Chapter 53

Stone looked up at the resident, who was stitching the cut above his eye. “Where’s the cop who was with me when I came in?” he asked.

“He’s out in the hall.”

“Could somebody ask him to come in, please?”

“You just lie quietly, and let me do my work; you can talk to him later.”

“It’s very important.”

“Shut up.”

“Are you going to call the cop in here, or am I going to have to do it myself?”

“Oh, all right. Nurse, will you get the cop in here, please?”

“Thank you.”

“Will you please shut up? We’re getting tired of seeing you in here, you know. What was it last time, a concussion?”

“Careful how you talk to me; I’ll take my business elsewhere.”

The cop walked in. “Somebody ask for me?”

“I did,” Stone said. “Will you call Lieutenant Bacchetti at the Nineteenth and tell him I’m here, please?”

“Sure thing.” The cop left.

“See how easy that was?” Stone said to the resident.

“Are you a cop, Mr. Barrington?”

“Used to be.”

“You look too young to be retired.”

“That’s what I told them, but they retired me anyway.”

“There,” the resident said. “What with your scalp wound and this one, you have seventeen stitches in your head.”

“A record,” he replied.

“I sincerely hope so.” She turned to the nurse. “Dress these two wounds, and let’s get him admitted.”

“I don’t want to be admitted,” Stone said.

The resident paused at the door. “Put restraints on him if he gives you a hard time.”

Dino walked into the hospital room. “Now what?” he demanded.

Stone had the bed cranked to a sitting position. “I want to make a complaint,” he said.

“A complaint? You look very happy to me.”

“I want to file aggravated battery charges against Thomas and Charles Bruce.”

“It’s already been done. When the cop called me I got it in the computer and onto the street.”

“So now you can arrest them.”

“Their photographs are being printed up as we speak; the next shift will be carrying them.”

“Check hotels,” Stone said. “I don’t think they’re going apartment hunting now.”

“Right.” Dino said. “You really look like shit, you know?”

“Thanks.”

“By tomorrow morning you’re going to look like you fought for the championship and lost.”

Stone shifted the ice pack on his face. “They’re looking to make some kind of a big score, Dino, but I don’t know what.”

“Another burglary?”

“Doesn’t sound like that; they’re talking big money. That’s what Tommy told his sister, anyway.”

“What I don’t understand is why they beat you up so bad.”

“I told them I fucked their sister.”

“Oh, you wanted them to kick the shit out of you.”

“You ought to see the other guy. He should have a door sticking out of his forehead; I kicked it in on him.”

“Great, that’ll really help nail them for battery, you kicking in the door of their room.”

The door opened and Arrington walked in, carrying two large suitcases. She dropped them and rushed over to the bed. “Is he dead?” she asked Dino.

“Not yet.”

“I’m just fine,” Stone said.

“Oh, sure.”

“It was just some bruising and a couple of cuts.” He tried to sit up, but winced with pain. “And a couple of ribs. What are the bags for? Are you going somewhere?”

“I’m moving in with you,” Arrington said.

“I thought you already had, pretty much.”

“The difference between ‘pretty much’ and moving in is two suitcases.”

“Oh.”

“If it were Mary Ann,” Dino said, “it would be two moving vans. That’s what it’s going to take to cart our stuff up to Sixty-sixth Street.”

“The doctor says you’re going to need two or three days in the hospital,” Arrington said.

“Fat chance.”

“You’re not going to get out of here talking like that. They said they’d let me take you home tomorrow, if I promised to keep you in bed.”

“Promise them anything.”

“Well,” said Dino, “I think my work here is done.”

“Thanks, Dino,” Stone said. “You’d better find those guys before I do.”

Dino threw up his hands. “I didn’t hear that,” he said, walking out of the room.

Arrington pulled a chair up to the bed. “What am I going to do with you?” she said.

“Take me home at the earliest possible moment, that’s what.”

“I’m so sorry I got you involved with Jonathan.”

“His name is Tommy Bruce, and you didn’t get me involved; Amanda Dart did.”

“And I’m very sorry, too,” Amanda said from the door.

“Not your fault, Amanda,” Stone said. “Take a pew. How did you know I was here?”

“I have a source in the emergency room,” she replied. “Arrington, I know this is a terrible imposition, but may I speak to Stone alone for just a moment?”

“Sure, I need some coffee, anyway,” Arrington replied, then left.

Amanda settled herself in the bedside chair. “How badly are you hurt?”

“Only superficially. I plan to get back on the horse tomorrow.”

“Stone, I asked you to drop this investigation.”

“Don’t worry, Amanda, it’s not costing you a dime.”

“I resent that.”

“Sorry, I guess I’m a little irritable today.”

“Dick Hickock and I don’t want anything else done on this, do you understand?”

“Quite frankly, no; would you explain that to me? A couple of weeks ago you were both nuts to find these guys.”

“We got over it.”

“Amanda, don’t you think it’s a little out of character for you to get over something like this?”

“I know when to cut my losses.”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“You’re going to keep looking for these people, then?”

“As soon as I can walk upright and make a fist. In the meantime, the police are looking for them.”

Amanda made a small noise.

“What?”

“Is there anything I can get you?” she asked.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“I hope you won’t continue this,” she said, standing.

“You can always hope.”

“Believe me, it’s not in your interests to do so.”

“Amanda, do you know what these guys want?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Does Hickock?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“They’re looking to make some big money; are you buying them off?”

“No.”

“Is Hickock?”

“He’s said nothing to me about it. Look, Stone, Dick has dropped the girlfriend, and he and his wife have managed to patch things up. Don’t go pulling the scabs off their wounds.”

“I’ll be as discreet as I possibly can,” Stone said.

“Thanks for that, anyway.”

“Thanks for coming to see me.”

“Good-bye, Stone.”

From her car, Amanda called Dick Hickock. “He’s not going to give it up,” she said.

“That’s his misfortune,” Hickock replied, then hung up.

Chapter 54

Tommy and Charlie Bruce spent the afternoon and evening in the movies, seeing four features in three theaters, their luggage on the seats beside them, not venturing onto the streets until after dark. They ate a late dinner at the back of a Chinese restaurant, lingering until long after midnight, then found a cab and got out a block from their destination.

“How are we going to get in?” Charlie asked as they walked quickly down the street.

“I’ve got a key to the apartment, but it’s a doorman building, and we have to get in the back way. Stop a minute.”

They put down their bags and looked up and down the block. It was after one o’clock, and there was no traffic.

“Down here,” Tommy said, trotting down a flight of dark stairs to a door. He switched on a penlight, clenched it between his teeth, and from his wallet took a set of lock picks. In less than thirty seconds they were inside. “We can’t use the elevator,” he said. “The doorman will know if we do. We’ll have to walk up.”