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“Yes, that was Mr. Sharp’s last representation of her,” Prince said. “I thought he did a good job.”
“That means the way he did his job somehow reacted to your benefit, I suppose.”
Prince laughed heartily. “You’re very perceptive, Stone.”
“Let’s just say I think she will be happier with Woodman amp; Weld,” Stone replied.
Lunch arrived and they began to eat.
“Stone,” Prince said, pausing to take a sip of his tea. “I’m sorry we seem to be working at cross-purposes in the Centurion transaction.”
“It’s not a transaction yet,” Stone said.
“Touche. In the Centurion offer, shall we say.”
“Yes.”
“I wonder if you might not soften your position in that deal if you were personally participating in it, instead of just representing Mrs. Calder.”
“What are you suggesting, Terry?”
“I would not be so crass as to make you an offer,” Prince said smoothly. “But if you could somehow bring the deal to a swift conclusion, you might be free to represent my New York interests all the sooner, might you not?”
“As long as you were not involved in a business deal adversarial to Mrs. Calder’s interests, that would be ethically possible.”
“Well, then, do you think we might move forward on the Centurion deal, then?”
Stone put down his fork. “I take it that Jim Long is still alive,” Stone said, “and I’m beginning to think that he might even have regained consciousness.”
Prince said nothing, only shrugged.
Stone’s cell vibrated on his belt. “Will you excuse me a moment?” he said, sliding from behind the table and walking into the garden. “Hello?”
“Stone, it’s Harvey Stein. Jim Long is awake, but not talking yet. His doctors seem very relieved, and they may let me see him before the day is out.”
“That’s good news, Harvey. Will you keep me posted?”
“Of course.”
Stone hung up and returned to the table. “Wonder of wonders,” he said, “Jim Long is awake.”
“I’m very happy for him,” Prince said. “You must have good sources.”
“Not as good as yours,” Stone said. “After all, you heard first.”
“Only a short time ago.”
“Still, you had time to talk with me, before I found out.”
“Information is a valuable commodity,” Prince said.
Stone signaled for a waiter to remove his plate. “You must have a very large payroll, Terry,” he said.
“Large enough for my purposes.”
“I understand the police are concerned about connections among the stabbings of Harris, Alexei, and Long. But then, you already knew that, didn’t you?”
“I assure you, I have no connection to any of those events.”
