Worst Fears Realized (Stone Barrington 5)

“I don’t have the slightest idea. I saw his picture in the paper; I don’t believe a word of it. Herbie would never hurt anybody.”

“He killed his wife.”

Darcy shrugged. “So did I, but I wouldn’t hurt anybody, either. You don’t know how crazy a wife can make you.”

“When was the last time you talked to Mitteldorfer?” Stone asked.

“The day I was released from prison.”

“Darcy,” Dino said, “do you want to go back to Sing Sing? I can arrange it.”

“I haven’t done anything to get sent back,” Darcy said.

“I could arrange for you to do something.”

“All right, I understand that you can do anything you want, but I’m telling you, I don’t have any information at all about Mitteldorfer. Herbie would never contact me, anyway.”

“Why not?” Stone asked.

“He considers me his social inferior,” Darcy said. “After all, I’m only a cobbler. Herbie would never mix with me; he’s a terrible snob.”

“Then why did he help you invest your money?” Stone asked.

“Because I paid him a percentage of my profits,” Darcy replied. “So did the others.”

“Which others?”

“There were half a dozen prisoners who had some money outside, that I knew about.”

“Who were they?”

Darcy counted them off on his fingers. “Middleton, Schwartz, Alesio, Warren, and me.”

“That’s only five.”

“Okay, about half a dozen. Plus the prison staff, of course.”

“Of course. How many of them were there?”

“Half a dozen, or so.”

“Who’s out besides you and Alesio?” Stone asked.

“Alesio’s out? I didn’t know. I guess we’re the only ones; the rest are still inside.”

“You in touch with any of them?”

“I’ve had a couple letters from Schwartz; he wants to go into business with me when he gets out next year.”

“What has he said about Mitteldorfer?”

“Only that he hasn’t heard a word from him since Herbie got out. According to Schwartz, Herbie went around and said goodbye to them and told each one that he wouldn’t be hearing from him again, that they were on their own. He told them they’d have to find a broker.”

“Who had Mitteldorfer used for a broker?”

“I’m not even sure he had one. He had some way of trading on the computer, I think; he could do it right from the prison office, but then he started working outside the pen. When I got out, he had my assets transferred to my local bank. I don’t even know how he did it. He kept twenty-five percent of my profits for his fee.”

“Who else was he friendly with inside?” Stone asked.