Contraband

25

Max leaned back in the passenger seat of the Mercedes 300S and let the wind blow through her hair. She liked riding in the beautiful car, but she was happy not to own it or to pay for the insurance. Stone was at the wheel, dressed in a business suit and a tie.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To an annual stockholders’ meeting,” he replied.

“Gee, that sounds like fun. Is that why I’m wearing a dress?”

“Well, you’d certainly look better without it, but we have to preserve decorum.”

“This is for the movie studio?”

“Yes, Centurion Studios. Have you ever visited a movie studio?”

“Nope.”

“It’ll be fun; trust me.”

“Okay.”

“You were crazy to sell me this car,” Stone said. “It’s wonderful.”

“I’m just as happy with the money as you are with the car.”

“Clark Gable used to own one just like it,” Stone said.

“Who?”

Stone looked at her as if she were crazy. “C’mon, you’re not that young.”

“I’m just twisting your tail a little,” she said. “I saw Gone With the Wind.”

“I’m relieved to hear it.”

“On TV.”

“I hope it was a very big-screen TV.”

“Nope, but I liked it anyway. Scarlett reminded me of me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Stone said, warily.

“I’m a little chilly,” she said, tugging at his jacket. “Do you mind if I put my hand in your pocket?”

Stone laughed. “You did see the movie, didn’t you.”

“I could recite it for you, if you like.”

“We don’t have time,” Stone said, turning through an impressive stone and wrought-iron gate and stopping at a security booth.

“Hi, there, Mr. Barrington,” the guard said.

“Hi, Tim. I need a new window sticker.”

“Got a new car, huh? Nice!” Tim affixed the studio pass to the inside of the windshield. “There you go, and here’s a visitor’s pass for your guest.”

Stone clipped it to Max’s dress and drove on. “I’ll give you the scenic tour,” he said.

“Oh, goody!”

He drove her through the streets of standing sets: a New York neighborhood, a courthouse, a small-town square with a fountain. They finished up at the administration building, parked in a space with Stone’s name on it, and went inside. They were directed to a large hall that was the executive dining room, except that today it was full of rows of chairs. The meeting was being called to order, and they took seats in the front row.

An hour later, as Max was about to doze off, the meeting adjourned and everyone streamed out of the building and onto waiting caravans towed by electric carts. They were driven to a soundstage and then walked onto the huge set of a barn. A country band was playing at one end, and a long table was set up with barbecued pork, beef, chicken, and all the trimmings. They got plates, filled them, and took seats on a bale of hay at the end of the table opposite from the band.

“These folks know how to throw a party, don’t they?”

“They certainly do.”

“Oh, I have news from Key West,” she said.

“Shoot.”

“Al Dix turned up, riding a bicycle on Duval Street with one arm in a sling, and very alive.”

“One mystery solved,” Stone said.

“Yes, but not all the mysteries. We still don’t know who South Florida Import & Export is, and they’ve sold their hangar — we don’t know who to.”

“Or what was in all those Halliburton suitcases.”

“My partner, Tommy, found one of those in a dumpster outside the hangar, after it had been cleaned out. Empty, of course, but damaged. Looked like somebody had opened it with a crowbar.”

“That’s what it would take, if you don’t have the combination.”

“Tommy said it smelled nice.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Stone asked.

“I have no idea, he just said it.”

“Well, anyway, you’re getting more police work done in L.A. than you did in Key West.”

“That’s because my partner is doing it. He also suspects our captain of being on the take.”

“Careful, there. Police captains don’t like being suspects. He might do something about it.”

“Don’t worry, Tommy’s experienced in the ways of superior officers.”

“I hope so. I got bounced off the NYPD by one or more superior officers, but at least I got a medical discharge with a nice pension attached to it. Tommy might not be so lucky, unless he keeps his mouth shut.”

“I’ll mention it to him when we speak again.”

That evening, Stone’s and Dino’s sons arrived at the Arrington house with their wives. Introductions were made for Max. They had drinks by the pool and dinner in the house, served by hotel staff.

“I didn’t see the boys at the stockholders’ meeting,” Max said.

“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce them then, but they had people to talk to who were at the meeting.”

“They’re both very handsome,” she said, including Dino in her comment.

“That’s because Ben favors his mother,” Stone said. Dino threw a roll at him.

After dinner, Max found a quiet corner and called Tommy.

“Funny you should call,” Tommy said. “We’ve just moved into our new home. There are boxes everywhere.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Max said. “Can you talk for a minute without your wife hearing?”

“She’s upstairs, unpacking our clothes. Shoot.”

“Have you looked into anything about the captain’s activities?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s a relief. You know, Key West is a small town. If you start asking questions, it will get back to the captain — and that’s guaranteed.”

“I’ll be cautious.”

“Don’t be cautious, just don’t do anything until I get back, then we’ll do it together.”

“You think I’m crazy?”

“No, but you’re careless sometimes. I want to be there to watch your back.”

“Okay, no investigating, I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that. Now go help your wife.” She hung up, feeling better after what Stone had said.