“Yes, but not just yet. I have some business to conclude. When do you plan to return to New York?”

“Soon. There’s nothing to keep me here now.”

“I’d like to keep you here for a few days,” Evan said. “I want to retain you as my attorney.”

“I’m not licensed in Florida,” Stone said.

“It won’t require any courtroom appearances,” Evan said. “Or if it does, I’ll hire somebody else. I want you here for a negotiation. I’ll pay you thirty thousand dollars for three, four days of your time. If it runs beyond that, I’ll pay you another thirty.”

Stone looked at Dino. “Can you hang around? I’ll pick up the hotel bill.”

“Why not?” Dino said.

“All right.”

“Gigi,” Evan said.

Gigi picked up a shoulder bag that had been lying on the fl oor beside the bed, rummaged in it and came up with a stack of notes and handed it to Stone. It was three bundles of hundreds, in South Beach Security wrappers.

“Is this money clean?” Stone asked.

“It is.”

“I’ll have to fill out the relevant federal form when I deposit it in my bank.”

“I understand.”

“What do you want me to do now?” Stone asked.

“I’ve got your cell number. I’ll call you when we need to talk.”

“Have you spoken to your grandfather?”

“Not yet.”

“If you like, I’ll have someone notify him about this.”

“No, it would just worry him. He’s better off not knowing. I’ll tell him about it when this is over.”

“And when will that be?”

“Soon, I hope.”

“All right,” Stone said, stuffing bundles of cash into his pock-ets. “I’m your lawyer. If the police ask you any more questions of any kind, refer them to me. Talk to you later.” He and Dino left the room.

Tommy was standing outside talking to a uniformed offi cer. Stone took him aside. “Tommy, Evan has just retained me as his lawyer. I’m not entirely sure why, but in the meantime, please don’t ask him any more questions unless I’m present.”

“What’s the problem?” Tommy asked. “He hasn’t done anything.”

“I know, but in his condition I can’t go into all this with him. I assume you have both Evan’s and Gigi’s statements about the shooting?”

“Yeah.”

“That’ll have to do you for the moment. I’ll know more when I’ve had a chance to sit down with him when his head is clear.”

“Okay, Stone.”

“Thanks for having a cop out here.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Stone and Dino left the hospital and went back to their car.

“There’s an IHOP on our way back; you want to get some breakfast?”

“Sure.”

“You’re buying,” Dino said.

32

32

STONE SAT THINKING , picking at his enormous breakfast. Dino, untroubled, was stuffing his down.