New York Dead

Woodman.
    “Stone, what are you going to do with yourself, now that you’re a free man?” Woodman asked in the middle of the main course.
    “I’m returning to the law,” Stone said. “It seems to be the only thing I know anything about.” He didn’t mention that he would soon be cramming for the bar exam.
    “Your career as a detective makes for an interesting background for a certain kind of lawyer,” Woodman said. “I believe Bill Eggers may have an idea for you.”
    “I had a message from him this week,” Stone replied.
    “When he’s back from Los Angeles, I hope you’ll listen to what he has to say.”
    “Surely. At this point, I’m certainly open to suggestions.”
    Edith Bonner, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. “Mr. Barrington…”
    “Stone.”
    “Stone. Of course I’m aware of what you’ve been investigating recently. I read the papers like everybody else.”
    “Why, Edith,” Woodman broke in, “I didn’t know you had to read the papers; I thought you had a direct line to the central source of all knowledge.”
    Bonner smiled. “You’ll have to excuse Frank; he’s a very bright man, but his curiosity extends only to the literal — what he can see and hear and touch.”
    “That’s right, Edith,” Woodman said.
    “What Frank doesn’t understand is that some of us see and hear and touch things that are not quite so literal. Do you see what I mean, Stone?”
    “I believe I do, Edith, but I have to tell you that my experience as a police officer has made me not unlike Frank. I tend to put my faith in what I can see and hear, and I don’t have your gifts with the less than literal.” “I believe I might be able to tell you something about what happened to Sasha Nijinsky,” Bonner said.
    All conversation ceased at the table.
    “Would this be something material, or would it be more… ephemeral?” Stone asked, trying to keep the tone light.
    Bonner smiled. “I believe you might think it ephemeral,” she said, “but I assure you it is material to me. I would not speak if I didn’t feel quite certain about what I want to tell you.”
    “I’m all ears,” Stone said.
    “I feel strongly that two persons are responsible for what happened to Sasha Nijinsky,” Bonner said.
    “Well, since two things happened to Sasha — her fall and her disappearance — it seems quite possible that two people could be involved.”
    “I was referring to Sasha’s fall from her terrace,” Bonner said, “and only one of these persons was present when she… fell.”
    “That’s very interesting,” Stone said. It’s not very interesting at all, he thought. So much for ESP.
    “I warn you, Stone,” Barker said, “Edith does not make such statements lightly. You should take her seriously.”
    “Unfortunately,” Stone replied, “I’m no longer in a position to do so, and I have no reason to believe that anyone assigned to the case would be interested in hearing from me about any theory whatsoever. Edith, if you feel strongly about this, perhaps you should contact Lieutenant Leary, who is commander of detectives at the 19th Precinct.” Bonner shook her head. “No,” she said, “he wouldn’t listen to me. I’ve done what I can, now; I’ll have no more to say on the subject.” She returned to her dinner and her silence.
    Soon the party moved back to the living room for coffee and brandy. Stone chatted at some length with Frank Woodman and found that he liked the man.
    Later, when people made a move to leave, Bonner appeared at Stone’s elbow. “There’s something I didn’t want to mention at the table,” she said.
    “Yes?”
    “Sasha Nijinsky is not finished with you.”
    “Well, I’m afraid the NYPD has finished with me.”
    “But not Sasha. There’s a connection between the two of you that you don’t seem to know about.”
    “A connection?”
    “A… well, a spiritual connection.”
    “But I never knew her.”
    “Do you think it was a coincidence that you were there when she fell from that balcony?”
    “It couldn’t be anything else.”
    “It was no coincidence. You and Sasha are bound together, and you won’t be released until she is found and you know what happened to her.”
    “Edith, I’m going to do everything I can to put Sasha out of my mind permanently.”
    Bonner smiled. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to do that.” Then her expression turned serious. “There’s something else,” she said.
    “What’s that?”
    “I feel that