Worst Fears Realized (Stone Barrington 5)

“From where?”

“Don’t ask, just be there, and for Christ’s sake, be sure you aren’t followed.”

“Awright in an hour at Clarke’s.”

He was in Yonkers when the car phone rang. “Hello?”

“Stone, it’s Bill Eggers.”

“Hi, Bill.”

“We have to talk, and we can’t do it on a car phone.”

“What’s up?”

“Let’s meet somewhere; when are you due back in the city?”

“I’m meeting Dino at Clarke’s in half an hour; you want to join me?”

“That’s fine; this concerns him, too. I’ll see you in half an hour.” He hung up.

Stone punched the phone off. Now what?

Back in the city, he found a parking spot near Clarke’s, then went inside. Dino was already halfway through a scotch.

“Hey,” Dino said.

“How was your weekend?”

“Lousy; how was yours?”

“Don’t ask,” Stone replied.

“What’s this about a lead?”

Stone took the paper from his pocket. “I’ve got two names that Mitteldorfer was friendly with in Sing Sing.” He handed it to Dino. “They’re both on parole, and they’ve got the same Manhattan parole officer. Tomorrow morning, will you give him a call and find out where they are? I’d like to talk to them with you.”

“You bet your ass,” Dino said. “It’s about time we got somewhere with this.”

“Here comes Bill Eggers,” Stone said, nodding at the door. “He wants to talk to us about something; I don’t know what.”

Bill greeted the two men. “It’s running onto dinnertime,” he said. “Why don’t we get a table?”

“Sure,” Stone said.

They sat down and ordered steaks, home fries, and beer.

“So, what’s up, Bill? You sounded depressed on the phone.”

“I am,” Bill said. “I got a call this afternoon from a friend in the DA’s office; Marty Brougham is taking the Susan Bean murder to a grand jury this week.”

“Then he must have a suspect,” Stone said.

“He does. You. You’re going to be subpoenaed.”

“First I’ve heard about this,” Dino said, “and the case is in my office. I smell something funny.”

“Look,” Stone said, “I don’t mind being subpoenaed; I’ll testify to what I know without a subpoena. In fact, I’ve already told Brougham I’d do so.”