Ghosts of Manhattan: A Novel(52)

“And why’s he coming here?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess he gets to see more people this way. You know Jack. He’s a politician on the campaign trail.”

“Yeah. Try not to kiss him.”

I get in my chair and check to see where the market has moved on the bonds I’m following.

“Hey, Nick. Can I ask you something?” William walks up to me with a tone of voice that tells me this is something he should have apologized for long ago. This is going to be bad.

“What’s up?”

“You remember the night at the Soho Grand?”

“I do.” His timidity is putting me on edge. It would be much better if he’d blurt it out.

“Something happened that night that I’ve been dealing with. My version is what happened, not her version. But I think I need your help with it.”

“Come to the point, William. Jesus Christ.”

“I’ve been accused of assault. By a stripper. Who was there that night.”

“Rape?”

“Technically, yeah. She agrees we started consensually, but she says I got rough and she wanted to stop and I wouldn’t.”

“And what do you say?”

“It was consensual the whole way. We got into some bondage, it was a little rough but totally consensual.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” William doesn’t sound indignant. He sounds nervous. I don’t bother to ask how much coke he did that night.

“Is this the girl who was passed out in the bedroom?”

“No, she’s not one of the girls who spent the night. She left early on during the party, just after we were together.”

“Why do you need my help?”

“She wants to file charges. Criminal charges.” He’s starting to gather some indignation. “I’ve had to get a lawyer and I’ve managed to keep it from my parents and my fiancée so far. It hasn’t gone anywhere yet and my lawyer is talking to the cops and the DA’s office. He’s trying to see if the whole thing can be dropped or at least handled without charges.”

“You mean pay her money to make her go away.”

“Basically. Yes.”

“William, I don’t want any part of this. Why the hell are you talking to me?”

“I have a meeting with the assistant district attorney. He needs to decide whether or not to proceed with a case. It’s me, my lawyer, and the ADA. He’s also going to meet with the girl, but separately.”

“I’m sure he’d love to get a case off his desk. I still don’t know why you’re talking to me.”

He clears his throat. “The ADA would like to speak with you since you were at the party, at least the beginning of it. My lawyer also thinks it will help me to have a character reference.”

“If you want a character reference, try your fiancée.”

“Nick, I can’t. She can’t know about this.” He pauses. “Oh, were you kidding?”

“No.”

“Oh. Well, I can’t. She would kill me. That would end things between us. My lawyer thinks it would be good to have someone who’s known me for years. Ideally my boss.”

I lean back in my chair and break eye contact for a long time. I’m not trying to send him a message. I really don’t know yet how to handle this. “Jesus, William.”

“I’m sorry, Nick.”

We sit in silence together for a while. “Tell you what, William. I’ll talk with your lawyer first. Privately. I’m not going to lie to the DA. I’m not going to tell him you’re a goddamn saint. After I talk with your lawyer, if he still thinks it’s a good idea for me to meet with the DA, I’ll do it.”

“Okay. Thanks, Nick.” He seems just happy the conversation is over rather than truly appreciative.

A few minutes later there’s commotion over by the elevators. I know Jack has arrived on the floor. I can’t see it but I can hear distant rumbling and I know something’s happened, like standing in the stadium parking lot at kickoff. The commotion is moving closer.

“Hey, Jacko!” I hear a few other morons making catcalls.

Jack comes through a ring of people, and when he sees me, he points at me. I’m on the phone and I give him the finger and he does a belly laugh. He walks over and takes the phone out of my hand. “I’ll call you back in five minutes,” he shouts down the phone before slamming it into the cradle.

There’s no point in complaining about this, even in a joking way. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re on our way to a game. Thought I’d stop by. Press the flesh. How are you? What’s going on? Everything good?”

“Great.” I stand up and give him a hearty handshake where we’re wrapped more around the thumbs than the palms. “You look the same. Bloated and happy.”

“Hey. I’m sensitive about that. Don’t make fun.” He laughs and gives me a half hug with his right shoulder lined up with my right shoulder. It’s more of a bump than a hug.

His left hand comes around to pat my back but instead gets a fistful of my shirt and clenches it. His body tips forward and his right shoulder leans into mine and presses. “Hey, Jack. Jesus.” His face lowers so his cheek is resting on top of my shoulder. His full weight is on me so I have to drop step a foot back to hold him up. He’s mumbling words I can’t understand and it sounds like he’s saying “apple.”