Stone called Dino after lunch. “Who’s your tech these days?” he asked.
“Don’t say that over the goddamned telephone,” Dino said, sounding tense. “We’ll talk in person; you free for dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Eight-thirty at Elaine’s; I’ll book.”
Dino was a little touchy, Stone thought. The detectives always had a guy around who could do illegal technical work – tapping, bugging – when they couldn’t get the job done any other way.
He worked on cases through the afternoon, having a sandwich at his desk, and just after six, when he was almost done for the day, the phone rang.
“It’s me,” Arrington said.
“Hello there.”
“I understand you’ve been hanging out with Dick Hickock’s girlfriend.”
“Oh? What makes you say that?”
“Have you checked your fax machine lately?”
“Hang on.” Stone went to the closet where the machine was kept and found a single sheet there.
DIRT
Greetings, earthlings! The plot thickens: Gorgeous Tiffany Potts, who has lately been the favorite plaything of Richard Hickock, was seen today tête-à-tête with shyster/shamus Stone Barrington, over martinis at the Oak Bar. Looks as though Dickie may have been inattentive to poor Tiff lately, which is just as well, because his dear wife, Glynnis, is on the warpath, Informed of her husband’s dalliance by us, she is Taking Steps.
Stay tuned for more!
Stone picked up the phone. “It was strictly business,” he said.
“That’s what they all say, but I believe you. Listen, I’ve spent most of the day clearing the decks of my life, and I think I’m ready to curl up with a good detective.”
“I can recommend somebody.”
“Tonight suit you?”
“I’m seeing Dino for dinner at Elaine’s, and Dino always leaves early. Why don’t you join us, and we’ll go on from there.”
“Sounds good. I’ll bring my toothbrush.”
“You do that. We’re meeting at eight-thirty, but I need half an hour with Dino. Nine?”
“Nine it is.” She hung up.
Stone allowed himself a very deep breath.
Dino sat down, and he looked pissed off. “What’s this ‘tech’ shit?”
“I need a tech to…”
“Stone, you don’t talk about that on the phone these days, not when there’s a commission looking into police corruption.”
“Sorry, Dino, I…”
“They’re all over us like flies, you know, even though the Nineteenth is clean as a whistle.”
“As far as you know.”