Stone got out and opened the door for him. It was raining lightly, and the hospital orderly held an umbrella over Dino’s head. Stone closed the car door and got in. “That’s a very nice bullet hole through your suit,” he said, “front and back.”

“Yeah, I’ve got to have it rewoven. A nurse got the blood out, though.”

“That’s above and beyond the call,” Stone said, driving away. “Does your shoulder hurt?”

“Not while there’s enough Oxycontin in the world.”

“If you run out, I’m sure there’s plenty in the precinct evidence locker,” Stone said.

“Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that. Kerry Smith came to see me.”

“Yeah, he came to see me, too.”

“Is that why he didn’t mention my not calling his agent-in-charge about Shelley?”

“I’m sure he was just trying to be a nice guy.”

“A nice guy? In the Bureau?”

“Don’t be too hard on him—he offered to testify at your hearing.”

“Yeah, he mentioned that. The good thing is, the civilian review board will love him.”

“You done anything about Viv?”

“What, exactly, do you mean by that?”

“Did you get her decorated?”

“Sure, I got her the Combat Cross. The sons of bitches downtown wanted to give it to me, but I told them I wasn’t taking a medal for getting myself shot.”

“Good for you. What else?”

“What do you mean, what else?”

“Come on, Dino.”

“All right, I got her transferred to the Seventeenth Precinct. It’s right next door, and it’s closer to her apartment. And she’ll be promoted.”

Stone found a parking spot in front of Dino’s building and flipped down his sun visor with the police emblem on it. “What, are you coming in?” Dino asked, as his doorman opened the car door.

“I’m walking you upstairs.”

“The hell you say. I’m fine.”

Stone walked around the car and caught Dino’s right arm, just as he staggered a bit. He steered his friend through the front door and onto the elevator. “You’re going to have to take it easy on the Oxycontin, unless you want to fall down in the street,” Stone said.

The elevator arrived at Dino’s floor, and Stone steered him to the front door, took his key from him, and opened the door.

“This is fine,” Dino said.

“I’ll walk you to the bedroom. You need a nap.” They walked down the hall.

“I don’t need a nap,” Dino said, sitting on the bed.

Stone helped him off with his coat and shoes and took the sling from around his neck, then lifted his feet onto the bed and tucked a pillow under his knees.

“You should have been a nurse,” Dino said.

Stone spread a blanket over him, and Dino closed his eyes.

“Don’t get up until dinnertime,” Stone said.

Dino made a gruff noise and let out a deep breath.

Stone bent over and kissed him on the forehead, then closed the bedroom door behind him. He got out his cell phone and called a number.