Loitering With Intent (Stone Barrington 16)

31

DI N O WA S ST A N D I N G out in front of the Marquesa when Stone drove up. Following Tommy’s directions, they drove up to Stock Island and found the hospital. A hint of dawn was in the eastern sky.

Stone asked for Evan at the admitting desk.

“Are you a relative?” she asked.

“I’m his attorney,” Stone lied. “He asked for me.”

Tommy came out of a room down the hall and waved them in.

“Oh, go ahead,” the woman said.

Stone and Dino walked down the hall and stopped outside the room. “How is he?”

“He seems to be resting comfortably,” Tommy replied, “since the painkillers kicked in.”

“How bad?”

“He took it through the left shoulder. Somehow the angle allowed the slug to miss the heart and lung. He’s stable.”

“What kind of weapon?”

“Looks like a .223.”

“Sniper?”

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S t u a r t W o o d s

“He was sitting in the cockpit of his boat with the Gigi dame, anchored off Key West Bight, having a late drink. The shot probably came from the shore, near one of the big hotels.”

“Telescopic sight?”

“We found the weapon in some bushes: M16 assault rifl e, well used. The sort of thing you’d find at a gun show.”

“Sounds like a pro. Anybody get a look at him?”

“Nope. Gigi emptied a nine-millimeter magazine in the general direction, scaring the hell out of everybody. I’m sure the guy looks like every other tourist in Key West. I mean, he wasn’t dressed all in black or wearing camos.”

“You think he’s still on the island?”

“We’ve alerted the state cops and the locals along Route One North, but more than likely he flew in, rented a car or scooter, and he’ll leave tomorrow the same way, along with five hundred other visitors. If we had the manpower to interview every one of them, we might be able to narrow it to a dozen, but of course we don’t. He’ll walk.”

“Or stay around for another shot?”

“Who knows?”

“People who hire hit men don’t pay for near misses,” Dino said.

“If he feels safe, he’ll try again. He might be in this hospital right now.”

“I’ll put a uniform on the door until they discharge him in the morning,” Tommy said. “Is there anybody to call?”

“I’m sure the shooter has already called Evan’s father,” Stone said wryly. “I’ll see that his grandfather hears about it. Can I see him?”

“It’s okay with me. Gigi’s with him, so watch your back.”