“I’ll give you more than that.”
“Bye-bye.” Stone hung up and groaned. “When it rains, it pours,” he said aloud to himself.
DINO WAS more cheerful than usual. They had met at P. J. Clarke’s for lunch and were having burgers and beers.
“You’re in a good mood,” Stone said.
“Ben got accepted at Choate,” Dino said, speaking of his son.
“Congratulate him for me.”
“I will.”
“Doesn’t this mean you’ll see him less often?”
“Well, yeah, but it means I’ll have to deal with Mary Ann less often, too. No squabbles about which days I see him or what we do together.”
“I’m sure Eduardo will miss him.” Eduardo Bianci was Dino’s ex-father-in-law, a very rich man who had been-perhaps still was-a major Mafia figure, but who had been very discreet about it, ruling from afar.
“That’s true, and I feel for the old man. I’ll make sure Ben sees his grandfather when he’s home.”
“How is Eduardo?”
“Amazingly well. For a man his age, I’d guess you’d say he’s in robust good health. I’m sure he’d appreciate a call from you.”
“I’ll call him today.”
“How’s it going with Carrie?”
“She’s wearing me down,” Stone replied. “Literally.”
“You lead such a tough existence,” Dino said.
“You don’t know the half of it. What are you doing for female company since splitting the blanket with Genevieve?”
“Catch as catch can,” Dino replied.
“As long as you catch a few.”
“There’s the desk sergeant at the 19th,” Dino said. “We have a nice evening about once every week or two. Keeps the machinery oiled and working.”
“She’s the one who ended your marriage, isn’t she?”
“No. Mary Ann took care of that; Sarge was just the excuse.”
“Is that what you call her?”
“In bed as a joke.”
“What’s her real name?”
“Madge Petrillo.”
“Not married, is she?”
“Nah, divorced. I think she may be banging the captain, too, but if so, they’re very, very discreet.”
“Busy lady.”