Unnatural Acts (Stone Barrington 23)

“Do you want to tell me why?”

“You’ve been promoted at the firm, and I want to be promoted. I don’t think it would help my chances if we became an item of office gossip.”

“I don’t think anyone knows,” he said.

“Joan knows, and that means Stone knows, and that may mean that Eggers knows.”

“Stone wouldn’t mention it to Eggers.”

“I hope you’re right. I just don’t think it does either of us any good for anyone at the firm to know we’re seeing each other.”

Herbie shrugged. “Well, as far as I know, there’s no rule against it.”

“Still,” she said, “you must see that it’s not good for either of us.”

“I won’t argue with you,” Herbie said gently. “Now, let’s order some dinner.”

“There’s probably somebody from the firm in this restaurant right now,” she said, tossing off the rest of her drink and standing up. She put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Herbie,” she said.

“Please don’t be concerned,” he said, and then he watched her leave.

He waved at a waiter and ordered the veal chop. He didn’t have a girlfriend anymore, but it didn’t seem to have hurt his appetite.

Herbie got a cab home, and as he walked into his apartment, the phone was ringing. He sat down in the living room and picked up. “Hello?”

“Is this Herbert Fisher?” a low female voice said.

“Speaking.”

“My name is Carson Cullers,” she said. “I don’t know if that means anything to you.”

Herbie thought for a moment; the name sounded familiar. “Dink Brennan’s friend,” he said. “Washington, Connecticut.”

“That’s right. New York, really, Washington is just a weekend place. I live at Park and Seventy-first.”

“Then we’re neighbors. I’m just a couple blocks away.”

“I wonder if we could have a drink sometime?” she said. “I’d like to talk to you about Dink.”

“Sure,” Herbie said. “Would you like to come here now?”

“That would be great,” she said.

He gave her the address. “It’s the penthouse,” he said.

“I’ll be there shortly,” she replied, and hung up.

This was interesting, Herbie thought. Why would Dink Brennan’s girlfriend be calling him? He’d already had a call from Parker Mosely, Dink’s roommate, and now this? Was this some sort of campaign to persuade him that Dink should be released?

He got up and walked around the living room, straightening up a bit. Ten minutes later, the doorman rang, and Herbie asked that she be sent up. He answered the door to find a tall, slender, elegantly dressed young woman standing in the foyer, in a nearly sheer dress, looking a little nervous. “Come in, Carson,” he said, and showed her into the living room. “Have a seat. What can I get you to drink?”

“Can you make a vodka martini?” she asked.

“Of course.” Herbie went to the bar and began to put that together. Since Allison had opted out of his life earlier in the evening, he felt glad to have someone there.

Then he brought himself up short. Hang on, this was his client’s son’s girlfriend, he thought. Better be careful.

He returned to the sofa with her martini and his cognac on a tray and started to take a chair.