Well-known attorneys Bernard Finger and Stone Barrington had a not-too-pleasant lunch in the Grill Room yesterday. According to Finger, Barrington invited him to lunch and proposed some unethical conduct. When Finger refused and walked out in a huff, Barrington then told the management to charge the very expensive meal to Finger.
Barrington says it’s all a lie. (Not really. We were unable to contact him, but that’s what he would have said.)
Stone was speechless for a moment. When he recovered himself he told Joan to take some dictation. “The only true statement in your blurb about Bernie Finger and me is that it’s all a lie. Even if I didn’t say so.”
“That’s it?”
“Fax it to them now.”
“You think they’ll print it?”
“I don’t know; what else can I do?”
“I know somebody who’ll kill Bernie Finger for five thousand dollars.”
“No you don’t.”
“I would kill him for five thousand dollars.”
“I can’t afford it. Just fax the statement to Page Six, will you?”
Joan left, and Stone called Bob Cantor. Cantor was an ex-cop who was expert in all things technical, especially surveillance, and who often did work for Stone.
“Cantor.”
“Bob, it’s Stone.”
“Hey, Stone, what’s up?”
“First of all, your insane nephew says people are trying to kill him, and he wants to come and stay at my house.”
“I wouldn’t advise that. Last time I put him up I had to get my 500 mm Hasselblad lens out of hock.”
“Don’t worry.”
“The kid is kind of rich, you know.”
“What?”
“Kind of. His mother died and left him the house in Brooklyn, free and clear. He rents four apartments, which gives him a nice income, and he lives in the super’s apartment.”
“That little shit. He owes a bookie twenty-four grand and won’t pay. He could have borrowed from a bank on the house.”
“No, he couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m his trustee, and I won’t let him do that, and he knows it. Did you want to talk about something besides Herbie? I’m getting nauseous.”
“Yeah, I’ve got a job for you.”
“Shoot.”
“There’s a building on Park Avenue in the sixties, new, very skinny, one apartment to a floor.”
“I know the one.”
“Good. Here’s what I want you to do.” He gave Cantor full instructions, then hung up.