Stone found himself looking at his own oaken gates.Anything else? You were what — a dupe? He may already have done that. But shell wait till after the election. The name of the bar and grill that Freddie Koontz had agreed to meet us in was called The Feathered Nest and it was the kind of place that was used as a hangout by those who had reason to hang around city hall. At two oclock in the afternoon I thought I could spot three off-duty cops, a couple of lawyers, a bail bondsman, one pale man who looked hung over enough to be a reporter, and a pair of rather pretty young women who seemed to be waiting for somebody to buy them a drink. I had the feeling that almost anybody might do. Or her. Its been a while, hasnt it? he said. Six years? Somewhere. Chaddi Jugo, right? I said. Im not sure Campbell would go for that. No, I am sure he wouldnt. Nearest your hand as you opened the glove compartment? What a smart boy you are. He heard classical music for about thirty seconds before the man came back on. He said in a somewhat snarky tone,We have no record of any Helen Speers being enrolled at the law school or having just graduated, Mr. Speers. You might want to check with yourdaughter about that. Have a good day. And the last lady he employed for that purpose ended up dead. They said suicide, but I dont think she jumped into the East River all by her lonesome. Whatve you been setting up, you and the lawyers and the computer people? So, Mason said, this policy of yours of answering questions in the fewest possible words was suggested to you by the district attorney at a conference last night? As fair as its going to get..