Loitering With Intent (Stone Barrington 16)

“I suppose you’ve got visions of Warren visiting Eli and stuffi ng something down his throat?”

“Something like that.” Stone called the Gardens again and still got Evan’s voice mail.

“You’re doing all you can do,” Dino said.

“I keep thinking there’s something else.”

“You could call the nursing home, pretend to be the cops and tell them not to let Warren anywhere near Eli.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Dino. What’s the name of the nursing home?”

“I don’t know.”

“Neither do I.”

“Oh. Let’s play another set.”

They played another set.

“Come on,” Stone said, “let’s go to the Gardens. Maybe he’s just not answering his phone.”

10 5

S t u a r t W o o d s

“Okay,” Dino said, “but I was winning.”

“The hell you were.”

They drove to the Gardens and went inside.

“May I help you?” a young woman at the desk asked.

“Yes, I’d like to see Evan Keating,” Stone said.

“I’m afraid Mr. Keating just checked out,” she replied. “Not more than fifteen minutes ago.”

“Did he leave a forwarding address?” Stone asked. She checked her records. “Miami, Florida,” she said.

“What hotel?”

“No hotel, just Miami.”

“Do you have a cell phone number for him?”

She checked again. “Yes, we do.” She gave him the number. Stone was about to dial it when Dino spoke up.

“That’s his old cell number, the one that went overboard.”

“Shit,” Stone said in disgust.

“What do you want to do now?”

“You want me to call my guy on the Connecticut State Police?”

Stone thought about that. Somebody’s life was at stake. “Yes,” he said, “call him.”

“What do you want me to tell him?”