bar to the left and a dozen or fifteen tables to the right. An attractive blonde greeted them.

“You must be Mr. Barrington and Mr. Bacchetti,” she said, “according to my list.”

“That’s us,” Stone replied. “And we have another gentleman joining us.”

“I’m Janet,” she said. “Right this way.” She seated them at a corner table and left menus. A waiter materialized, greeted them and asked for their drinks order.

“I don’t suppose you have Knob Creek bourbon,” Stone said resignedly.