Unnatural Acts (Stone Barrington 23)

“I saw her this afternoon at the hospital. She’s walking and talking. She’ll be discharged tomorrow.”

“Is she going to be scarred?”

“A cosmetic surgeon closed her incision, and they tell me it won’t show after it’s healed.”

“That’s good.” Stone looked up and saw Herbie Fisher come into the dining room and waved him over.

Herbie took a chair. “How are you guys?”

“Never better,” Dino said.

“Same here,” Stone echoed. “Got your invitation for the High Cotton event. I’ll be there with my girl.”

“Me too,” Dino said.

“Why don’t you invite Viv?” Stone said. “It’s the least you can do.”

Dino squirmed a little. “I don’t know.”

“There won’t be anyone from the department there,” Stone pointed out.

Dino shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll see.”

“What have you been up to, Herb?” Stone asked.

“I’ve got a new client I’m nervous about,” Herbie said.

“Who’s that, and why are you nervous?”

“Dink Brennan.”

Dino put down his wineglass. “I thought we put him away for at least a year.”

“He got himself out and convinced his father that he’s a reformed character,” Herbie said. “He didn’t convince me.”

“Then why is he your new client?”

“Because of his father. If there’s any chance that the kid has turned a new leaf, I want to help him, for Marshall.”

“How screwed up is he?” Dino asked.

“How about psychopathic sociopath with violent tendencies? Or diseases to that effect.”

“Is that your diagnosis?”

“It’s what his shrink thinks.”

“Herb,” Stone said, “he’s already tried to ruin you once. Why don’t you just stay away from him? Marshall would understand your wanting to do that.”

“I guess he would,” Herbie said.

“Where are those two friends of his, Parker and Carson?” Dino asked.

“At a place called The Refuge, up in Westchester. Dink doesn’t know where they are.”

“Is he back in New Haven?” Stone asked.

“No, his father gave him the keys to a company apartment on the East Side. He says he’s going back to Yale in the fall, then to law school after graduation.”