Page 6 of Black Dog

Stone arrived a little late at P. J. Clarke’s and found Dino at the bar, chatting with Eddie Jr.

“Ah, Stone,” Dino said. “I’ve just met your new client.”

“And who might that be?” Stone asked.

“This guy,” Dino said, pointing.

Stone turned to Eddie. “Who are you?”

Eddie’s jaw dropped. “It’s me, Eddie.”

“Eddie who?”

“Edwin Charles Jr.”

“I have no such client,” Stone replied. “Dino, I think this guy is running a scam. Isn’t that illegal in New York?”

“You want me to run him in?”

“I’ll leave that judgment to you.”

“Now wait a minute,” Eddie said, tugging at Stone’s sleeve.

Stone pointed at his sleeve. “I believe that action constitutes assault,” he said to Dino.

“You want me to bust him?”

“I’ll be content if he just dematerializes.”

Dino took a small radio from an inside pocket. “Charlie?”

“Yes, Commissioner?”

“There’s a guy in here at the bar harassing Mr. Barrington. I’d like for him to go away.”

Eddie witnessed this exchange wide-eyed. Then, before he could speak, a uniformed patrolman entered the bar and walked over. “Is this the guy?” he asked, pointing to Stone.

“No, that’s Barrington.”

“Sorry, Mr. Barrington,” the man said with a little salute.

“This is the guy,” Dino said, pointing at Eddie, who had started to walk backward.

“Sorry for the intrusion,” he said, then turned and fled.

“Thank you, Charlie,” Dino said. “Please see that he doesn’t make any U-turns.”

FOUR

Stone and Dino were polishing off their steaks when Stone’s cell phone rang. He answered it automatically. “Hello?”

“Why did you act as if you don’t know me?” Eddie Jr. asked.

“Hello? Hello?”

“It’s me, Eddie.”

“Hello? There’s nobody here,” he said to Dino, then hung up. “How the hell did he get my cell number?”

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