“Why don’t you call Harrigan and tell him to call the Jersey cops and go get the guy?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” Dino said.

“What?”

“Let’s you and me go get the guy.”

“An ex-cop and the police commissioner of New York City have a couple of drinks, then drive to another state and bring back a guy without benefit of an extradition warrant?”

“Something like that.”

“How many scotches have you had?”

Dino drained his glass and set it down. “That was my second one.” He signaled a waiter for a third, and the waiter brought them both another one.

Stone drank half his first one. “I’ve gotta catch up.”

“Not going to happen.” Dino started on his third. “This is the first drink I’ve had in ten days, you know.”

“No, it’s the third drink you’ve had in ten days, or maybe ten minutes.”

“You have a point,” Dino admitted.

“I do.”

“What’s your point?”

“I think we’d better get some food into you, then discuss this further.”

“You think I’d make a wiser decision with something in my belly to mix with the scotch?”

“Dino, I don’t want to have to send you home in an ambulance.”

Dino thought about that. “You know, it might be a nice way to get there. If Viv didn’t find out.”

Chapter 55

Stone rode home with Dino in his SUV. Dino was dozing off, then snapping to again. “Are we going to Jersey?” he asked.

“Not tonight,” Stone replied. “You have to go home and work on your story.”

“What story?”

“The story about why you’re waking up with a hangover tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, that story.”

“Right.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because she won’t be home from Chicago until tomorrow night, and by then I won’t have a hangover anymore.”

“I wouldn’t count on that.”

“How about you?”

“What about me?”

“What’s your story about why you wake up with a hangover?”

“I don’t need a story, I’m sleeping alone.”

“So am I.”

“Also, I had two less drinks than you did. Wisely.”

“That was wise,” Dino admitted. “I could sleep right here.”

The car stopped at the awning. “You don’t have to, you’re home. Come on, I’ll walk you upstairs.”

“Would you like me to wait for you, Mr. Barrington?”

“You wait for him,” Dino said.

“Yes, sir.”

Stone took Dino’s arm and walked him through the lobby to the elevator. The doorman was on the phone and didn’t seem to notice them. Upstairs, Stone hung Dino’s coat in the hall closet, walked him to his bedroom, and rummaged in his dressing room until he found a pair of pajamas. He got Dino to undress and put them on, then tucked him in and hung up his clothes.

“Good night,” Stone said, switching off the lights.