Near Miss

“He can do that?”

“He’s the police commissioner. He can hurry the process without breaking any laws. We just did so for Matilda here. I’ll get you an application to fill out.”

“In the meantime, I can kill with a single blow.” She held up a thumb. “I took a self-defense course.”

“That makes you doubly dangerous,” Stone said. “Be careful what you do with that thumb while we’re waiting for your license to come through.”

“I’ll practice thumb restraint,” she said.

After seeing Carly off to her new apartment, Stone and Matilda retired to the bedroom, where Matilda immediately slipped out of her dress and into Stone’s bed.

She eyed him hungrily. “Don’t keep a girl waiting.”

He did not, and she rewarded him with even more enthusiasm than their previous sessions.

When all was done, she said, “That was just a little reminder, so you don’t forget me.”

“My dear, why would I ever forget you?”

“Why, indeed?”

The following morning when Stone went down to his office, and instructed Joan on Carly’s carry license application, he found a phone message from Herb Fisher waiting for him, and he called back.

“What the hell are you doing with my new associate?” Herb asked.

“She’s doing it for herself,” Stone replied. “You’ve heard the news about her bar exam score?”

“Not yet.”

“One hundred percent.”

“She aced it?”

“She did, and she’s already making rain.”

“That, I heard about.”

“Eggers had dinner with us last night, and he gave her a twenty-five percent raise and a new office on the spot.”

“Not my office.”

“Two doors down.”

“Holy shit.”

“And a leather sofa and a TV that disappears into a cabinet.”

“Jesus, I had to buy my own TV.”

“Get used to it, pal. She’s going to be a jump ahead of you every day.”

“Can I give her back to Eggers?”

“He’d probably like that, but don’t worry, she’ll propel herself along. She won’t need your help. She can make you look good, if you don’t complain about her.”

“Then I’ll keep my mouth shut and just go along for the ride.”

“That would be a smart move, if you can manage it. Oh, and don’t try to get her in the sack. You’ll ruin yourself around the firm, if you should manage it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m otherwise engaged at the moment.”

“Then just hang on and enjoy watching her work her magic.”

“Gotcha.”

They both hung up.

Chapter 19

Fred drove Stone to Woodman & Weld that morning, then picked him up again right before lunch, and headed for home. They’d only gone a few blocks when he said, “I don’t mean to alarm you, but we appear to have picked up a tail.”

Stone didn’t look back. “Anyone we know?”

“I noticed him when I was waiting for you, but that was the first time I’d seen him.”

“Describe him.”

Fred did so.

“That sounds like Bozo.”

“The clown?”

“Yes, but not the one you’re thinking of.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll take a few turns. To make sure I’m right.”

“If it’s Bozo, you are right. But go ahead.”

Three turns later, Fred said, “He’s still there.”

“Is he being obvious?”

“No, but he’s not being as cautious as he thinks he is.”

Stone looked at the road ahead. “We don’t want him to know we’ve made him. Pull over after the next light. I’ll go into that building. I believe we have a couple of clients there.”

Stone entered the lobby and crossed over to the first-floor café, where he ordered a coffee and then called Dino.

“Trench appears to be back at it,” he said. “He’s having us followed.”

“By the man from the other night? Bozo?”

“One and the same.”

“Do you want me to have him pulled over?”

“No. But I wouldn’t mind having someone following him.”

“In case he gets a little frisky?”

“Not the word I would have used, but yes. Call Fred. He’ll give you a description of the vehicle.”

“Consider it done.”

Stone settled down at one of the tables, with a copy of the Times. After twenty minutes, he called Fred. “Is our friend still there?”

“Last I checked.”

“And Dino’s people?”

“They arrived ten minutes ago.”

“Good. Then come pick me up.”

After watching the lawyer’s Bentley pull into the garage in Turtle Bay, Bozo drove on for another few minutes, stopped at the side of the road, and called Trench.

“Barrington’s at his home office.”

“Does he know you’re watching him?”

“He doesn’t have a clue.”

“Huff thought that, too.”

“Well, I’m not Huff.”

“What about Matilda?”

“No sign of her yet.”

“What’s the plan?”

“I have a couple of ideas. How identifiable do you want the bodies?”

“It doesn’t matter to me, as long as they’re both gone.”

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say. What do you think about giving them a big send-off.”

“How big?”

Bozo explained what he had in mind.

Trench chuckled. “I like it.”

“I thought you would.”

“How long until you can be ready?”

“I’ll need a few hours to get everything worked out, then it’ll depended on when Barrington and Matilda go out. Worse case, by tomorrow. It’s not going to be cheap, though.”

“How much?”

“I need to make a few calls first.”

“All right. Remember, when it happens, I want to be there.”

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t want you to miss it.”

Bozo called an acquaintance he knew named Pike Larson.

“Yes?”

“It’s Bozo.”