“If you think that’s the way to go, then fine, but I’m just afraid that he’s become more irrational the past few months, and I don’t want you to push him over the edge.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be very lawyerly,” Stone said. “I won’t yell at him or make overt threats.”
Arrington took his hand. “Then I’ll trust you to handle him,” she said.
14
S tone called Dino and invited him and Ben to join them for dinner, and by eight-thirty they were about to be seated at Elaine’s.
Peter tugged at Stone’s sleeve. “Dad, may Ben and I have our own table?”
Stone looked at Arrington and she nodded. Stone arranged it, two tables down, then the three adults took their seats.
“I’m glad they’re getting along,” Dino said. “Ben doesn’t warm to a whole lot of people.”
“I’m glad, too, Dino,” Arrington said.
“Before I forget,” Dino said, “I’ve been asked to deliver an invitation. Eduardo Bianchi has invited the three of you to join his family for Christmas dinner. Strangely enough, I’m invited, too.” Eduardo was Dino’s former father-in-law.
“Arrington?” Stone asked.
“Yes, of course; we don’t have other plans, do we?”
“The choices are dinner at a hotel or a Chinese restaurant.”
“We’d love to, Dino,” Arrington said.
“Eduardo is very interested to meet Peter,” Dino said. “He’s been hearing about him from Ben.”
“I wonder if the boys will insist on their own table,” Stone said, glancing down to where they sat, talking rapidly and gesticulating.
“Stone,” Dino said, “Ben seems to think that Peter is eighteen. Why is that?”
“I’d better bring you up to date,” Stone said, then he told him about all the arrangements that had been made. “It’s better this way, we think.”
“I think it’s better for Ben, too; I won’t tell him.”
Stone looked up to see Herbie Fisher enter the restaurant in the company of a petite, dark-haired beauty. Herbie brought her to the table. “Good evening, Stone, Dino. I’d like you to meet Gina Carlo.”
Stone and Dino stood and shook hands. “And, Herbie,” Stone said, “you haven’t met my friend Arrington. Arrington, this is my client Herbert Fisher.”
“I’ve heard good things about you,” Herbie said. “Mostly from Joan, Stone’s secretary.”
“I’m glad she has a good opinion of me,” Arrington replied, smiling.
Herbie excused himself, and they were shown to a table at the rear of the restaurant. A moment later, two large men came in and were given a table in Siberia, where the tourists were sent. Then, after another moment, two other large men came in and took seats at their table. Some hard looks were exchanged, and one of the second pair spoke, uninterrupted, for about a minute. The first two men looked at each other, shrugged, and then left the restaurant.
“What was that all about?” Dino asked.
“Herbie,” Stone said, “for reasons too complicated to go into, is now in the care of Strategic Services. The young woman, Gina Carlo, is one of Mike Freeman’s operatives, as are the second pair of men who followed them in. The first two men have been causing Herbie some concern, and, after having been spoken to, they have obviously decided that discretion is the better part of valor.”
“Okay,” Dino said.
“Whatever you say,” Arrington said.
They ordered drinks and looked at the menu.
“Funny thing,” Dino said, “after a trip to Film Forum with Peter, Ben has suddenly acquired an interest in old movies. He can’t stop talking about them.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Stone said. “Peter is obsessed, and it’s good for him to have a friend who shares his excitement.”
“That’s probably what they’re talking about now,” Arrington said.
Dino glanced at the two boys. “I certainly hope so,” he said. “I wouldn’t want Ben to lead Peter astray.”
“Astray how?” Arrington asked.
Dino looked uncomfortable. “Ben has a tendency, when he comes home from school, to be interested in things beyond his years.”
“Like what?” Stone asked.
“Like downtown clubs,” Dino explained. “Once a cop brought him home, after some sort of ruckus in SoHo.”
“Dino,” Arrington said, “you’re not raising some sort of juvenile delinquent, are you?”
“First of all, I’m not raising him; he’s at that school in Connecticut, and his mother and grandfather have a lot more to say about his upbringing than I do. Second, he’s not a juvenile delinquent; he just wants to be twenty-five, at a time when most kids are looking forward to nineteen. For what it’s worth, I think Peter just might be a steadying hand.”
“What’s Ben doing about college?” Arrington asked.
“He’s got an early acceptance from Columbia,” Dino replied, “with the help of his grandfather, who is a major contributor. Of course, he’s always made good grades, with little apparent effort, so he’s not exactly being foisted on the school.”
“That’s wonderful!” Arrington enthused. “An Ivy Leaguer in the family!”
“How about that?” Dino said.
Later, when they had all dined and were leaving, Stone noted that Herbie and Gina were deep in conversation at their table. He had a feeling they weren’t discussing personal security.
The two bodyguards looked sleepy.
They arrived home and good nights were said. Back in the master suite, Arrington got into bed next to Stone. “Have you noticed,” she said, “that Peter’s clothes have gotten a little too snug?”
“Yes, I have,” Stone said. “I’ll deal with that tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” she sighed. “He hates it when I buy clothes for him.”
The following morning Stone took Peter up to Madison and Seventy-second to the Ralph Lauren men’s store. He found the right department and bought Peter a blue blazer, a couple of tweed jackets, a blue suit, and some odd trousers, making sure there was room for growth in all of them. Peter picked out a handsome topcoat, some shirts and shoes. Everything would be delivered in a couple of days.
Stone went home feeling very fatherly, a condition he was becoming accustomed to.
15
M id-Monday morning, two FedEx packages arrived-one containing a dozen certified copies of Peter’s new California birth certificate, with a covering letter from the court stating that his former certificate had been sealed by court order. The second envelope contained Peter’s high school diploma, with the notation “With Honors,” a copy of the transcript of his academic record, and a “To Whom It May Concern” letter from the headmaster describing Peter as a true scholar and a perfect gentleman. All these materials were in the name of Malon Peter Barrington II. Only the Virginia name-change order remained to be received.
Stone buzzed Peter in his room and asked him to come down to his office for a chat. They sat on the leather sofa, and Stone gave Peter the documents he had received. “This is all official, now,” he said. “Joan has made copies of your transcript, of which this is one, and she has put the other eleven certified copies of your birth certificate in my office safe, where they will be secure. You’ll need them at various times.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Peter said, tucking the documents back into the envelope.
“When you see Letitia Covington this afternoon, you might take those documents along, just in case they’re needed, and don’t forget a copy of your screenplay and the DVD of your edited footage.”
“I won’t.”
“By the way, I had a call from Leo Goldman, who was very impressed with the work you’ve done on your fi lm-so impressed that he immediately wanted to buy it for Centurion.”
“You mean it’s going to be released?”
“Not yet, and probably not for some time.”
“What’s the delay?”