“That is not quite correct,” Keegan said.
“How not so?”
“The Stone twins confessed to the killing of their parents, pled guilty, and were sentenced to life.”
“What about no parole?”
“Their first parole hearing is the day after tomorrow.”
2
Stone blinked. “Whatever happened to ‘without parole’?”
“Like you, the police deduced that the Stone twins were guilty of all the aforementioned murders, but they did not have the evidence to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In shooting their parents, however, they were careless, and the prosecution had them cold.”
“Wasn’t that good enough for life without parole?”
“It should have been, but two factors intervened: first, the boys claimed, convincingly, that their father had sexually abused them as children and that their mother knew about it but did nothing. Second, the state was deeply embarrassed about its failure to charge them on all counts, and they just wanted the case to go away. So, aided by a clever attorney—my father—they pled guilty to the murders of their parents, in exchange for life with the possibility of parole, something the prosecution thought never would happen.”
“And you,” Stone said. “Are you telling me all this because of the guilt of your father’s participation?”
“Yes. I tried to talk him out of it, but he thought it would be a feather in his cap. As a result, he was asked to resign from his clubs, and he never took another criminal case. Also, the twins were a couple of years behind me at school, and I had always thought they were evil little shits. My great regret is that Maine got rid of the death penalty in the 1870s.”
“All right, we’re both up to date, I think,” Stone said. “Now tell me why we are telling each other all this.”
“I can’t very well show up at the parole hearing and beg the board to deny.”
“Why not?”
“Because it would further humiliate my father to oppose him in a case that has already caused him such pain. He loved his clubs, and he is quite old now and has already had one stroke.”
“So, you’d like me to appear and plead the case against parole?”
“If you would be so kind; I would be very grateful.”
“And have you been able to come up with any convincing evidence for me to present?”
“I fear I have not.”
“Let me guess: the twins have been ideal prisoners and they charmed all they have met.”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“So, I’m supposed to appear at the hearing and tell the board that, contrary to all the available evidence, they are very bad boys, not to mention evil little shits, and they should throw away the key.”
“Sort of,” Keegan admitted.
“And, of course, the twins will have a parade of other witnesses—guards, nurses, fellow prisoners, and, let’s not forget, the prison doctor, who will all swear to their cuddliness.”
“You make it sound hopeless,” Keegan said, his shoulders slumping into his damp suit.
“I don’t make it sound hopeless,” Stone said. “It is hopeless.”
“Will you, at least, come up to Maine for the hearing and share my bench with me, holding a briefcase? That would make it appear that I’m not alone in all this.”
“Jack,” Stone said, not unkindly. “Apart from your father, do you have any family?”
Keegan shook his head. “My wife and I were childless, and she died last year.”
“Well, my advice to you is to pack up your shingle and your bags and retire to some remote place in a distant land, but not without a shotgun handy, because your appearance before the parole board, no matter how ineffective, is not going to win the affections of the Stone twins, and they will not have short memories.”
Keegan sighed. “I had hoped to avoid retirement.”
“Why avoid it? Many men of your age retire every day, sitting under a palm tree and drinking piña coladas.”
“My problem is, I love the law, love practicing it every day.”
“Do you play golf?”
“Sadly, no.”
“Time to take it up,” Stone said brightly. He rose. “I wish I could help, Jack. I really do, but I have no argument to make that would not just make things worse for both of us.”
“I understand,” Keegan said, standing and offering his hand. “Thank you for hearing me out.”
“One thing might help,” Stone said.
“What’s that?”
“Don’t appear. I think we both understand that your absence would not make a difference in the outcome, and the twins will be grateful, not vengeful, whenever they hear the Keegan name, as long as it’s your father they’re thinking of.”
“You have a point,” Keegan said.
“Check into a good hotel, see a show or two, get drunk, and be in another state when the board meets.”
Joan helped him into his soggy rainwear and put him out onto the street with a cheery wave.
3
Stone didn’t have to look up the number. He dialed the Dark Harbor Shop, in the village of the same name, on Islesboro, Maine.
“This is Billy.” Billy Hotchkiss was the cousin of Stone’s Maine property manager, Seth Hotchkiss, the owner of the Dark Harbor Shop, and the fount of all knowledge about the island and its inhabitants. He was also, among other things, the only real estate broker on the island.
“Billy, it’s Stone Barrington. How are you?”
“Well, Stone,” Billy said, “after your most recent visit, if gun brass was gold, I’d be sitting under a palm tree somewhere, sipping piña coladas. But never mind; picking it up gives the kids something to do with their afternoons.”
“I’m sorry about the shootout, Billy. Please tell everybody that. But I was on the wrong end of it, and it was coming fast.”
“That part we got. Listen, I’m glad you called, I’ve got some news. Mr. Greco and his family have decided the island isn’t right for them, and they’re putting the Stone house back on the market. I’ve already got an offer, it fell into my hands not ten minutes ago,” Billy said. “It’s from a shelter corporation, since the bidders don’t want people to know who they are.”