Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 12

to.” Young said good-bye and hung up.
    Lance looked up from the computer. “You’re still pursuing the twins angle?”
    â€œWhat else have I got to pursue?” Stone said.
    â€œGood point. I’m just reading through the notes of the various agents who checked into the Russian mob threat against Dick.”
    â€œYou’re still pursuing that lead?”
    â€œWhat else have I got to pursue?” Lance asked. “It’s not as implausible as you might think.”
    â€œWell, if it’s true, it means we have two killers: one of Dick and his family and possibly Don Brown, and one of the women.”
    â€œUnlikely, isn’t it?”
    â€œBut not impossible,” Stone said.

50
    S ERGEANT YOUNG’S CALL was forwarded to the cell phone of Lieutenant Jake Potter in Nantucket, who was sitting in a squad car in the middle of the village, watching tourists turn their ankles on the cobblestones. “Lieutenant Potter,” he drawled into the phone.
    â€œLieutenant, this is Sergeant Tom Young of the Maine State Police.”
    â€œMorning, Sergeant, how’s the weather in Maine today?”
    â€œA little foggy.”
    â€œWhat can I do for you?”
    â€œI don’t know if you’ve heard about it, but we’ve had a series of murders on the island of Islesboro.”
    â€œI read the Boston papers.”
    â€œIn connection with that investigation, I’m concerned about the whereabouts of two young men, twin brothers, named Eben and Enos Stone. They may be aboard a yacht in Nantucket. They sailed from Newport yesterday.”
    â€œAs part of the race?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œIf you want me to arrest them we’re going to need a fugitive warrant; you can fax it to us.”
    â€œIt won’t be necessary to arrest them,” Young said. “Right now, I just need to determine whether they’re actually aboard that boat.”
    â€œDescription?”
    â€œIdentical twins, blond hair, tall—maybe six-three or six-four—over two hundred pounds, muscular.”
    â€œWell, I’m glad I don’t have to arrest them.”
    Young chuckled. “It may come to that yet.”
    â€œName of the boat?”
    â€œHotshot.”
    â€œSpell.”
    â€œHotel, oscar, tango, sierra, hotel, oscar, tango.”
    â€œLength?”
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t have that information.”
    â€œSkipper’s name?”
    â€œDon’t know.”
    â€œHome port?”
    â€œMaybe Newport, but I’m not at all sure.”
    â€œThat was Eldon and Elmer who?”
    â€œNo, that’s Eben and Enos Stone. And Lieutenant, if you can find out if they’re aboard without letting them know you’re checking, I’d appreciate it. I don’t want them to run.”
    â€œWhat do you want me to do if they try to run?”
    â€œIf they do, please try to find out where they’re going and call me as soon as possible.” Young gave the man his cell phone number.
    â€œI could detain them on some charge or other, maybe dumping their holding tank in the marina.”
    â€œI don’t think that would help. Anyway, it’s not their boat.”
    â€œI could think of something else.”
    â€œLieutenant, their father is a big-time Boston lawyer; I don’t think that would be helpful. I just need to know if they’re actually present on Nantucket.”
    â€œTell me, Sergeant, how is knowing that going to help you?”
    â€œWell, if they’re on the boat, then their alibi for my time frame might be good.”
    â€œ Might be good?”
    â€œWe’re talking about a period of four days. They say they were in Newport until yesterday, partying, and the race started yesterday morning.”
    â€œHave you talked to the police in Newport?”
    â€œYes, and they’re investigating as we speak.”
    â€œAnd you just want to know if they’re on the boat.”
    â€œI want to know if they’re on Nantucket. ”
    â€œAnd you don’t want me to detain them?”
    â€œNo, sir, please don’t do that.”
    â€œI guess you want the collar yourself, huh?”
    â€œI don’t have enough evidence for a collar. If they’re on Nantucket, I’ll have even less. If they’re not on Nantucket, then I may have some basis on which to proceed.”
    â€œWell, I’ll drive down to the marina and have a look