“Whatever you wish,” she replied. “Just know that we’re never going to have an argument about money. If you think we should give Knickerbocker another million, just write the check.”

“I would be very uncomfortable doing such a thing without consulting you first,” Stone said.

She kissed him. “I trust you completely,” she said. “I’m aware that in the year since you and Woodman & Weld have been handling my finances, my net worth has increased more than thirty percent. That would never have happened under my old arrangement.”

“Thank you.”

“I also spoke to Bill Eggers about making a new will,” she said. “He suggested that you might feel better if I worked directly with him on that, instead of involving you.”

“Bill was right,” Stone replied.

“I have an appointment with him this afternoon. I know there are major tax issues, and I want everything taken care of immediately.”

“I recall that you were never a procrastinator,” Stone said.

“Not now or ever,” she said, laughing.

Late in the afternoon, Arrington came into Stone’s office and handed him two blue legal envelopes. “Here is the original of my will and one copy. Isn’t word processing wonderful? We got the whole business taken care of in two hours.”

“I’ll put them in the safe,” Stone said, buzzing Joan.

Joan came in, and he handed her both envelopes. “This is the original and a copy of Arrington’s new will,” he said. He took off his signet ring and handed it to her. “Seal both with wax, write the date on the envelope, and put them in the safe. I don’t ever want to see them.”

“Will do, boss,” she said, then she handed him a sheaf of papers.

“Chase messengered over these documents and the new checks. You both need to sign them.”

Stone and Arrington signed at the places indicated.

“There,” Arrington said, kissing him. “Now we are truly one, blessed by the Chase Private Bank.”

25

Kelli Keane got off the elevator and stopped at the day editor’s desk on the way to her own. “Do we have someone who can search public records for us?”

“Yes,” the editor replied, without looking up from his screen. “You.”

Kelli went to her desk and dropped her large handbag, then phoned her acquaintance at City Hall.

“Yes?”

“It’s Kelli.”

“Well, hi, there. We getting together this week?”

“You can buy me dinner tomorrow night at Elaine’s, eight-thirty. You book the table.”

“Done.”

“Do you have anything more on who got married at what’s-hisname’s house?”

“Not a word. I don’t think anybody here knows.”

“Were they friends of what’s-his-name or the mayor’s or both?”

“No idea.”

“I want more information tomorrow night,” she said, “and I want you to get me a copy of a recently issued marriage license, since you’re so conveniently located.”

He sighed. “All right, who?”

“Stone Barrington.”

“Is Stone the first or last name?”

“First. Barrington, Stone. E-mail it to me before lunch, will you?”

“You’re very bossy.”