Black Dog

Thirty-Five

Stone answered the front doorbell, first checking the viewing screen to make sure it wasn’t Eddie.

“It is I,” Bridget said. Stone buzzed her in.

“Come to the study,” he said. They met there and embraced.

“Before I forget,” Stone said. “Here’s a check for Eddie’s bail and your fee for representing him. It’s from his trust.”

“Thank you so much, and I have something for you,” she said, handing him an envelope.

Stone found a check for two million dollars from the court, made out to Eddie’s trust. “Holy mackerel!”

“I got the DA to cut him loose,” she said. “Lack of evidence to convict. Same on the lesser charge.”

“On behalf of Eddie’s trust, I thank you,” Stone replied. “Also, Eddie is now free of his bail restrictions and can leave town.”

“Yes, he can.”

Stone poured them both a gimlet, and they drank to Eddie leaving town. “Now,” he said, “how can I actually get him to leave?”

The doorbell rang again, and Stone answered it from the study. A seedy-looking man stood at the door. “Yes?”

“I want Eddie,” he said.

“Sorry, no Eddie at this address.”

“He said you’d say that.”

“He was right. Good evening.” Stone sat down with his drink. The doorbell rang again, and Stone glanced at the screen. Same guy. Stone buzzed Fred Flicker on the intercom.

“Yes, Mr. Barrington?”

“Fred,” Stone said, “there’s someone at the door wanting Eddie, and even though I’ve told him no Eddie lives here, he keeps ringing the bell. Will you go and persuade him that no Eddie lives here, please?”

“Of course, Mr. Barrington.”

“That guy looked pretty big,” Bridget said. “Do you think Fred can handle him?”

“Don’t be misled by Fred’s small stature,” Stone said. “He’s an ex — Royal Marine commando.”

“Still...”

Stone switched on the screen again. “Let’s watch.” He used a remote control to switch on the TV, giving them a wider camera angle.

“Yes?” Fred said.

“I’m looking for Eddie.”

“There is no Eddie here. Look elsewhere. You’ve been told twice now.”

The man reached out as if to take hold of Fred, but the smaller man took hold of his fingers, turned them palm up and applied pressure, raising the man on his toes to relieve the pain. “There are two things you can do,” Fred said. “You can look elsewhere for Eddie, or you can look elsewhere for Eddie with a broken hand. What will it be?”

“I’ll look elsewhere,” the man said, gasping. Fred backed him down the front steps to the sidewalk before releasing him. “Then do so. Now.” The man hurried away.

“That was remarkable,” Bridget said. “I want one of those.”

“A Fred?”

“Yes, please. Where did you find him?”

“A French friend of mine sent him to me as a gift for one year of his service. In less than a month I made him a permanent hire. I don’t think you’d find another Fred at an employment agency.”

Eddie met the man around the corner. “Well, Mac? What happened?”

“A little man came to the door and persuaded me that you don’t live there.”

“That would be Fred.”

“That will be twenty bucks,” Mac said and stuck out his hand to receive the money.

Eddie paid him, because he had learned at the Y not to stiff guys like Mac.

“Anything else?”

“You still got that burner phone?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

“Get this straight,” Mac said. “I’m not messing with that Fred guy.”

“Got it.” Eddie took out his cell phone and called Stone’s cell.

“Yes?”

“It’s Eddie.”

“Oh, Eddie, I’m glad you called. I’ve got good news for you.”

“Good news?”

“Your attorney has persuaded the DA to drop both charges against you, for lack of evidence. The court has restored your bail money to your trust, and your trust has paid your attorney’s fee.”

“Well, that is good news, Stone. Can we have dinner?”

“We cannot and will not, ever. You are now free to leave town, and you can’t do it quick enough for me.”

“But where will I go?”

“You can go back to the Hamptons, as long as you stay away from Annetta’s house and don’t get arrested for trespass. Or, you can go into any bookshop, buy a world atlas, then open it, close your eyes, and put your finger on the page. Keep doing that until your finger lands on a place that sounds appealing, then go there. Don’t leave a forwarding address, because neither Joan nor I will be in touch. Is all that clear to you?”

“Well...”

“If you come back here, you will be met by Fred, and you don’t want that.”

“Well...”

“Bon voyage!” Stone shouted, then hung up.

“Nice speech,” Bridget said. “Do you think it will register with him?”

“Who knows?” Stone said, reaching for her. “But it will do for tonight. We’ve got half an hour before dinner.”

“Then let’s think of something to do,” she said.