Jack Coulter had already beenshown to a table at Café Chelsea when Stone arrived.
The two men greeted each other warmly, then took their seats.
“Apologies for making you wait,” Stone said.
“No apologies necessary. My fault for being early.”
“You’re looking well, Jack.”
“Doing the best I can with what I’ve got.”
Jack had recently turned seventy but could have passed for a decade and a half younger.
“How’s Hillary?”
Hillary was Jack’s wife.
“As beautiful as always. She’s having a spa day with some of her friends, otherwise she would have joined us.”
“Give her my regards.”
“I will.”
A waiter approached and took their order.
After he left, Jack said, “I appreciate you meeting with me today.”
“I take it there’s something you need my help with?”
Not only had Jack and Hillary been Stone’s clients for several years, but Stone considered them friends. Stone was one of only a handful of people who knew that Jack’s real name was Johnny Fratelli, and that he was an ex-con with an interesting past.
“Not something, someone,” Jack said.
“Is this person causing you problems?”
“In a manner of speaking, but it’s not the way you think. It’s our niece, Sara. Great-niece, really. Her mother was Winston’s daughter.” Winston was Hillary Coulter’s brother. “She moved to the city about a month ago.”
“Where was she before?”
“Chicago for about four years. She separated from her husband a year ago and seemed to be having a hard time getting her life restarted. Hillary convinced her to move here, and she’s staying with us until she gets back on her feet.”
“What is it you need from me?”
“Help with the getting-on-her-feet part. I know you’re good at that sort of thing. She needs a guiding hand with everything from getting an apartment to buying a vehicle to investing and making the right connections. And, of course, whatever else you think she might need.”
“I’d be happy to do that.”
“She also needs help with her divorce.”
“Does she not have a lawyer already?”
“She does, back in Chicago, but both Hillary and I think he sees her as a cash cow and has been more interested in bleeding money from her than finalizing the divorce.”
“I know just the person who can help her. Herb Fisher. You’ve met him a few times, I believe.”
“I have. Seems like a smart guy. But if I may be honest, I would be more comfortable if you handle it yourself.”
“Trust me. Herb is Woodman & Weld’s best lawyer for this. He handles all my clients’ divorce cases. Sara will be in excellent hands.”
