“My recollection, from what Tommy said, was that Charley’s father’s response to being told his son was dead was that he wasn’t surprised, that he’d thought he might be already dead.”

“Yeah, that’s what Tommy said the elder Mr. Boggs said.”

“Which means that Charley Boggs’s old man wasn’t looking for him.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“So what’s in it for him to switch identities with Evan?”

“I’ve got two answers for you: the first, not much; the second, maybe Charley was just doing Evan a favor. After all, we know that Evan’s father was looking for him, because he hired Manny White and me to find him, and Evan and Charley had been close friends since prep school, so it’s the sort of thing one friend might do for the other.”

“Yeah, okay,” Dino said, “but I think there’s another reason we don’t know about.”

“What’s that?” Stone asked.

“I don’t know. We don’t know about it. I just think there’s more to this story than we’ve been told.”

Another voice spoke. “That’s what I think.”

Stone looked up to see Tommy Sculley standing next to the table. He shoved onto the bench next to Dino.

“I’m willing to believe that,” Stone said. “But from my point of view, I know all I need to know. So do you, Tommy. You cleared a homicide, and you know what happened to Charley’s—excuse me, Evan’s drugs. Aren’t you happy?”

“No,” Tommy said, “and I don’t know why. Did Charley ask you to let Evan’s old man know he’s dead?”

“Yes, he did, and for a very good reason: He wants Warren Keating to stop trying to kill him.”

“That’s what I figured,” Tommy said. “That’s a good reason, also, for him to come in today and tell his story.”

“Yeah, I guess so. But he didn’t have to do that; he wasn’t a suspect, was he?”

“No.”

“So he could have gone right on being Evan Keating, if he’d wanted to.”

“Yeah, I guess he could have. And gone right on getting shot at. Doesn’t it bother you guys that this all wrapped up so neatly?”

“I like it when things wrap up neatly,” Dino said. “It’s just that they never do.”

“Sure they do,” Stone said. “Sometimes. All right, rarely.”

“There are always loose ends,” Tommy said. “Only this time, there aren’t.”

The three men sat and contemplated that in silence.

“You’re a troublemaker, Tommy,” Stone said.

“Sorry about that; I’m just not satisfi ed.”

“Try this,” Stone said. “If you find out Evan—ah, Charley—did commit some other crime associated with the murder, Rawlings has already given him immunity for it, so there’s nothing you can do, anyway.”