Stuart Woods - Dirt

“It’s Stone.”

“What the hell are you doing with her?” Hickock demanded.

“Someone has been following her, and I’m checking it out.”

“Following her? Oh, God.”

“Exactly. And I have to tell you that someone is likely to be following you in very short order.”

“What do you know that I don’t know?”

“Your wife is considering divorce.”

“How do you know that when I don’t know that?” he demanded.

“I can’t go into that, but it’s a fact. For God’s sake, don’t let her know that you know; just play it out, and for the time being, don’t go anywhere near the young lady or her apartment.”

There was a groan from the other end of the phone.

“I know that’s tough, but it’ll be tougher still if you’re seen together. I’m going to send someone over to her apartment to find out if there’s any electronic surveillance in the building.”

“If there is, can you get rid of it?”

“If there is, I’m going to leave it in place. As long as we know it’s there, it can’t hurt, and it could be useful.”

“I’ve got to see her,” Hickock said, and he sounded pathetic.

“Please take my advice, and don’t. And it would be best if you didn’t talk on the cellular phone, either, unless you’re willing to be overheard. It’s not that tough to listen in.”

“How long is this going to last?”

“Until either your wife tells you she wants a divorce, or until you make up with her.”

“God. Listen, I appreciate this.”

“I know it’s going to be tough, but you could make a bad situation a lot worse.”

“I understand. Let me speak to her.”

Stone handed the phone to Tiffany.

“Hey, baby,” she said. “I’m so sorry. Yes, I know, I feel exactly the same way, but maybe our friend has a point.”

Stone drew a finger across his throat.

“He says we have to hang up. I hope I’ll see you before very long. Me, too.” She broke the connection and put the phone back into the pocket of the fur. “Well, I guess it’s just you and me,” she said.

“Oh, no, it isn’t,” Stone replied. “I don’t know if we’ve already been seen together, but if we are it will just complicate the situation. Now we’ve got two problems – the scandal sheet and Dick’s wife, and both are very dangerous for Dick.” He pushed the martini across the table. “I have to leave now. If you see the guy again, call me immediately , and I’ll see if I can have a word with him.” He scribbled a number on a card and handed it to her. “This is my cellular number; I don’t usually carry it around, but I’ll start.” She looked awful, and he felt sorry for her. “You going to be okay?” he asked.

“No,” she said, “but I guess there’s nothing to be done about it.” She took a key from her bag and pushed it across the table. “You’ll need this if you’re going to check out my apartment. Or for any other reason you’d like to use it.”

“I hope this won’t last too long.”

“ You hope,” she said, and her eyes filled with tears.

“I’ll give you some advice,” he said, “and don’t tell Dick I said this to you. Get yourself a boyfriend, even if only temporarily. If Dick’s wife puts somebody on you, it’ll look a lot better. And,” he said, “you’ll have a lot more fun.”

She managed a small smile. “You know how a girl thinks,” she said.

I wish to God I did , he thought. He left some money on the table and left the girl sitting alone in the room, which was now beginning to fill with the noontime trade. He didn’t think she’d be alone for very long.

Stone called Dino after lunch. “Who’s your tech these days?” he asked.

“Don’t say that over the goddamned telephone,” Dino said, sounding tense. “We’ll talk in person; you free for dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Eight-thirty at Elaine’s; I’ll book.”

Dino was a little touchy, Stone thought. The detectives always had a guy around who could do illegal technical work – tapping, bugging – when they couldn’t get the job done any other way.

He worked on cases through the afternoon, having a sandwich at his desk, and just after six, when he was almost done for the day, the phone rang.

“It’s me,” Arrington said.

“Hello there.”

“I understand you’ve been hanging out with Dick Hickock’s girlfriend.”

“Oh? What makes you say that?”

“Have you checked your fax machine lately?”

“Hang on.” Stone went to the closet where the machine was kept and found a single sheet there.

DIRT

Greetings, earthlings! The plot thickens: Gorgeous Tiffany Potts, who has lately been the favorite plaything of Richard Hickock, was seen today tête-à-tête with shyster/shamus Stone Barrington, over martinis at the Oak Bar. Looks as though Dickie may have been inattentive to poor Tiff lately, which is just as well, because his dear wife, Glynnis, is on the warpath, Informed of her husband’s dalliance by us, she is Taking Steps.

Stay tuned for more!

Stone picked up the phone. “It was strictly business,” he said.

“That’s what they all say, but I believe you. Listen, I’ve spent most of the day clearing the decks of my life, and I think I’m ready to curl up with a good detective.”

“I can recommend somebody.”

“Tonight suit you?”

“I’m seeing Dino for dinner at Elaine’s, and Dino always leaves early. Why don’t you join us, and we’ll go on from there.”

“Sounds good. I’ll bring my toothbrush.”

“You do that. We’re meeting at eight-thirty, but I need half an hour with Dino. Nine?”

“Nine it is.” She hung up.

Stone allowed himself a very deep breath.

Dino sat down, and he looked pissed off. “What’s this ‘tech’ shit?”

“I need a tech to…”

“Stone, you don’t talk about that on the phone these days, not when there’s a commission looking into police corruption.”

“Sorry, Dino, I…”

“They’re all over us like flies, you know, even though the Nineteenth is clean as a whistle.”

“As far as you know.”

“I know, pal, believe me.”

“About the tech.”

“What about him?”

“I need a man to go over an apartment, see what he finds.”

“He’s not planting anything?”

“Not a thing; I just want to see what somebody else might have planted.”

“Does he have to break in?”

“I’ve got a key, and the occupant is expecting him.”

“Give me the key and the address. I’ll contact him.”

Stone produced the key and wrote down Tiffany’s name and address. “Tell him to call first and say I sent… Wait a minute. No, tell him just to show up, having already written on a piece of paper that I sent him. No names, in case the place is wired.”

“Okay.”

“What’s it going to cost?”

“Since he’s not planting anything, I’ll make him do it for five hundred.”

“Steep. I haven’t got it on me.”

“I’ll front it; you can pay me back.”

Stone had another idea. “While he’s at it, I’d like him to take a look at my place.”

Dino’s eyebrows went up. “Are we still on the DIRT thing?”

“We are, and their information is just a little too good. Come to think of it, I’d like him to take a look at Amanda Dart’s place, too, but not until he’s been to me first.”

“His name is Bob Cantor; he’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Think you can get me a better rate for the three places?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“What’s new with you?”

“Mary Ann is apartment-hunting on the East Side.”