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Elaine’s, late

A big night—a couple of directors, a couple of movie stars, half a dozen writers, an assortuys, drunks, hangers-on, women of substance, and some of considerably less substance And this was just at the tables; the bar was a whole other thing

Stone Barrington pushed his plate away and sat back Gianni, the waiter, snatched it away

“Was it all right?” Gianni asked

“You see anything left?” Stone asked

Gianni grinned and took the plate to the kitchen

Elaine came over and sat down “So?” she said

She did not light a cigarette To Stone’s continuing astonishment, she had quit, cold turkey

“Not much,” Stone replied

“That’s what you always say,” Elaine said

“I’”

The front door of the restaurant opened, and Bill Eggers came in

“Now soers never co for you, and he never looks for you unless there’s trouble”

“You wrong the ers over to the table, but he knew she was right For ordinary work, Bill phoned; fortasks, he hunted down Stone and usually found him at Elaine’s

“Good evening, Elaine, Stone,” Eggers said “Your cell phone is off”

“It didn’t work, did it?” Stone replied

“I gotta be soot as far as the next table

“Drink?” Stone asked

Michael, the headwaiter, materialized beside them

“Johnnie Walker Black, rocks,” Eggers said

“I have a feeling I’ to need a Wild Turkey,” Stone said to Michael

Michael vanished

“How’s it going?” Eggers asked

“You tell me,” Stone said

Eggers shrugged