Hot Mahogany

51

Stone was about to leave his office for the day when a FedEx envelope arrived. Inside was a dinner invitation from Abner Kramer for the coming Saturday night at his house in Connecticut. That was fortunate, he thought, because there was something he wanted to investigate in Kramer’s house.

He walked through the garden and appeared at Tatiana’s kitchen door on time. She was on the phone in the kitchen, and she waved him inside.

Stone walked to the kitchen counter, took a stool and watched her. She was wearing tan slacks and a black cashmere turtleneck sweater that called attention to her breasts. She looked smashing, he thought.

“Henry,” she was saying into the phone, “you’re going to have to get used to the idea of a property settlement. I’m sure your lawyer has explained to you that New York State law requires an equitable division of property. There are two ways we can do this: We can decide between us, with legal advice, or we can go to court and add legal fees to the total costs. I don’t much care, since you’ll end up paying my legal fees anyway.” She gave Stone a big shrug, pointed at the phone and drew a finger across her neck.

“No, I won’t wait six months,” she said. “If we don’t have an agreed settlement by the end of the week, I’m filing suit, and I’m also going to ask the judge for a hundred thousand dollars a month in temporary support while we’re waiting for a trial date.”

There was an unintelligible squawk from the other telephone, followed by some sort of tirade. Tatiana softly replaced the receiver and smiled at Stone, who was applauding.

“Very good,” he said. “I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“He’s probably still yelling,” she said, “thinking I’m still on the phone. Would you like a drink, or shall we go?”

Stone winced and slapped his forehead. “I forgot to book at La Goulue, and they’ll be full by now. Shall we go to Elaine’s instead?”

“Oh, yes! I’ve heard a lot about it, but I’ve never been there.”

Stone glanced at his watch. “We’re a little early for Elaine’s. It will be empty, so let’s have that drink.”

She waved him through the kitchen, then the dining room, then into a lovely living room. “What, sir, is your pleasure?”

Stone smiled. “Well… for the moment, just that drink – bourbon, if you have it.”

She opened a liquor cabinet and checked. “I have four bourbons,” she said.

“The one in the rectangular bottle, there,” he said, pointing.

“What would you like in it?”

“Ice,” he replied.

She poured the drink, then a Scotch for herself, and they settled into the sofa.

“You are the first date I’ve had since Henry and I separated,” she said.

“I’m glad I got here first,” he replied. “After Harlan Deal’s party there would have been a line.”

She laughed. “He called me today.”

“Harlan?”

“Yes. Apparently, he was miffed that I left with you.”

“Oh, good. I’m happy to miff him. He’s a very annoying man.”

“I thought so, too.”

“Great minds… et cetera, et cetera.”

“Indeed. Henry, my husband, is in commercial real estate, and he sucks up to Deal at every opportunity.”

“Does your husband know a real estate guy named Charlie Crow?”

Tatiana rolled her eyes. “God, yes! I’ve had to suffer through two dinner parties with that man, one in his apartment and one here. Did you know his wife used to be a stripper?”

“I didn’t, but I’m not shocked. I’ve had occasion to learn a little about him recently, and I’m glad I don’t have to do business with him.”

“Henry was happy to do business with him. He invested his firm’s money in two Charlie Crow projects, and I’m sure he’s never going to see a dime of it again. Crow is in some sort of financial difficulty, Henry said, and he’s frantic that he’s been had by Crow.”

“You remember Barton Cabot, from last evening?”

“Of course.”

“Well, Barton was Crow’s commanding officer when they were in the Marines, and he has just as low an opinion of him as you do.”

“Barton was in the Marines?”

“Yes, a career officer, until he ran afoul of a superior.”

“He looks more like a slightly faded movie star,” she said.

“That’s a good description. You’d probably think his younger brother looks like the current item.”

“Mmmm, I think I’d like to meet the younger brother.”

“No, you wouldn’t; he’s a spy and, as such, completely untrustworthy. Well, nearly completely. You can trust Lance to make the right decision if it’s in his own best interest.”

Tatiana laughed aloud. “That sounds very much like Henry!” She furrowed her brow. “You know, I think he may be having me followed.”

“Then we’ll leave through the garden,” Stone said. He looked at his watch. “I think we can go now, if you like.” He took out his cell phone, speed-dialed Elaine’s and made a reservation.

They walked into the garden, then to Stone’s house and out the front door. Ten minutes later, they were at Elaine’s. They had not been there more than five minutes when Tatiana suddenly held up her menu to hide her face.

“You’re not going to believe this,” she said, “but my husband just walked in.”

Stone looked up. “The one with the blonde?”

“Yes, with the blonde.”

“I know her. She’s an actress of sorts. She doesn’t work much, but she always seems to have money. There are many rumors about her.”

“Trust Henry to choose somebody like that,” she said.

“Actually, this is good. You should let him see you.”

She looked horrified. “Why?”

“Because New York is not a no-fault state where divorce is concerned. If he were here alone, he might think about accusing you of adultery, seeing you with me. As it is, you’ve both canceled out that option. If he sues you, claiming adultery, you can do the same to him. I’ll be your witness, and your lawyer could dig up enough dirt on her to make Henry’s life miserable.”

Tatiana put down her menu, caught her husband’s eye and waved gaily. Henry did an about-face and hustled his date out of the restaurant.

“I think you’ve just improved your chances for a negotiated settlement,” Stone said.