Black Dog

Five

Stone had breakfast in bed, as always, then showered, shaved, dressed, and went downstairs to his home office.

Joan came in from her office. “Have you called a press conference for this morning?”

“Press conference? Me? What about?”

“My very question,” Joan replied.

“What are you talking about, Joan?”

“There’s a little knot of seedy-looking people with press badges gathered on our doorstep, and they seem to be waiting to be spoken to.”

“Thank God I don’t have a hangover,” Stone said, “or I wouldn’t be able to gather myself to address them.”

“Well, since you don’t have a hangover, why don’t you go outside and disperse them.”

“Because I pay you for that sort of chore.”

“I tried speaking to them, but they ignored me.”

Stone got up from his desk, put on his jacket, and walked outside. “Disperse!” he said to the gathering, making shooing motions. They ignored him and continued to chat among themselves.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” a voice behind Stone said. They all snapped to something like attention.

Stone turned to find Eddie Jr. standing on an upturned flowerpot, from which the flowers had been cast aside.

“I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve called you all together,” Eddie said. They became reverently silent.

“Put that flowerpot back where you found it,” Stone said to him, “and put the flowers back into it.”

“After I’ve addressed the press,” Eddie said.

“Address them somewhere else, or I’ll have the police haul them all away, you included.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Eddie said.

“Joan,” Stone said to her. “Call the police and ask them to haul this crowd away.”

“On what grounds?” she asked, having joined him outside.

“Making a public nuisance,” Stone replied.

“I’m afraid they’re standing on a public sidewalk. They can do anything they like there, including making a public nuisance of themselves.”

“Have you recently graduated from law school and passed the bar?” he asked her.

“No, but someone has,” she replied, nodding at Eddie Jr.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Eddie said, “I have recently taken and passed the bar exam and am now an attorney-at-law, licensed to practice in New York State.”

“Oh, come on, Eddie!” a reporter shouted.

“I refer you to page twenty-four of this morning’s Daily News,” Eddie said, “where you will find my name on the long list of those who passed the bar exam.” He handed them the newspaper, and they passed it around for everyone to see.

“I suggested that to you only yesterday,” Stone said. “Did you bribe someone to add your name to the list?”

“I took the exam ten days ago,” Eddie said, “in the expectation of someone suggesting that I might seek employment in a law firm. I’m smarter than you think I am, Mr. Barrington. They’re just getting around to announcing it.” Eddie took an envelope from his inside coat pocket and handed it to Stone. “Here is my curriculum vitae and particulars. I wish to be employed by Woodman & Weld.”

Stone handed it back to him. “Personnel is just around the corner in the Seagram Building. You may submit your application there. Please give me time to call them and instruct them to deny your application before you submit it.”

“That is highly prejudicial,” Eddie said. He turned back to the crowd. “Do you see how I’m being treated? I am a graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School, and I am fully qualified for employment as an attorney.”

“You have no experience to qualify you,” Stone said. “Now, please go away.”

“I worked at Woodman & Weld for four summers as an intern,” Eddie said.

“In what department?” Stone demanded.

“In eight departments, two a summer. Check with Mr. Grady, the director of personnel.”

Stone leaned over near Joan’s ear. “Call Grady and check that out,” he whispered.

Joan disappeared into the office. She returned shortly. “He’s not lying,” she said.

“Well?” Eddie demanded.

“You are temperamentally unsuited to work at Woodman & Weld,” Stone said to him.

“Says who?”

“Says a senior partner of the firm. Now get out of here and take this passel of ink-stained wretches with you.” Stone took Joan’s arm and propelled her back into the office. “Call Grady and tell him that Edwin Charles Jr. is temperamentally unsuited for employment at Woodman & Weld.”

“Yes, sir.”

Stone went back into his office, hung up his jacket, and addressed the little pile of mail and messages on his desk.

“Excuse me, Stone,” Joan said. “Mr. Grady would like to speak with you.”

“Did you tell him what I said?”

“Yes, that’s why he wants to speak with you.”

Stone picked up the phone and pushed a button. “Ellis, it’s Stone Barrington. What can I do for you?”

“Stone, you can explain to me why you don’t want Eddie Charles to work at Woodman & Weld.”

“Are you telling me that you do?” Stone asked, amazed.

“Why? I’ve heard he’s bright, hardworking, and has a prodigious memory for cases. He’s a walking, talking Lexis,” Grady said, referring to the legal reference service.

Stone was feeling cornered now, but he had a way out. “Ellis, are you acquainted with Eddie’s stepmother, Annetta Charles?”

“I haven’t met her, but I certainly know who she is.”

“Are you aware that, yesterday, she became a client of the firm, moving all her legal work to us?”

“I hadn’t heard that, but it’s certainly good news.”

“Then you are not aware that she made it a condition of being our client that her stepson, Eddie, would have nothing whatever to do with the firm?” This was an exaggeration, but Stone was now desperate.

“I was not aware of that.”

“Then see that any application of Eddie Jr. to the firm is rejected out of hand.”

“As you wish,” Grady said, then hung up.

“You think that will do it?” Stone asked Joan.

“Maybe,” Joan said.