“And I still have nice things to say about her? That’s my point, fellows. I consider myself an arbitrator, not a warrior, and the Coreys fit that perspective. They disputed issues from time to time, but it was all about working things out, not drawing blood.” He blinked. “Unfortunate choice of words. Vey, vey, this is terrible—how did you come to know about me?”

“Ms. Corey was killed in the parking garage of her lawyer’s building.”

“Fellinger’s building?” said Cohen. “He sent you to me?”

“We inquired and he gave us your name, Mr. Cohen.”

“Let me guess: Grant’s take was he and I are best friends, ready to pack off on a cruise together.”

“He did speak highly of you, sir.”

“Look,” said Cohen, tilting back and lacing his hands over his belt buckle. “I don’t want to be perceived as ungracious, but the truth is I tolerate Grant because he’s been tolerable.”

“For five years.”

“That’s misleading, Lieutenant. True, the Coreys’ divorce was initiated five years ago and finalized after two, but most of the serious negotiation was accomplished within the first year. We are not talking about five years of constant litigation.”

“Just on-and-off engagement.”

“Fine-tuning. So, yes, I’m able to take Grant in intermittent doses. And frankly, the fact that Ursula was his client was a factor. Such a lovely woman. May I ask how she was killed?”

“Gunshot wound.”

“Vey iz mir. In the parking lot? A mugging?”

“No signs of robbery.”

“Then what?”

“That’s what we’re trying to ascertain, Mr. Cohen.”

“A gun. Dreadful. It’s hard to imagine Ursula gone. She was a vibrant woman. Creative—she was the creative force in the business.”

“Tell us about the fine-tuning, sir.”

“In that regard,” said Cohen, “I’m severely limited by confidentiality. Unlike Fellinger, my client is alive.”

He rolled a cigar between his palms. Same mannerism Milo adopts with cheap panatelas. “Let me ask you this, Lieutenant: What did Grant tell you about his work on Ursula’s behalf?”

“The Coreys divorced but continued to work together amicably. Occasionally financial disputes came up, mostly regarding the value of Urrick, Ltd.”

Cohen remained silent.

“Is that your view, Mr. Cohen?”

“You’re not hearing me debate anything, Lieutenant.”

“Must’ve been an odd situation, sir.”

“What was?”

“Exes continuing a business relationship.”

“It happens more often than you’d imagine,” said Cohen.

“With positive consequences?”

Cohen suspended the cigar between his forefingers. “Not usually, no. In a perfect world, a business can be divided up equitably with the parties free to pursue their own interest. Sometimes I’m able to do that. If those interests are independent.”

“The Corey interests were intertwined. They needed each other.”

Cohen smiled. “Did Fellinger explain what they do?”

“Import–export of cheap goods from Asia.”

“Flowers of the Orient,” said Cohen. “Yes, trashy tchotchkes.”

“And now your client gets everything from stem to petals.”