Page 15 of Near Miss

“You’re pretty hopeful for a man who’s just spent a night in the hospital.”

“It was sort of a high school playground fight that got out of hand.”

“Really? I heard your assailant was a professional hit man.”

“If he was, the NYPD doesn’t know about it.”

“There is a great deal that they don’t know.”

“Not so loud. Dino will hear you and take offense.”

“Put him on, and I’ll offend him directly.”

“I’m going to take a nap now,” Stone said.

“Sweet dreams.” Lance hung up.

Chapter 10

Matilda turned up as Stone was waking from his nap. Dino was still there, making an occasional call to his office.

“Aha! Matilda!” Dino said, loudly enough to bring Stone to full consciousness.

“Dino! Stone!” she cried, imitating Dino’s enthusiasm.

“Sit down, Matilda,” Dino said. “We want to interrogate you.”

“On what subject?” Matilda asked, looking alarmed.

“On the subject of Trench Molder,” Stone said, sitting up. “We need to know everything about him, especially how often he hires assassins to kill people he doesn’t like, such as my own self.”

“Okay, let’s see,” Matilda said. “I met him at a party at somebody’s house on the Upper East Side.”

“Whose party?”

“I don’t remember the name. A girlfriend had been invited, and she took me along. I do remember the host had a grand piano, because somebody was playing it, and somebody else was singing.”

“Was either of them Trench?”

“No. Trench was sitting on a stool at the piano, next to me.”

“Doing what?”

“Tryingto sing along, until the piano player told him he couldn’t carry a tune and to shut up.”

“Did he have the pianist beaten up or killed?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, since I never saw him again.”

“What were your first impressions of Trench?”

“A little drunk, funny, cute.”

“Did he introduce himself?”

“He did. And he gave me a card, which I have since discarded, before you ask for it.”

“What kind of work does he do?”

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