She laughed, and the contraction was instantly transmitted to Stone. “Keep laughing,” he said. “It feels good.”

And she did.

Joan came into Stone’s office. “I booked Arrington and Peter at Radio City Music Hall for the matinee,” she said.

“Why not me?”

“You have to work for a living these days, and your first client of the day is outside, waiting.”

“Anybody I know?”

There was a rap at the door, and Herbert Fisher stuck his head in. “Good morning. Got time for me?”

“Always,” Stone said, without the usual irony.

Herbie came in and sat down. “You wanted me to sign the documents?”

Stone handed him the stack, with the signature pages flagged, and a blue-ink pen. “You’ll note that Stephanie has already signed them.”

Herbie looked at her signature. “Don’t tell me she’s in New York.”

“Color fax,” Stone said. “Her attorney accepted service.”

“What are the chances we’ll get the feds to let go of the three million?”

“I told you before: two chances, slim and none.”

“I like slim better,” Herbie said, shoving back the signed documents.

He buzzed Joan. “Documents ready for delivery to the court and to Seth Keener.” She came and got them.

“How long before I’m a free man?” Herbie asked.

“You’re a free man now,” Stone said. “The rest is red tape. A couple of months of that, probably.”

“I’ve met a nice girl.”

“Slow down, Herbie; you always move too fast. Employ a little skepticism this time, and you’ll save on legal fees later.”

“I’ve been going to law school at NYU,” Herbie said.

“No kidding?” Stone said, playing straight man. “How come?”

“I was not entirely satisfied with the quality of my Internet legal education,” Herbie said.

“I see.”

“I’m going to pass the bar again, too.”

“Congratulations in advance.”

“Then I thought I might take you as a partner,” Herbie said confidently, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll front the money for expanding the practice.”

“I’m deeply flattered, Herbie, but you may not have heard that, for a year now, I’ve been a partner at Woodman & Weld.”

“I saw the announcement in the Times,” Herbie said.

“You’re reading something besides the Post these days?”

“The Wall Street Journal, too.”

“Well, you’re a man of means; that’s appropriate reading.”

“I managed to increase my net worth this year, too,” Herbie said. “A first.”

Stone laughed. “I believe you. How did you do that in the middle of a recession?”

“I bought a small office building on Lexington Avenue, and I did okay in the market, too.”

“Wow. Who closed on the real estate for you?”

Herbie handed him an envelope. “You. Here’s the sales contract.”

Stone opened the envelope and looked at the document. “That sounds like a very good price. Do you have tenants?”

“I bought it fully rented.”

“Are you going to be the new Donald?”

“Hardly, but it’s a good investment.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“I saw the two thugs again,” Herbie said.

“The ones responsible for your dip in the harbor?”