"Arrington is once again available, then?"
"Well, she's no longer married."
"Has she expressed an interest in rekindling your relationship with her?"
"Yes," Stone said, surprising himself with his willingness to discuss this with Eduardo.
"And there is the child," Eduardo said.
"Yes; there was a time when we both thought he might be mine, but the blood tests…"
"And who conducted these tests?" Eduardo asked.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Indulge me, please."
Stone went to his desk and rummaged in a bottom drawer. The report was still there. He handed it to Eduardo.
Eduardo read the document carefully. "This would seem conclusive," he said.
"Yes."
"Who employed these 'Hemolab' people?" he asked, reading the name of the laboratory from the letterhead.
"Arrington, I suppose."
Eduardo nodded and handed back the document and stood up. "I am sorry to have taken your time, Stone," he said, "but I had to explore this with you in order to know what to do."
Stone wasn't sure what he meant by that. "You are always welcome here, Eduardo."
"Thank you," he replied.
Stone followed him to the door, helped him on with his coat, and handed him his umbrella.
"Dolce is ill, you know," Eduardo said suddenly.
"What? What's wrong with her?"
"Her heart is ill; it has always been so, I think. I had hoped you could make her well, but I see, now, that it will not happen."
"What can I do to help, Eduardo?"
"Nothing, I think, short of marrying her, and after what you have told me today, I think that would destroy both of you."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Eduardo turned and looked at Stone, and his eyes were ineffably sad. "You can only keep away from her," he said. "I think she may be… dangerous." Then, without another word, he turned and walked down the steps and back to his car.
Stone watched as the limousine moved off down the street, and the shiver that ran through him was not caused by the dampness.
Chapter 31
Stone met with his anxious clients and soothed their nerves. He spoke to the insurance agent and got approval to begin repairs, then, because he could not bear to look at his damaged house, he went downtown to ABC Carpets and picked out new ones, arranging for their people to measure and install them. As he got in and out of taxi-cabs, he caught himself looking around to see if he had unwanted company, but he did not see Dolce.
At half past eight he was at Elaine's, giving her a kiss on arrival and being shown to his usual table.
Elaine sat down for a minute. "So," she said, "you're up to your ass in this Vance Calder thing."