Loitering with Intent

35

STONE HAD BECOME accustomed to being awakened in the mornings by his cell phone while in Dr. Annika Swenson’s bed, and this morning was no exception.

“Hello?”

“Stone? It’s your client, Evan Keating.”

Stone looked at the clock. Seven A.M. “Good morning, Evan. You’re up early.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Not exactly.”

“I’m being discharged from this place at ten o’clock this morning. Can you pick me up here and take me to police headquarters?”

“I suppose so, but why do you want to go to police headquarters?”

“I’ll explain that when we’re on the way. Will you make an appointment with Lieutenant Sculley and ask him to have a representative of the district attorney there, too?”

“Why do we need the DA there?”

“Again, I’ll explain on the way. Just tell him I’m going to solve Charley Boggs’s murder for him. And when you come here, there’s a second entrance, two doors beyond the emergency room. Please meet me there at ten sharp.”

“All right, Evan. See you then.” Stone hung up and, with nothing to do until nine, when Tommy Sculley would be at work, he turned his attention to Annika, who was lying on her stomach, pretending to sleep. He ran a finger lightly down the crack of her ass.

“Mmmmm,” she said.

“You’re not asleep, are you?”

“Nooooo.”

He deployed the fi nger again.

“More,” she said.

He could deny her nothing.

SHORTLY AFTER NINE , after finishing breakfast, he phoned Tommy Sculley.

“Lieutenant Sculley.”

“Tommy, it’s Stone Barrington.”

“Good morning, Stone, and what request do you have for me today?”

“Only a request for a meeting with you and somebody from the DA’s office.”

“For what purpose?”

“My client says he can solve the Charley Boggs murder for you.”

“Which client?”

“I have only one in Key West.”

“Well, that’s very decent of him. What evidence does he have?”

“He has not yet informed me. I’m picking him up at the hospital at ten o’clock, so we can be there shortly after that.”

“Hang on a second.” Tommy put him on hold and came back two minutes later. “Okay, the assistant county attorney, Jim Rawlings, will be here. In my office.”

“Thank you, Tommy. See you then.” Stone hung up, thinking this must have something to do with some drug deal that Evan and Charley had collaborated on.

STONE PULLED U P to the specified hospital door at ten o’clock, and Evan stepped out, his left arm in a sling, looked around furtively and got into Stone’s car.

Stone drove away. “Evan, let me give you a tip: When you’re leaving a building while worried about being shot at, don’t pause and look around; just dive into the car.”

“Thanks, that’s a good tip,” Evan said.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little sore, but the drugs are good.”

“Temperature gone?”

“Yes, my head is clear.”

“Good. We have a meeting with Tommy Sculley and Jim Rawl-ings, the assistant county attorney. Now perhaps you can tell me why you want the meeting?”

“I’m going to solve Charley Boggs’s homicide for them.”

“Yes, you mentioned that. How do you plan to do it?”

“You’ll find out at the same moment they do, Stone. What I want you to do is to negotiate an immunity agreement for Gigi and me with the county attorney before I tell them.”

“What do you wish to be immune from?”

“Prosecution for any crime or knowledge of a crime committed in the state of Florida.”

“That’s kind of broad, isn’t it? Why don’t we narrow it down to the specific circumstances?”

“I like the idea of broad,” Evan said. “And remember, it has to include Gigi, too.”

“Why Gigi?”

“Stone . . .”

“I know, I know. I’ll find out when you tell them.”

“Yes. I just want a clear and enforceable understanding with the prosecutor, before I tell them what I have to tell them.”

“And speaking of the lovely Gigi, where is she?”

“Grocery shopping for the boat. I don’t want her included in this meeting.”

“Just in the immunity agreement?”

“Exactly.”

“Evan, tell me why you think they will agree to give you immunity from all crimes? After all, you could have robbed a few banks or something.”

“I haven’t robbed any banks. They’ll give me the agreement because it’s the only way they can solve Charley’s homicide.”

“How can you be sure of that?”

“Trust me, Stone. All will be revealed after we have the immunity agreement.”

Stone sighed and continued to drive. They reached police headquarters and parked the car and Stone hurriedly walked Evan inside.

“Don’t worry about my being shot,” Evan said. “That problem is going to go away after this meeting.”

Stone stopped and faced Evan. “Listen to me. If I’m going to effectively represent you in this meeting, I’m going to have to know in advance of it what you’re going to say.”

“You don’t need to know that, Stone,” Evan replied. “All you need is the immunity agreement.”

Stone threw up his hands and got on the elevator. “I warn you, you could get into trouble by not confiding in your lawyer.”

“No,” Evan replied, “I won’t.”

Stone checked in with the receptionist, and he and Evan were directed to a small, glassed-in conference room across the hall from Tommy’s office. The two men stood up to greet them, Tommy made the introductions, and they all sat down.

“Now,” Tommy said, “what’s this about solving the Boggs killing?”

Stone held up a hand. “First, Tommy, Jim, we’re going to need immunity for Evan and his girlfriend, Gigi Jones.”

“Immunity from what?”

“From any possible criminal involvement in any crime.”

“Hang on,” Rawlings said. “From any involvement in any crime?”

“That’s what my client needs to feel comfortable discussing the homicide with you.”

“I don’t know about that,” Rawlings said. “Will you excuse us for a moment?”

“Of course,” Stone replied. He and Evan walked out of the offi ce and took chairs in the hall. They could see Tommy and Rawlings arguing. Arms were being waved. Finally, they were told to come back into the conference room.

“All right,” Rawlings said, “I’ll offer immunity from prosecution for any crime associated with the death of Charley Boggs. That’s the best I can do.”

“All right,” Evan said.

“We’re going to need that in writing,” Stone said. Evan interrupted. “That won’t be necessary, Stone. I trust Mr. Rawlings and Lieutenant Sculley.”

“Evan . . .”

“I’m ready to speak on this subject,” Evan said. Stone shrugged. “All right, but remember, Mr. Rawlings, I’m holding you to this agreement, and Tommy is a witness.”

“Yeah, I’m a witness,” Tommy said. “Now spit it out, Mr. Keating.”

And Evan spat it out.