Lance held up a placating hand. “Now don’t go reading a subtext into my words.”
“Do you know Herbie Fisher?” Stone asked.
“We’ve met.”
“Well, let me tell you about him. Last year, I hired him—on the recommendation of a guy who does a lot of good work for me—to take some photographs. A domestic matter. Herbie fell through the skylight while taking the pictures, got himself arrested, then, when I got him out, jumped bail and ran for the Virgin Islands. I had to go down there and get him back to make his court appearance and get my bail money back.”
“Well, he does sound lively, doesn’t he? He did come well recommended.”
“Lance, you don’t want anything to do with this guy, and neither do I.”
“Fine with me, Stone. See him through this, and we’ll both kiss him off.”
“You’re not listening, Lance. I won’t represent him.”
“But you’ve already agreed, old sport, and you’re a man of your word.”
“But I didn’t know who we were talking about.”
“Then you should have asked before we shook hands on it, not afterward.”
“Lance . . .”
“Tell you what: We’ll make it seven-fifty an hour, in cash, and I’ll send you over a retainer of twenty-five thousand. You can bank the unused portion, or stuff it into your mattress.”
That stopped Stone in his tracks just long enough for Lance to place a card on his desk, get up, and walk out of his office.
“Thanks, Stone,” Lance called over his shoulder. “Herbert will be in touch. Let’s have dinner.” He closed the door behind him.
“Oh, God,” Stone moaned.
7
STONE WAS DRESSING when Holly and Daisy returned from their walk.
“Hi there,” she said.
Stone looked at his watch. “That was a long walk.”
“We went all the way to the north end of the park and back; really had a workout.”
“You’d better grab a shower, then. Dino called and said he has some information for you. We’re meeting him at Elaine’s in an hour.”
“I’ll feed Daisy and change my socks,” Holly said, and headed upstairs.
They settled into their table, and Elaine came over and sat down. “What’s up?”
“This is my friend Holly Barker, who’s visiting from Florida,” Stone said.
The two women shook hands.
“Are you the lady cop?” Elaine asked.
“That’s right. How did you know?”
“I read the papers. Not that Stone would have ever mentioned you.”
“There wasn’t a lot to mention,” Stone said. “We met only once, before this week.”