“I’ve got an idea about how to go about it, too.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I’ll bet Daltry already has another girlfriend. Get your people to find out who she is, then let’s turn her.”
Dino shook his head. “That’s asking an amateur to do undercover work. It could blow up in your face, might even get her killed. I’ve got a better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s get him a new girlfriend who’s trained for the work.” Dino smiled a secret smile. “You get Charley Sample to call me.”
Stone got out his cell phone and made the call. “Charley? It’s Stone. Give Dino a call, will you? He needs an official request for help with nailing Devlin Daltry.” He hung up.
A moment later, Dino’s cell phone rang. Dino flipped it open. “Why, Lieutenant Sample, how can the NYPD be of service today?”
48
Stone was back at his desk in time to catch a call.
“Herbert Fisher, Esquire, is on the phone,” Joan said drily.
Stone didn’t want to take the call, but he was curious as to Herbie’s whereabouts. He punched the button. “Hello.”
“Stone!”
“Where are you, Herbie?”
“I’m calling from the backseat of a police car, that’s where I am.”
“I didn’t know they had phones in the backs of police cars these days. What’ll they think of next?”
“No, no, they let me use my cell phone.”
“That was very nice of them.”
“Don’t you get it, Stone? I’ve been arrested!”
Stone heard another voice from the car. “You haven’t been arrested; you’re in protective custody.”
“You haven’t been arrested, Herbie,” Stone said. “You’re in protective custody.”
“What the hell does that mean? Am I in the witness protection program or something?”
“No, Herbie, it’s just that the D.A. wants you to remain alive at least long enough for you to testify against Carmine Dattila.”
&nb
sp; “Testify against Carmine Dattila? Is the D.A. nuts?”
“Herbie, you have a lawsuit against Dattila, remember? That means you’ll have to testify against him in civil court. What’s the difference if you testify in criminal court, too? If he’s convicted, it strengthens your lawsuit.”
“So I have to sit in jail until he goes to trial?”
The other voice came again. “You’re not going to jail; you’ll be in a nice hotel room with a big TV and room service.”
“Wouldn’t you like a nice hotel with a big TV and room service, Herbie?” Stone asked.
“Well, sure, but I’d like to get laid now and then.”