“Will do.”
“And get him some accessories, too; you know the sort of thing, and get it all gift wrapped.”
“I’m on it. Hang on, the phone’s ringing.” She put him on hold and then came back. “It’s Seth Keener, Stephanie Fisher’s attorney.”
“Got it,” Stone said. (He picked up the other line.) “Mr. Keener? Stone Barrington. I’m attorney to Herbert Fisher.”
“Oh, good,” Keener said. “Has he signed the papers?”
“No, and he’s not going to.”
“He wants to stay married to Stephanie?”
“He doesn’t want that, either, but he’s not going on record as an adulterer.”
“Name his poison: Cruelty? Mental cruelty?”
“Mr. Fisher will be the complainant and the cause will be abandonment-on her part. I don’t think she can argue with that.”
Keener sighed. “I’ll put it to her.”
“Are you in immediate touch with her?”
“I can’t comment on that-attorney-client privilege.”
“I suppose that applies, especially if she’s a fugitive from justice.”
“I’ll ignore that. Send me the paperwork, and I’ll have a go. See you.”
“Just a minute, we’re not finished,” Stone said. “There’s the issue of a financial settlement.”
“Oh? What’s Mr. Fisher offering?”
“He’s offering nothing,” Stone replied. “What will Mrs. Fisher offer?”
“Are you kidding?”
“Certainly not. I believe we’re both aware that Mrs. Fisher acquired substantial assets during the marriage. Whereas Mr. Fisher did not.”
“If you’re talking about those nasty press reports of her looting the family firm, that’s all nonsense.”
“Then why is she on the FBI’s most-wanted list, along with her brother?”
“You know I can’t discuss that.”
Stone suddenly had an idea. “We can avoid discussing that in court if Mrs. Fisher would be amenable to sharing some of her premarital assets instead.”
“What did you have in mind, exactly?” Keener asked warily.
“Well, I’m informed that Mrs. Fisher had a substantial account at her father’s firm. She won’t be needing that.”
“That’s outrageous!” Keener said.
“So is running off with the piggy bank,” Stone replied. “If you give it some thought, I think you’ll see that this is an easy way out for her.”
“Send me the papers,” Keener said.
“There is the problem of service,” Stone said. “Can you accept service on her behalf?”