Dino shrugged. “He’ll try like hell, but the kid has an independent streak. Anyway, it might not be a bad thing, if he wanted it. Eduardo will have the whole thing scrubbed clean before then. It’s a generational thing: Eduardo’s grandfather was an out-and-out, leg-breaking extortionist and pimp; his father was up-to-his-ears Mob, but he had a legitimate fruit business, and he was a good family man. Now Eduardo is a trustee of Columbia, he’s on the board of the Metropolitan Museum, he’s a papal knight, and he’s got a portfolio of businesses that would turn Warren Buffet’s head. You think anybody cares where the money came from?”

“Except you.”

“Except me, but I’m a cop.”

“The police commissioner doesn’t care, but you do.”

“Call me crazy, but yeah. I just can’t cozy up to Eduardo.”

“I think he likes you, Dino.”

“Huh?”

“He told me he has the greatest respect for your intelligence and integrity as a police officer. Those were his very words.”

“You’re kidding.”

“He also told me that he approved of Mary Ann’s marrying you.”

Dino snorted. “He gave you some of that Quinto de somethingorother port, didn’t he? It makes you hear crazy things.”

“I think you’ve underestimated Eduardo, Dino.”

“That, I would never do.”

“I mean as a man, as a father. He’s growing old; he wants to see his family happy…and safe.”

“And he thinks I can’t protect them? The son of a bitch!”

“Has he interfered in your investigation in any way?”

“Not yet, but just watch him!”

“Maybe he can help you.”

“I don’t want his help. He’s not gonna make me dirty.”

Stone sighed.

“That’s what your little talk was about, wasn’t it?”

“He made it clear he wants to help, but he doesn’t want to get in your way. He just said to call him if we need help.”

“I told you, I don’t want his help.”

“He might have sources that aren’t available to us.”

“If he knows something, he can call the precinct and report it.”

“Somehow, I don’t think he’s accustomed to doing things that way, do you?”

“He wants to be the hidden hand, the way he’s always been, but this time, he wants to manipulate me; he wants to pull the strings with the law. I hate that.”

“Dino, you would use any pusher or pimp on the street as a snitch, but you won’t accept out-of-channel information from your own father-in-law?”

“Stone, I know what you’re saying is perfectly logical, but I can’t go against my own best instincts on this. If I accept his help, then I’m no better than he is. That’s the way I feel about it, and that’s an end to it, all right?”