Page 104 of Near Miss

“I do. I had just about put the idea out of my mind, until Carly brought it up.”

“Bringing things up doesn’t seem to be a problem for her.”

“Definitely not. She sees things differently than most. It’s the way she’s wired. For instance, I know she really enjoyed watching Billy take out Alexei Gromyko.”

“I hope getting laid was fun for her, too.”

“I’ve been assured it was.”

Chapter 52

Ed Rawls unloaded his groceries from his boat and carted them to the house. Once everything had been put away, he checked the fridge, and it seemed like he had more beef than he could eat in a week. He was about to call Stone and invite his crew to dinner when he stepped out onto the back porch to put away the cart and got a whiff of something on the breeze. Tobacco smoke.

Ed went back into the house and called Stone.

“Hey, Ed. How’s it going?”

“I’ve got a surfeit of porterhouse in the fridge. How about you folks come down here this evening and help me reduce my stock?”

“Count us in,” Stone replied. “Anything going on down there?”

“Funny you should mention that. I just got a whiff of cigarette smoke on the breeze.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Yeah, you’d better be carrying this evening. You bring the handguns, and I’ll supply the long guns.”

“Sounds good. What time?”

“Get here at six and watch the night fall.”

“You’re on.”

Ed hung up the phone and went around the house, closing shutters and bolts and getting ready to receive fire after dark. Most assassins preferred that to daylight.

He leaned a rifle next to every window, and by that time alarm bells were going off. That would be Stone and party letting themselves in through the gates, using Ed’s codes.

By six-fifteen, everybody was settled in Ed’s living room with a drink.

“Any news from the opposition?” Stone asked.

Ed looked at his watch, then out the window. “I figure these people for cowards, so I’d say, half an hour after sunset, but I reckon we should hold the liquor until they’ve made their move. Let’s douse all the lights, except that reading lamp, and get them in closer. I’ve laid out long guns and magazines for everyone. They’ll be here soon enough, I reckon.”

They doused most of the lights and waited, not talking.

The monitor on Ed’s computer came alive, and he made some adjustments. “Out on the dock,” Ed said. “I figured they’d be too lazy to come ashore and walk through the weeds.” Other screens on the monitor popped up.

“I see a boat out there, maybe a hundred yards,” Dino said.

“And two men getting out of a dinghy at the end of the long dock.”

“How you want to handle this?” Stone asked.

“With one round apiece, if I’m lucky,” Ed replied. “Turn off that reading light, and I’ll go out the back way and around the house.”

“We’ll wait until the firing stops before we crack a door,” Stone said.

“I’ll call with the all clear.”

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