“Well…”
“Well, what?”
“Shut up. I’m mentally reviewing the conversation.”
Eggers was quiet for three seconds. “So?”
“Well, maybe she didn’t say exactly that, but I think I’m entitled to
draw that inference.”
“This isn’t a dispute over a contract, Stone.”
“Well, in a way it is.”
“You didn’t have a contract with her, did you? Either written or implied?”
“Well, she must have thought so, because she felt it necessary to report this proposal of marriage to me.”
“Listen,” Eggers said, “I’m getting lost here. What was your original point?”
“I don’t remember,” Stone said. “What was the original question?”
“Uh… oh, the question was Harlan Deal’s.”
“I don’t remember.”
“I think it was more of a contention than a question. He thinks you stole his girl.”
“I wasn’t hired not to steal his girl, was I?”
“You mean you stole his girl?”
“Certainly not. In no way, shape or form.”
“That doesn’t sound like a complete denial to me.”
“What kind of denial would you like?”
“Answer the question directly: Did you steal his girl?”
“No.”
“You’re sure.”
“Bill, if the girl decided to dump Harlan, it wasn’t because I got her to.”
“What did you advise her to do?”
“My only advice to her was to read the prenup and consult a lawyer before signing.”
“Did she consult a lawyer?”
“Well, she says she did.”
“Where were you at the time?”
“At a table at Bemelmens Bar at the Carlyle.”