Mr. Clarinet
A Novel
Nick Stone
For Hyacinth and Seb
And in loving memory of Philomčne Paul (Fofo), Ben Cawdry, Adrian "Skip" Skipsey, and my grandmother
Mary Stone
Yo byen konté, Yo mal kalkilé.
(Haitian saying)
Contents
Epigraph
PROLOGUE
TEN MILLION DOLLARS if he performed a miracle and brought
Part 1
Chapter 1
HONESTY AND STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS weren't always the best options, but Max
Chapter 2
BACK IN MIAMI, Max took a cab from the airport
Chapter 3
MAX HAD KNOWN Joe for twenty-five years. They'd started out
Chapter 4
AT THE HOTEL, Max took a shower and tried to
Chapter 5
CLYDE BEESON HAD fallen far. Life hadn't just kicked him
Chapter 6
MAX DROVE BACK to Miami and headed for Little Haiti.
Part 2
Chapter 7
THE FLIGHT OUT to Haiti was held up for an
Chapter 8
THE ROAD AWAY from the airport was long, dusty, and
Chapter 9
NIGHT FELL QUICKLY in Haiti. One minute it was late
Chapter 10
THE MEN FROM the airport picked Max up for dinner.
Chapter 11
DINNER WAS SERVED by two maids in black uniforms with
Chapter 12
BACK IN THE car, heading down the mountain to Pétionville,
Chapter 13
MAX LEFT LA COUPOLE at around two a.m. The Barbancourt
Chapter 14
WHEN THEY WERE gone, he stumbled around the now-empty streets,
Chapter 15
MAX WASHED HIS face and shaved and made more coffee.
Part 3
Chapter 16
"MAX, YOU STINK," Chantale told him and laughed her dirty
Chapter 17
THEY DROVE DOWN Boulevard Harry Truman, a wide, palm treelined,
Chapter 18
THEY DROVE TO the Boulevard des Veuves, where Charlie had
Chapter 19
THE OLD WOMAN was as Francesca had described her, wearing
Chapter 20
"SO WHAT DO you think? Did Vincent Paul kidnap Charlie?"
Chapter 21
THE RUE BOYER had once been a gated community of
Chapter 22
A TEENAGE GIRL with a warm smile and braces on
Chapter 23
MAX OPENED HIS notebook and pressed RECORD.
Chapter 24
THEY HEADED BACK to the bank, Max at the wheel
Chapter 25
HE CALLED ALLAIN Carver from the house and gave him