Page 74 of Nightshade

“That’s fine, sir, but you need to pay for the room,” Stilwell said. “I’ll be back at ten tomorrow. I hope you get it fixed. Good night, Mr. Starkey. You want me to close the door?”

“Please. I’ve had enough of that man out there.”

Stilwell left and pulled the door closed. Nettles was gone, and only Esquivel was waiting.

“We’ll handle this in the morning,” Stilwell said. “You can roll.”

“Roger that,” Esquivel said.

“Meantime, get our prisoner some food. He’s hungry.”

“Who, Spivak? I fed him.”

“When?”

“About six. I got him a hamburger from Luau Larry’s.”

“Asshole tried to get another meal off me.”

“Fuck him. He’s fed.”

“You didn’t know him before the other night, did you?”

“No, why?”

“Just curious why he jumped in and hit Dunne. On tape it looks like he was targeting Dunne, like he knew him from somewhere. Was wondering if he knew you.”

“Not as far as I know. Did you ask Dunne?”

“Yeah, but he’s still fuzzy. Anyway, make sure you leave a report on this for day watch. I want the deadline on Starkey enforced. I’m heading home. I need you to get back to the sub and babysit Spivak. If you get a serious call—not bullshit like this—call me and I’ll come in.”

“Will do.”

Stilwell took the Gator up to his house. Tash Dano was sitting in one of the Adirondacks on the front porch, a glass of red wine in her hand.

“How’d it go over there?” she asked.

“About what I expected,” Stilwell said. “I’m on the case.”

“That’s good, right?”

“I’ll take it.”

“But you have to work with A-Hole?”

“Ahearn, yeah.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you call him by his real name.”

“Yeah, well, he started calling me by my real name, so, you know…”

He took the glass from her hand and took a sip.

“There’s more in the bottle,” she said. “And half a chicken sandwich from the Sandtrap, if you’re hungry.”

It was Stilwell’s favorite restaurant on the island. He nodded.

“Sounds perfect,” he said.