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“He is her despised stepson.”
“Define ‘despised.’ ”
“Hated in the extreme, so much so that she has declared a sort of personal temporary restraining order, covering anywhere she might choose to be.”
“Surely, Stone, that would not include the offices of the law firm that represents her.”
“Surely, Bill, it would. She made no exceptions in her TRO for the premises of Woodman & Weld.”
“Well, that is unfortunate.”
“If you should have the opportunity to meet and get to know Eddie Jr., you may wish to reconsider your statement.”
“Is our Ellis Grady cognizant of Mrs. Charles’s feelings toward her stepson?”
“Ellis appears to be information-resistant where Eddie Jr. is concerned.”
“How odd.”
“Very. Mr. Grady is fairly new to us, isn’t he?”
“He joined us about three months ago, I believe.”
“It would be interesting to have a look at his application, I think.”
“I’ll call you back,” Eggers said.
Joan rapped on Stone’s door. He waved her to a seat. She looked around. “What’s going on?”
“I’m endeavoring to construct a bomb under Junior’s application for employment at Woodman & Weld.”
“Oh.”
“What are your earliest memories of your cousin, Eddie Jr.?” Stone asked.
“Well, as a boy he liked abusing small animals, like cats, but not limited to them. And he loved setting things on fire.”
The phone rang and Joan answered it. “Woodman & Weld. Hold, please.” She covered the phone. “Bill Eggers for you.”
Stone picked up his phone. “Yes, Bill?”
“Stone, thank you for your suggestion. I have examined Mr. Grady’s file, including his employment application, and have found it to include a fulsome letter of recommendation of Mr.Grady’s skills and character from Edwin Charles Sr., dated a week before he died. The original envelope was attached, and it was postmarked two weeksafterMr. Charles expired.”
“Aha,” Stone replied. “I had assumed something of the sort.”
“Mr. Grady is, as we speak, cleaning out his desk, under the watchful eyes of two of our security guards, who are examining everything he takes with him. He will be leaving our employ in exactly, let’s see... seven minutes. My secretary is typing up a letter to Mr. Charles Jr., care of the Yale Club, denying him employment, any earlier acceptance notwithstanding, and with our best wishes. Ads will appear ASAP in appropriate publications, advertising for a new personnel manager.”
“Then, in my view,” Stone said, “all is right with the world. Thank you again for your congratulatory call.” He hung up. “Joan, please keep on the lookout for other Eddie Jr. transgressions, which we will head off at the pass whenever possible. And if not, then at Boot Hill.”
“Yes, sir,” Joan said, smiling broadly.
SEVEN
As Stone was preparing to leave his office for the day, Joan came in looking flustered. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’ve just had Eddie Jr. on the phone for half an hour, berating me for having him fired. Apparently, he got back to the Yale Club and found your letter, which I had hand delivered, waiting for him.”
“Were you rude to him?”
