L ater in the afternoon, Herbie Fisher called.
“Yes, Herbie?”
“Stone, the two guys are still outside. I can see them from my terrace. If I can’t get a carry license, I’m going to have to carry anyway.”
“Herbie, if you have ambitions to practice law, then you do not want a felony weapons charge on your record. You can understand that, can’t you? It would mean no law license, and the one you illegally obtained would be shredded.”
“Oh.”
“Exactly.”
“Then what can I do?”
“We can call your uncle Bob and get a couple of his guys put on the job. They can watch your back.” Herbie’s uncle Bob was Bob Berman, a retired police officer who often did technical and security work for Stone.
“I don’t want to bring Uncle Bob into this,” Herbie said. “He’s getting used to my being a straight character, and I want nothing to change his mind.”
“Very well, I’m on the board of a very large, very able security company called Strategic Services. I can arrange for them to supply you with anything from a bodyguard to a fleet of black helicopters, bristling with air-to-ground missiles.”
“Sounds good. Let’s talk to them about something at the low end of that range.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Stone said, then hung up and dialed Mike Freeman.
“Yes, Stone?”
“Mike, I have a small security job for you.”
“How small?”
“Two armed men, round the clock?”
“Tell me about it.”
“A client of mine, a wealthy young man named Herbert Fisher, a law student, is attempting to disentangle himself from a poor decision called marriage. Although his wife has agreed to the terms of the divorce, she appears to be having him followed by two men who, on one occasion, have driven him off a yacht at knifepoint into New York Harbor. They’re still on him.”
“Is Mr. Fisher presently operating as a single man?”
“Yes, he likes women.”
“Then I have an idea,” Mike said, and told him about it.
“I think he would be very pleased,” Stone said.
“Eight o’clock tonight be a good starting time?”
“Yes, and I think it might be useful if your two men at some point had a conversation with the two sinister men regarding their intentions.”
“Of course. Tell Mr. Fisher to expect three operatives at eight o’clock this evening. They will identify themselves properly.”
“Thank you so much, Mike.” Stone hung up and called Herbie. “What are your plans for the evening, Herbie?”
“I was going to go to Elaine’s for dinner, but I don’t want to leave the house, so I’m just going to order in.”
“Reschedule,” Stone said, “and don’t bother getting a date, just be ready at eight.” Stone hung up.
Arrington and Peter bustled in from Radio City, shaking snow off their coats and rubbing their red cheeks. “I need a drink,” Arrington said.
“Right this way,” Stone replied, leading them to his study. He poured Knob Creeks for them, then made a hot cup of tea and honey for Peter. They all sat down.