“It could save you a lot, if you settle, instead of going to trial.” He laid his business card on the table. “Have your attorney get in touch with me, and we’ll talk.” He turned and headed for the door, careful not to walk too quickly.

He heard heavy footsteps behind him and before he could turn, somebody spun him around, and a fist crashed into his jaw. Stone flew backward through the plate-glass door onto the sidewalk. As if in sympathy, the cracked front window shattered, too.

The man threw the summons at Stone, then stepped through the shattered door, ready to aim a kick.

Suddenly, Dino was standing over Stone, a badge in his hand. “Police!” he said. “Back off.” The man grudgingly took a step backward, and Dino helped Stone to his feet. “You okay?” he asked quietly.

“Fine,” Stone said, though he felt dizzy from the punch and the fall to the pavement. He bent over, picked up the summons and threw it into his assailant’s face. “Tell Mr. Dattila he’s been served, and the service was duly witnessed by Lieutenant Bacchetti of the NYPD. Also tell him I’ll see him in court.” He turned and began walking toward the car.

“I’m wearing a vest,” Dino said. “Are you?”

“Nope,” Stone said, straightening his tie. He got into the car, while Dino walked around to the driver’s side.

Dino put the car in gear. “Here they come,” he said.

Stone glanced over his shoulder and saw men spilling out of the La Boheme coffeehouse.

“Dino,” Stone said, brushing broken glass off his jacket, “now would be a good time for you to drive the way you usually drive.”

Dino stood on it.

7

Stone dropped Dino at the 19th Precinct. “Elaine’s, later?”

“Sure,” Dino said.

Stone drove home, put the car in the garage and went into his office. He sat down at his desk, and Joan came in. “Uh-oh,” she said, then disappeared toward the kitchen. She came back with some ice cubes wrapped in a dish towel and pressed it against his jaw.

“I’m glad you’re alive, but I guess you didn’t exactly come away unscathed.”

“You could say that,” Stone said, taking the ice pack from her and holding it to his face.

“The swelling is conspicuous,” she said.

“I noticed.”

“I guess the other guy is pretty messed up, huh?”

“Not a mark on him,” Stone replied, “but their front door is in many pieces.”

“You busted their front door?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“Did Mr. Dattila get served?”

“He did.”

“You think he’ll respond?”

“Probably not, but then I’ll get a summary judgment, and I’ll take his fucking coffeehouse.”

“Good luck on that,” Joan said. “I take it Eggers is expecting some ink from this episode?”

“Apparently.”

“Maybe I’d better do something about that.”

“Do what?”