Shoot Him If He Runs (Stone Barrington 14)

“Of course; that will be done.”

Dino waved duBois to a chair and sat down himself. “Someone loading a rifle would leave fingerprints on the cartridge casings, unless he was careful to wear gloves or wipe them clean.”

“Yes,” duBois said. “Go on.”

Dino was beginning to get the impression that duBois had never investigated a homicide. Probably, with his Haitian police background, he was more accustomed to committing than solving them.

“Have you located the shooter’s firing point?”

“We believe it to be an abandoned fire tower on a hill not far from the police station.”

“Then I would also look for tire tracks and footprints, and if the tower is accessed by a ladder or stairs, I would look for prints on the rungs or banisters. I would also look for DNA evidence, if the shooter, perhaps, spat or left a coffee cup or cut himself while climbing the tower. Hairs would be helpful, too.”

“All of that will be sought, of course,” duBois replied.

Dino was surprised he wasn’t taking notes. “Do you have the facility for DNA analysis available on St. Marks?”

“Not as yet,” duBois replied. “That will be one of my first requests of my government.”

“I would be very happy to have any evidence you find tested in our labs in New York, if that would be helpful.”

“Thank you; I will let you know.” DuBois consulted a list from his pocket. “Where are your companions, Mr. Barrington and Ms. Heller?” he asked.

“I believe they are touring the island,” Dino said. “They told us not to wait lunch for them.”

“When will they return?”

“I’m not sure, but certainly in time for cocktails; they never miss cocktails.” Dino smiled.

“Quite.”

Dino didn’t know what else to say. “I would be happy to inspect the shooter’s roost or the crime scene, if that would be helpful.”

“Probably not,” duBois replied.

“Mr. Barrington was also a homicide detective on the NYPD. We were partners for some years. I’m sure he would be glad to help, as well.”

“What about his girlfriend? Is she a police officer, too?”

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Dino almost said yes, but remembered. “No, she is a flying instructor; she owns and operates a small flying school in Florida.”

“Yes, I have heard this; did she fly you here?”

“No, we were fortunate enough to arrive by private jet.”

“Are New York policemen so wealthy, Lieutenant Bacchetti?”

Dino laughed. “Oh, no. Mr. Barrington is the one with money. He is a prominent attorney in New York, and an airplane company offered him the ride, with the hope of selling him a jet.”

“And will he buy one?”

Dino smiled. “Just between you and me, Mr. Barrington is not that rich, but he neglected to mention that to the salesman.”

DuBois did not smile. A car door slammed behind them.

Dino looked up to see Stone and Holly walking toward them.