Page 59 of Black Dog

“I suggested a TRO to my granddaughter,” Barron said.

“And?”

“She won’t have it. She finds him too entertaining.”

“I think that, after more exposure to him, she will find him a little less entertaining.”

“I had thought that, too,” Barron said. “But it hasn’t worked out that way, and I’m afraid that waiting for it to work will require a great deal more patience than I possess.”

“Si non nunc, quando?”Stone said.

“ ‘If not now, when?’ An excellent personal motto.”

“Fitz, I’m still working on this problem, for my own mental health. If I find something that works, and won’t get either of us arrested, I’ll be in touch.”

“I would be grateful to hear from you,” Barron said.

Stone rose, thanked him for the coffee, wished him well, and then left.

THIRTY-ONE

When Stone returned to his office, Joan braced him. “How did that go?”

“Well, I’ve met somebody else who detests Junior,” Stone said. “And he has a granddaughter who thinks Eddie is cute.”

“Uh-oh. What was your solution to that problem?”

“I didn’t offer him one.”

“Pity. The judge’s name would have looked good on your client list.”

“I think the judge wants the matter handled without his fingerprints on it.”

“You mean, he wants Eddie bumped off?”

“No, but I think it would cheer him up to see such a crime on the front page of a newspaper.”

The phone rang, and Joan answered. “Dino for you on one.”

“Morning, Commissioner.”

“Pretty good party last night, huh?”

“Better than pretty good.”

“Dinner at Clarke’s, seven?”

“Sold. See you there.” They both hung up.

—

Stone found Dino at the bar at Clarke’s, halfway through his first Scotch.

“Did you run into Judge Fitzroy Barron at the party last night?” Dino asked.

“Yes, but I didn’t remember, until he called this morning and invited—well, practically ordered that I show up at his apartment.”

“Did you?”

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