Foul Play

Ten

Stone settled in next to Brooke Alley, who was talking to Shep on her other side, and long enough for him to fully appreciate what was on display. She turned back without catching him at it. “Well, now,” she said, “Viv tells me you are Stone Barrington, an attorney.”

“I cannot deny any of that.”

“Are you a free man?”

“I am when our president is not in town.”

“How often does she come?”

“You don’t really expect me to answer that, do you?”

Brooke smiled. “Sorry. How often does she visit New York?”

“Periodically, but not predictably.”

“Just to see you?”

“I can’t flatter myself to that extent.”

“What do you do when she’s not in town?”

“The best I can.”

“And I’ll bet that’s pretty good.”

“It’s flattering that you should think so.”

“I think you and I might do very well together.”

“Well, since Viv threw this bash for the express reason of getting you together with Shep, we might run afoul of her good nature if we pay too much attention to each other. And she carries a gun at all times, you know.”

“I didn’t know.”

“It’s her business that requires it, not necessarily her nature.”

“I’m relieved to hear it.”

“Did I hear you mention the ‘free world’ earlier.”

“One free of a husband,” she said. “By the way, thank you for the recommendation of Herb Fisher as an attorney. We’ve already had a meeting.”

“Not losing any time.”

“Once unhitched, I move at a gallop.”

“Your former stablemate isn’t jealous?”

“More like relieved. He practically set the barn afire to get me moving. A quick stroke of the crop across the rump sped me up.”

“For future reference, is that a preference?”

“That sounds like an Ogden Nash verse.”

“And that sounds like an evasive answer, but I won’t press.”

“A press in the right spot is always welcome.”

“I’ll need guidance,” he replied.

“I doubt that.”

“Is it getting warm in here, or is it just me?” Stone asked, dabbing at his forehead with his napkin.

“It’s not just you,” she said, dabbing at her bosom.

“So nice to be in sync,” he said.

“Tell me,” she said, “what is your favorite characteristic in a lover?”

“Enthusiasm,” he said without hesitation.

“Well, you’re halfway there.”

“I look forward to the other half.”

“Do you think there’s a vacant bedroom around here?” she asked.

“Probably, but the place is lousy with security, so I doubt if we could get away with it.”

“Why so much security, I wonder? Does it mean that something terrible is about to happen?”

“No, it’s just that everybody here — but you and I — has at least two of them in tow. The lobby downstairs looks like a police convention without the cigar smoke.” He felt a tug at his coat pocket.

“That is my number,” she said, “for a future occasion.”

“Good, but only after Viv has cleared us to land.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Brooke said.

Stone dropped his own card into her lap, and she swiftly transferred it from under her napkin to her bosom.

“And there is the fact that your date is my client,” Stone pointed out.

“I’m not picking up a lot of heat from that direction. My guess is that any attempt at a pass will be perfunctory and easily blocked.”

“In that case, I think an interception would be in order. But again, the coach must call the play.”

As if by some secret signal, the two ladies rose and vanished into another room somewhere.

Shep turned to him. “Brooke is nice, don’t you think?”

“Very much so.”

“Not really my type, though. You should look into that.”

“That’s gracious of you, Shep.”

“She’s too good to go to waste.”

“I agree.”

“Well,” Shep said, “I’m glad we got that out of the way.”

The ladies returned from their visit, and Viv sat down next to Stone. “I think I was wrong about Shep and Brooke,” she said. “When Holly hits the road, you should call her.”

Stone nodded sagely but said nothing.