Hit List (Stone Barrington #53)(29)

“We can’t shoot him for that anywhere,” Stone replied, “unless he’s a threat to our lives.”

“He killed a motorcycle deliveryman in Paris this morning,” Dino pointed out. “That’s enough for me to assume a threat.”

“All right, then explain to me how he got here ahead of us.”

“He might have chartered an airplane,” Dino said. “That’s expensive, but he could afford it. He would have cleared at Bangor, which is closer than Presque Isle. That’s how he got ahead of us.”

“Nah, I don’t buy that,” Rawls said. “He phoned it in.”

“You mean he has an accomplice?” Stone asked.

“Killers sometimes do. Maybe he just called ahead to get the island reconnoitered, but his guy is careless about being seen.”

“Now, unlike Dino, you’re starting to make sense.”

“Then let’s drag him in here and beat it out of him.”

“Beat what out of him?” Stone asked.

“Whatever he knows,” Dino said. “That could help us get ready for Larkin when he shows up.”

“Dino’s making sense,” Rawls said, “but I’m too old to start beating people up, unless they’re already bound and gagged. I saw people get beat by guards when I was in prison, and I didn’t enjoy it. I can always leave, if you’re bound to handle it that way.”

“I am not bound that way,” Stone said. “Sit by the fire and drink your bourbon.”

“Like my pappy told me to do,” Rawls said, sinking into a big, leather armchair.

“It reclines, too,” Stone said. “There’s a handle inside the right arm.”

Rawls found the handle, and his feet popped up. “Ah,” he said, leaning back, “my favorite piece of exercise equipment.”

Stone went to the telephone, looked up the state police number in Augusta, and dialed.

“State police,” a young man said.

“Sergeant Young,” Stone said.

“It’s Captain Young now, sir. Has been for some time.”

“Of course. Is he in his office at this hour?”

“No, sir. He wouldn’t be, unless it was an emergency. Is it?”

“Not yet,” Stone said. “My name is Barrington, over on Islesboro, at Dark Harbor. He knows me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Could you possibly connect me to him at home?”

“But it’s not an emergency?”

“Almost.”

“Please hold.”

A minute later: “Stone? Tom Young. What’s wrong over there? I’ve been reading about that hit list thing in the papers.”

“Even up here?”

“The Associated Press goes everywhere.”

Stone explained what had happened so far. “And now we arrive at Dark Harbor, and he’s waiting for us—or somebody is. He’s been spotted multiple times in the woods around the house, and he’s carrying a long gun.”

“What would you like me to do? Come and take him away?”

“No, we don’t have enough for a charge, except for trespass.”

“What, then?”

“I just want you to know that we’re feeling threatened. Dino Bacchetti and Ed Rawls are here, and they’re both armed.”

“So, this conversation is in case somebody shoots the guy, right?”

“That’s to the point, Tom.”

“Well, in your situation, I’d shoot him, if I thought he was threatening my life. If that happens and you do that, I won’t put you in jail for it, and I’ll get the body hauled away. How’s that?”

“All I could ask for,” Stone said.

“Just remember, it’s a lot of trouble to clean up after a shooting death. It’s a lot less trouble if you shoot and miss, and that might scare him off.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Tom, and I hope I don’t have to disturb you further tonight.”

“Write down my home number and cell,” Young said, then dictated them to him.

“Got it. Thanks, Tom.” Stone hung up.

Rawls was the first to speak. “Okay, do we have official permission to off the bastard now?”

“Not exactly,” Stone said, “but if we do that while he’s threatening us, Young says he won’t arrest us.”

“That’s good enough for me,” Rawls said, getting to his feet and pulling a 9mm pistol from a shoulder holster.

Stone held up a hand. “Now hold on a minute, Ed. If you shoot the guy now, it’s going to ruin our dinner, and we don’t want that, do we?”

“Well, I guess I can wait until I’m digesting dessert,” Rawls replied, holstering his weapon and sitting down again. “But if I see a weapon in his hand after that, he’s a dead man.”

“Fair enough,” Stone said, “and I’m sure Dino will want to help shoot him.”

“You betcha,” Dino said, raising his drink in salute.

Viv spoke up. “Have you ever seen a more bloodthirsty crowd?” she asked Vanessa.

“Nope,” Vanessa replied, “but I’m running when the shooting starts.”