Worst Fears Realized

a legitimate fruit business, and he was a good family man. Now Eduardo is a trustee of Columbia, he’s on the board of the Metropolitan Museum, he’s a papal knight, and he’s got a portfolio of businesses that would turn Warren Buffet’s head. You think anybody cares where the money came from?”

“Except you.”

“Except me, but I’m a cop.”

“The police commissioner doesn’t care, but you do.”

“Call me crazy, but yeah. I just can’t cozy up to Eduardo.”

“I think he likes you, Dino.”

“Huh?”

“He told me he has the greatest respect for your intelligence and integrity as a police officer. Those were his very words.”

“You’re kidding.”

“He also told me that he approved of Mary Ann’s marrying you.”

Dino snorted. “He gave you some of that Quinto de somethingorother port, didn’t he? It makes you hear crazy things.”

“I think you’ve underestimated Eduardo, Dino.”

“That, I would never do.”

“I mean as a man, as a father. He’s growing old; he wants to see his family happy… and safe.”

“And he thinks I can’t protect them? The son of a bitch!”

“Has he interfered in your investigation in any way?”

“Not yet, but just watch him!”

“Maybe he can help you.”

“I don’t want his help. He’s not gonna make me dirty.”

Stone sighed.

“That’s what your little talk was about, wasn’t it?”

“He made it clear he wants to help, but he doesn’t want to get in your way. He just said to call him if we need help.”

“I told you, I don’t want his help.”

“He might have sources that aren’t available to us.”

“If he knows something, he can call the precinct and report it.”

“Somehow, I don’t think he’s accustomed to doing things that way, do you?”

“He wants to be the hidden hand, the way he’s always been, but this time, he wants to manipulate me; he wants to pull the strings with the law. I hate that.”

“Dino, you would use any pusher or pimp on the street as a snitch, but you won’t accept out-of-channel information from your own father-in-law?”

“Stone, I know what you’re saying is perfectly logical, but I can’t go against my own best instincts on this. If I accept his help, then I’m no better than he is. That’s the way I feel about it, and that’s an end to it, all right?”

“All right.” Stone drove along in silence for a few minutes. “You know,” he said, finally, “Dolce was playing footsie with me under the table.”

Dino’s mouth dropped open. “Right there, in front of Eduardo? No kidding?”

“No kidding.”

Dino burst out laughing. “Did I tell you she has balls? She’s some piece of work, isn’t she?”

“She certainly seems to be.”

“Stone, don’t call her; don’t get involved.”

“Well, I…”

“I’m not kidding you. Eduardo is Satan, and Dolce is his handmaiden.”

“Dino, you’re getting very Italian on me.”

“You want Johnny Donato on your back? He tells everybody they’re still married.”

“So why hasn’t Eduardo dealt with him? Why isn’t Donato – to put it in your own graceful and expressive manner – ‘at the bottom of Sheepshead Bay with a concrete block up his ass’?”

“It’ll happen, don’t worry. But when it does, it’ll be done in such a way that nobody will even think of connecting it with Eduardo or Dolce. That’s how Eduardo works.”

“It’ll be interesting to wait and watch.”

“And in the meantime, you stay away from Dolce; she’s poison.”

“Dino, I’ve got Sarah, remember?”

“I remember. Just don’t you forget.”

31

STONE AND SARAH SAT UP IN BED, EATING bagels and cream cheese, the Times spread out before them. “Oh, look!” she cried, thrusting the paper at him, “a really nice write-up about tonight!”

Stone read the piece, smiling. “I’m happy for you; this should make your opening even more successful. There’s nothing like a little validation from the Times art critic.”

“Edgar says he’s had over two hundred acceptances, and this will put us way over the top. And Edgar has already sold two of the most expensive pictures.”

“Before the opening? To whom?”

“He won’t tell me; he just says it’s an important collector, somebody on the board of the Metropolitan! Can you imagine?”

“When did this happen?”

“Yesterday. The man called him and requested a private showing, even though the work wasn’t hung yet.”

“I think I had dinner with him last night.”

“Who? Edgar? He was hanging the work with me.”

“No, the buyer.”

“Who is he?”

“My guess is he’s Dino’s father-in-law; his name is Eduardo Bianchi.”

“Didn’t you tell me that Dino’s father-in-law is some sort of Mafia guy?”

“Maybe I did, but believe me, after meeting him, I can tell you he’s no run-of-the-mill gangster. He has a very fine collection. He mentioned you, in fact, but he didn’t tell me he had bought two pictures. He knew your work from before you left for Italy.”

“Well, I don’t care if he’s Al Capone reincarnated if he had the good judgment to like my work. Anyway, that’s nearly twenty thousand dollars in my pocket, after Edgar’s commission!” She threw off the covers. “Let’s go shopping!”

“Shopping for what?”

“We’ve got a gatehouse in Connecticut to furnish, haven’t we?”

“You’re not paying for that with the first money you’ve earned in years.”

“Well, I’ll buy you a very nice housewarming present, then. Come on!”

Half an hour later Stone was backing the car out of the garage, when he noticed a black van parked across the street.

“What are you looking at?” Sarah asked, turning so she could see out the rear window.

“A van I haven’t seen before in the block.”

“What about it?”

“The feds are famous for using vans for stakeouts and electronic surveillance, and that one has a couple of extra antennas.”

“I’ll bet it’s some of Dino’s people,” she said.