“Enos.”
“A cop was just at the boat,” he said. “Like you predicted. Funny guy; he actually said, ”Ahoy.“”
“Are you sure he was a cop? Was he in uniform?”
“He was wearing a white undershirt and khakis, and shiny black shoes and a web belt with a shiny brass buckle, and he had a white sidewall haircut, and there was a big bulge on his belt. Who else would he be?”
“What did he say?”
“He wanted you and Eben, and I told him you went ashore for beer. He said you had a call at the dockmaster’s office, and I gave him your cell number.”
“Okay.”
“Everything all right?”
“Yeah, we had a great night with the girls, even if they are underage. Thanks for covering for us; we don’t want to deal with their old man.”
“Do it once for me.”
“You bet.”
BACK AT THE DOCKMASTER’S office, Jake got into his shirt and cap before calling Sergeant Young.
“This is Young.”
“Hey, Jake Potter, in Nantucket.”
“Yes, Jake. What did you find out?”
“I went down to the boat; your boys are here,” Potter replied. “I got their cell phone number for you.” He read it out.
“Yeah, I’ve already got that.”
“You can reach them on that number,” Jake said. “Good luck on your case, and don’t forget who helped you.”
“Thanks, Jake.” Young hung up.
Jake strolled back to his car, got in and began driving slowly up the street, looking for a pair of identical giants carrying beer. He was going to keep an eye on these two, and if they did anything funny, he was going to be all over them.
Sergeant Tom Young put his cell phone back into his shirt pocket. “That was the cop from Nantucket,” he said to Stone.
“They checked out the yacht?”
“Yes. The twins were aboard.”
“So much for that theory,” Stone said.
Chapter 52
STONE WENT INTO Dick’s little office, where Lance was working on the computer. “The Nantucket police have verified that the Stone twins are there, on the yacht.”
Lance sighed. “I had hopes for that theory,” he said. He span around in his chair. “Stone, I don’t want to talk about this in front of Ham, but I think you know that the chances of finding Holly alive are down to slim and none.”
“I can’t think about that, Lance; I just have to keep trying to figure this thing out.”
“I know you feel responsible, but you’re not,” Lance said. “You told her to go armed.”
“She did; her gun is not upstairs, and neither is the holster.”