Barely Legal

78

Herbie didn’t want to go out to dinner, but he couldn’t talk his way out of it. Under the circumstances, there was nothing he could say that didn’t convince Stone he needed cheering up. Still, the only reason he gave in was Stone was so insistent Herbie had the feeling they had something to tell him.

It turned out to be true. Once they had settled with their drinks and ordered a round of steaks for all, Dino told him what he’d learned.

Herbie couldn’t believe it. “She was working with the robber?”

“That’s what it looks like.”

“So why did he kill her?”

“We don’t know.”

“It makes no sense.”

“It’s the answer to who drugged your drink.”

“Are you sure my drink was drugged?”

“I tested your blood.”

“Did you test hers?”

“She wasn’t drugged.”

“I don’t understand.”

Herbie’s cell phone rang. He jerked it out of his pocket and clicked it on. “Hello?”

“Mr. Fisher, we have a problem. What part of ‘no cops’ didn’t you understand?”

Herbie was aware of Stone’s and Dino’s eyes on him, as he spoke to the man he knew must work for Tommy Taperelli. He said casually, “I understand.”

“You’re having dinner with the commissioner of police.”

“I’m out with Stone and Dino. They’re trying to take my mind off things.”

“I assume you spoke to the councilman. Anything he told you is strictly confidential.”

“At the moment, I can’t even think about business.”

“Think about this. What I told the councilman goes double for you. If you mention his daughter, you won’t be seeing his daughter. Capiche?”

“I have to be in court tomorrow morning. I hope to be back in the office tomorrow afternoon.”

“That’s the ticket. Play it like that and no one gets hurt.”

The line clicked dead.

Herbie put the phone back in his pocket.

“Who’s that?” Dino said.

“Bill Eggers. Wants to know when I’ll be back to work.”

“Does he know your fiancée was just killed?” Stone said.

“I don’t know my fiancée was just killed,” Herbie said. “According to Dino, she was a con artist. Was her name even Yvette?”

“That part was true. Yvette Walker. It was on her rap sheet.”

“She had a rap sheet?”

“Yes.”

“For ripping guys off?”

“No. For prostitution.”

Herbie sighed. “Oh, for Christ’s sake. I’m like a three-time loser who can’t break away. You try to go straight and get sucked back into the life.”

“You get any more crank phone calls?” Dino said.

Dino was really just changing the subject, but after Taperelli’s phone call, the question threw Herbie. He blinked. “Huh?”

“I don’t think you will. That had to be Taperelli’s men trying to scare you. They hadn’t seen the news in the paper yet. Now that they have, they won’t call again.”

“That’s more proof the burglar did it,” Stone said. “The threatening phone call proves it wasn’t them.”

Herbie sighed deeply, rubbed his forehead.

“Sorry,” Dino said. “I know you don’t want to talk about it.”

“I’m okay,” Herbie said. “It’s just so much to take in.”

The food arrived and the waiter slid the plates onto the table.

“Eat your steak,” Stone said.

“I’ll try,” Herbie said. He smiled gamely. “I doubt if I’ll be able to taste it.”

Stone grinned at him over his mouthwatering mountain of meat. “I beg to differ.”