Worst Fears Realized

Italian.”
    “Mondavi is an Italian name,” she said smugly. “By the way, speaking of Italians, Papa would like you to come to dinner in Brooklyn tomorrow night.”
    “I’d love to. Who else is coming?”
    “Mary Ann will be there; I’m not sure about Dino. Pick me up at the house at six?”
    “Sure.”

    “What is this grand-jury thing tomorrow? What are you testifying to?”
    “I’m testifying that I didn’t murder a young woman.”
    “Is that true?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, good.”
     
    They dined on fettucini with a sauce of prosciutto, peas, and cream. Stone liked her cooking, and he was liking her more and more. There were times when she seemed steely hard, but here, in his kitchen, she was soft and funny and lovely. And God, could she cook!
    “Would you like some of Aunt Rosaria’s cheesecake?” she asked when they were finished with their pasta.
    “Yes, if you could call for an ambulance first,” Stone replied. “What with the pasta sauce and the dessert, I might as well just take the cholesterol straight into a vein.”
     
    After dinner he led her upstairs. She gave the bedroom the same inspection she had given the living room. “It’s very masculine,” she said.
    “A person of the masculine persuasion lives here,” Stone reminded her.
    “Iam aware of that,” she said, unbuckling his belt and letting his trousers drop to the floor.
    “I don’t appear to be wearing any pants,” he said.

    She pulled his shorts down to his ankles, and he stepped out of them. “Just the way I like you,” she replied.
    “I don’t think I’m going to have any, ah, problems tonight,” he said, unbuttoning her blouse and kissing her breasts.
    “I know,” she said.

59
    THE FOLLOWING MORNING, STONE METBill Eggers on the courthouse steps, and together they walked to the corridor outside the grand-jury room. “We’ll ambush Marty Brougham here,” Eggers said. They took a seat on a bench in the hallway.
    “You’re sure this is the best way to do this?” Stone asked.
    “He wouldn’t take my phone call yesterday,” Eggers replied, “so, as far as I’m concerned, it’s the only way.”
    “Whatever you say.”
    “I had lunch with Eduardo Bianchi yesterday,” Eggers said, “and he asked a lot of questions about you.”
    “Oh? What kind of questions?”
    “The kind that might be construed as coming from a prospective father-in-law,” Eggers said.

    Stone didn’t reply to that, but he felt a little queasy.
    “He wanted to know about your upbringing and education; how you’re doing financially; what your prospects are.”
    “And what did you tell him?”
    “The truth, of course. He’s not the sort of man you lie to.”
    “And how did he react?”
    “It’s funny, but I’ve known Eduardo for a while, and I’ve never heard him express a favorable opinion of anyone until yesterday. Of course, he’s a very reserved man, and polite, and I’ve rarely heard him express an unfavorable opinion, either, but I have to say, I was surprised.”
    “That someone would have a favorable opinion of me?”
    Eggers laughed. “Not someone; Eduardo. He’s not easy to impress.”
    Stone was about to inquire further about this conversation when a hubbub arose down the hallway, and he looked around to see Martin Brougham walking slowly down the hallway, surrounded by half a dozen reporters. As he approached, Eggers stood up; Stone remained seated.
    “Good morning, Marty,” Eggers boomed, apparently oblivious to the press. He stuck out his hand, and Brougham was forced to shake it.
    “Morning, Bill; if you’ll excuse me…”
    “Marty, I heard that you were interested in subpoenaing Stone Barrington, so I’ve saved you the trouble and brought Stone down here for you toquestion before the grand jury,” He beckoned to Stone.
    Stone stood up and offered his hand to Brougham. When the man took it, Stone hung on. “Good morning, Mr. Brougham,” he said, loudly enough for microphones to pick up. “I’ve come down here voluntarily to answer any questions you may have about my relationship with Susan Bean and my actions on the night she was murdered. Do you think you could take me first this morning?”
    Brougham was flustered but tried not to show it. “I’ll, uh, see what I can do, Mr. Barrington,” he said. “And I appreciate your volunteering to testify.”
    “I absolutelyinsist on testifying,” Stone said, still hanging on to the man’s hand. “You’ll remember that I told you some