Barely Legal

53

Joan stuck her head in the door. “There’s a Detective Wallace calling.”

“What does he want?”

“Herb Fisher.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him I’d take a message. That didn’t seem to thrill him, so we went through the rest of the dance. Then he asked to speak to you.”

“Then I better speak to him. Thanks, Joan.” Stone picked up the phone. “Stone Barrington. May I help you?”

“This is Detective Sergeant Wallace of the NYPD. I’m looking for Herb Fisher.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’m Mr. Fisher’s attorney.”

“Where is Mr. Fisher?”

“I’m sure I couldn’t tell you.”

“I have a bench warrant for Mr. Fisher.”

“Have you served it?”

“No.”

“Then it isn’t binding. Come back when you’ve served it.”

“Don’t think you can give me the runaround, Mr. Barrington, just because you’re friends with the commissioner. Impeding an officer of the law in the course of carrying out his duty is a criminal offense. It carries a jail sentence.”

“I’ll bear that in mind. If you’re done threatening me, I’d like to get back to business. I am rather busy at the moment.”

“I’m telling you that I have reason to believe that the object of the bench warrant, Herbert Fisher, is on your premises.”

“What is the reason for that belief?”

“Well, he’s not in his own apartment.”

“Oh? He’s not there so he must be here? I’d love to get you on the stand, Sergeant.”

Stone hung up and buzzed Joan. “If Detective Sergeant Wallace should call back, I’m not in.”

“Got it. And Herbie’s up.”

“Oh?”

“He’s awake, anyway. Sitting up in bed. He’s still groggy. Whatever he was on had quite a kick.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“Then it’s sure to show up in his blood test.”

Stone went upstairs to the guest room. Herbie, dressed in Stone’s pajamas, was sitting up in bed. He looked up with tear-stained eyes.

“I didn’t do it.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do. No one thinks you did it.”

“The police do.”

“I strongly suspect they’ll come around to my view.”

“This is all my fault.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Yes, it is. I was stupid and arrogant. I provoked a mob boss in open court.”

“You don’t know that’s why this happened.”

“Oh? What do you think? I accused a detective of being dirty. The detective is dirty. You think he takes that lying down? You think Taperelli doesn’t seek revenge? And I didn’t even warn Yvette. I didn’t say, hey, I’m treading on dangerous ground in court, we have to be careful, we have to look out. I just assumed everything would be fine.” Herbie shuddered, shook his head. “Oh, God. I don’t know how you come back from something like this.”

“I know,” Stone said gently.

Herbie looked at him. “That’s right. You’ve been through it with Arrington. How’d you cope? How did you get through it?”

The love of Stone’s life and the mother of his son had been killed shortly after they had been reunited and finally gotten married.

“It was hard. But I had to be strong for my son.”

“Right. For Peter. You had to be strong for him.”

“Yes,” Stone said. He didn’t know what to say next. Herbie didn’t have anyone like that. Herbie didn’t have anyone at all, just his work.

“Oh shit, the case! I’m supposed to be in court today!” Herbie lunged unsteadily out of bed.

Stone caught Herbie as he nearly fell, shoving him back onto the bed. “It’s all right. I got an adjournment.”

“The judge never gave me one.”

“No. It took something dramatic.”

“What did they tell the jury?”

“Nothing. That doesn’t mean they won’t hear.”

“And I’m supposed to stand up in court tomorrow morning as if nothing was wrong?”

“Unless you want to duck out. The judge issued a bench warrant. You’d be fleeing the jurisdiction of the court.”

“Big deal. I’m already accused of murder.”

“The charge won’t stick. Dino’s working on it now.”

“Personally?”

“He feels bad. He wants to help.”

“Nothing helps.”

“I know.”

Stone’s cell phone rang on his way downstairs. He tugged it out of his pocket. “Hello?”

“Stone Barrington?”

“Yes.”

“You’re Herb Fisher’s lawyer?”

“Yes, I am.”

“He’s really accused of murder?”

“Excuse me. Who are you?”

“Oh. I’m Melanie Porter. David’s sister.”

“David?”

“David Ross. Herb’s his lawyer. What happened?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“You don’t know?”

“You’re an anonymous voice on the phone. You could be a clever reporter, for all I know.”

“Let me speak to Herb.”

“I don’t know where he is.”

“You don’t know where he is?”

“No, but if I hear from him, I’ll pass along the message.”

Stone clicked the phone off and went back up to Herbie.

“You know a Melanie Porter?”

Herbie reacted to the name. Stone couldn’t put his finger on the emotion, but it was a clear response.

“What about her?”

“You know her?”

“Barely. She’s my client’s sister.”

“She called me, looking for you.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. I wanted to check with you to make sure she’s legit, not some reporter or cop trying to ferret you out. No one knows you’re staying here. You’re ducking a warrant, if you’ll recall.”

“She’s fine. Tell her whatever you want.”

“She seemed concerned.”

“So am I.”

Stone went back down and sat at his desk, thinking. He’d managed to put his finger on Herbie’s reaction. Embarrassment. Then guilt. He liked the girl. The thought of her flustered him.

Stone took out his cell phone and called Melanie Porter back. “Hello, Melanie? I managed to locate Herb Fisher. Would you like to see him?”