Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 12

police department, though I could easily have done so, and you would never accept any gift from me, insisting that everything be in Anna Maria’s name. I realize now that you are being divorced, that works to your disadvantage.”
    Dino shrugged. “All I want is shared custody of Benito,” he said.
    â€œYou will have that,” Eduardo said. “I do not approve of divorce, being a good Catholic, but I understand that people can come to a place in their lives where they can no longer live together, and I see little reason to deny them remarriage at some point. I once put that directly to the Pope, who was unhappy with me for a while, as a result.”
    Dino thought that the Pope would have been at a disadvantage, arguing with Eduardo.
    â€œYou are aware, are you not, that Anna Maria has worked very hard at investing the money that came to her when she was twenty-one?”
    â€œWe never discussed that,” Dino said. “I told her I didn’t want to know.”
    â€œI understand your position, but I assure you that the funds she started with came from entirely legitimate sources, and that that can be documented to the satisfaction of the New York Police Department or even the Internal Revenue Service.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear it,” Dino said.
    â€œYou have lived a long time in an unhappy marriage,” Eduardo said, “and the law entitles you to an equitable division of property.”
    â€œI don’t want her property,” Dino said, though the thought of existing on a lieutenant’s salary and benefits did not thrill him.
    â€œAnna Maria was able to do so well with her investments because you insisted on supporting her. That way, she could devote all her capital to making more.”
    Dino shrugged.
    â€œYou are morally entitled to leave this marriage with more than you earn as a policeman,” Eduardo said, “so I have made certain arrangements.”
    Dino said nothing but started in on the veal that had been placed before him.
    â€œAnna Maria’s holdings now amount to about eleven million dollars, including the value of the apartment you shared, which was bought with earnings from her money. Tomorrow, a million dollars of her holdings will be placed in the trust that you set up at Benito’s birth and to which you would never allow me to contribute. This will be used as you have specified, for his education, and anything left over can be used to buy a home after he is twenty-five, though surely by that time he will have come into a considerable inheritance from me.”
    â€œThat’s very generous of her,” Dino said. This was Eduardo’s move, of course, not Mary Ann’s, but it lifted a load from his mind.
    â€œFurther, five million dollars of her funds go to you, as a complete and total settlement. I know you do not want any part of the apartment or any other wealth deriving from me.”
    â€œThank you for understanding that, Eduardo,” Dino said. “And I don’t want her money.”
    â€œFive million of it is your money, Dino,” Eduardo said, “and it was placed in your checking account this morning.”
    Dino put down his fork and stared at Eduardo.
    â€œI can hear the gears turning in your mind, Dino,” the old man said. “You are trying to figure out how this money is ill-gotten gains, but I assure you none of it is. It is a reasonable and proper settlement of your divorce; it will stand up to any possible scrutiny by the department, the district attorney or the state and federal tax authorities, and I will not tolerate its return.”
    Dino had never heard Eduardo use the words “I will not tolerate,” and they stopped him in his tracks. “I am uncomfortable with this,” he said, when he had found his voice.
    â€œI know, but you will grow more comfortable with it as your life grows more comfortable, particularly when you are as old as I. You can now purchase a home of your own, where Benito can visit you regularly and have his own room. If you wish to invest the rest, I will be pleased to recommend someone who I can guarantee will not steal from you or charge unreasonable fees.”
    Dino stared at his father-in-law again.
    Eduardo held up a hand. “Please,” he said. “I ask this of you as a favor. Make an old man happy.”
    Dino sighed. “All right. And thank you, Eduardo.”
    Eduardo snapped his fingers and a man with a