Page 51 of Black Dog

Stone frowned. “What was the charge?”

“Murder one.”

Stone’s jaw dropped. “And you got bail for that? How’d you do it?”

“I made the judge an offer he apparently couldn’t refuse. He was too stunned to turn me down, and the ADA was speechless.”

“How’d you come up with that number?”

“I thought that two mil had a nice ring to it. The judge thought so, too, I guess.”

“Congratulations,” Stone said. He was trying to decide what to say next when dinner was served, and he decided to talk about it later.

TWENTY-SIX

They dined on pâté Diana and moussaka, Greek dishes that Helene’s mother had taught her, and apple tart for dessert. They moved to the sofa for coffee and cognac, and Stone thought they might as well get work out of the way as a subject.

“How did you come to have Edwin Charles Jr. as a client?”

“I thought that might come up.”

“Care to answer the question?”

“I think I told you I had met him.”

“Yes. Is that when he hired you?”

“No, someone else you don’t know told him that I had joined Woodside & Weems, and he got somebody to call me. The firm was fine with me representing him. And they’ve promised that if I do a good job, they might broaden my role at the firm.”

“Let me hazard a guess: the firm knew that his stepmother,Annetta Charles, had dispensed with their services, and were replaced by Woodman & Weld, under my supervision.”

“I believe that came up,” she said.

“And someone suggested to you that, if you do a good job handling Junior, then they might take a step toward regaining his legal representation.”

“That might have been mentioned, in passing.”

“I’ll bet. Well, you should know that I not only represent the estates of Edwin Sr. and Annetta, but that I am their executor, as well. Which means that, in order for Woodside & Weems to pry their way back into that particular piece of business, they would have to do such a convincing job, because, as executor, I would have to fire myself from the legal representation.”

“I don’t think it was put to me quite that way.”

“I think I can promise you that will not happen.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Now there’s no further reason for us to discuss work, is there? At least, until Eddie Jr. goes to trial.”

“I suppose not.”

“Good,” Stone said. “Now, can I interest you in a more carnal subject?” He rubbed a knuckle lightly over a nipple and got a positive response.

“Oooh,” she said. “That is an unfair tactic.”

“I want you to know that both my nipples are available to you. Fair enough?”

She pinched one of his lightly. “Is this one fully operational?” she asked.

“They both are, and at your disposal.”

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