"Dino, I don't think I ever thanked you properly,"
"Thank me for what?"
"For advising me to stay away from Dolce."
"You didn't take my advice; why are you thanking me?"
"It was good advice, even if I didn't take it."
"Well, I'm glad you remember; saves me from saying I told you so."
"I'm happy to save you the trouble."
"Listen, Stone, this isn't all bad, you know?"
"It isn't? What's not all bad about it?"
"You've got the perfect means of staying single now. Every time some broad presses you to marry her, all you've got to say is, that you're already married, and your wife won't give you a divorce." Dino suppressed a laugh, but not well. "And you'll be telling the truth. Millions of guys would envy you!"
"You don't happen to know an Italian divorce lawyer, do you?"
"Nope, and can you imagine what will happen if you get one, and then he finds out who you're trying to divorce?"
"What?"
"Come on, Stone, Eduardo is probably better known to Italian lawyers than to American ones."
"You really know how to make a guy's day, Dino."
"Always happy to spread a little cheer."
"See you around." Bye.
Stone hung up, looked at his watch, then called Marc Blumberg's office.
"Yeah, Stone?"
"Marc, I'm glad you're back from Palm Springs. Can I come and see you? I need some legal advice, on a subject not connected to our present case."
"Sure, come on over; I'll make time."
Stone was surprised to find Vanessa Pike in Marc's office, and relieved to see her fully dressed. "Hi, Vanessa," he said.
"I was going to run Vanessa home, as soon as I made a couple of calls," Marc said. "What can I do for you?" He looked at Stone, then at Vanessa. "Honey, can you go powder your nose?"
Vanessa got up, opened a door in the corner of Blumberg's large office and closed it behind her.
"What's up?" Marc asked.
"You do divorce work, don't you?"
"Who are we talking about, getting divorced?"
"Me."
"Sure, I do divorce work, but first the client has to be married."
Stone placed the letter from Bellini and the marriage certificate on Marc's desk.