Cut and Thrust

12

Stone called the Bel-Air and was connected to Grosvenor’s suite. A young woman with an upper-class English accent answered the phone.

“Ah, yes, Mr. Barrington,” she said. “Mr. Grosvenor is out at the moment, but he asked if you could meet him at the Bel-Air for a drink later today.”

“Of course.”

“Five o’clock, in the bar, then?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Mr. Grosvenor looks forward to meeting you.” She hung up.

The bar at the Bel-Air was virtually deserted when Stone arrived, wearing a necktie for the occasion, and he looked around, then selected one of two chairs by the fireplace, where a small blaze lit up that side of the room. A moment later, a tall, beautifully dressed, distinguished-looking man, fiftyish, entered the room, spotted him, and walked over.

“I expect you must be Mr. Barrington,” he said, smiling, “since you’re the only person here.”

Stone rose to greet him. “I am Stone Barrington,” he said.

Grosvenor took the other chair, and Stone waved at a waitress who was loitering by the bar, waiting for business to pick up. “What may I order for you?” Stone asked as the waitress arrived.

“A Laphroaig,” Grosvenor said, “no ice, please, just a little cool water.”

“And a Knob Creek on the rocks,” Stone said to her, and she disappeared.

“Welcome to Los Angeles,” Stone said.

“Thank you. We’ve been here many times, of course, but we’ve come this time to purchase a residence and settle.”

The waitress returned with their drinks, then left.

“Bill Eggers said that someone had referred you to me.”

“Ah, yes, a New York friend, Emerson Wilson.”

Stone had met the man at a dinner and talked with him for half the evening, but that was it. “Of course.”

“I regard Emerson as a keen judge of character,” Grosvenor said, “and he regards you as a good man to deal with.”

“I’m flattered,” Stone said. “What sort of services will you require from Woodman and Weld?”

“Perhaps you might tell me how your firm could best serve?”

“We can provide you with essential legal services, including finance and tax assessment. We can introduce you to a reputable investment adviser and a realtor to help in your search for a residence. We can also help you deal with any immigration issues you may have.”

“Oh, that’s not a problem for us — my wife is an American citizen.”

“That makes things much simpler. Where do you currently reside, Mr. Grosvenor?”

“In Eaton Square, London, and we have a country house near Chester.”

Stone recalled that Eaton Square was owned by the Duke of Westminster and that his family seat was near Chester. “And how soon do you plan to relocate?”

“You might say that, having arrived, we have already relocated. All we need is a house to complete the move.”

“Have you chosen a neighborhood?”

“We quite like Bel-Air,” Grosvenor said.

“You understand that I work in the New York office of Woodman and Weld and that I live in that city.”

“Quite.”

“There are a dozen partners in our Los Angeles offices. I think it’s best that I introduce you to one of them tomorrow and that he begin to assess your needs and make recommendations.”

“I was rather hoping that you could be involved.”

“Of course, but I think it’s best that you have an attorney on the ground in Los Angeles. I can be available in New York whenever I’m needed.”

“Do you not have a residence in Los Angeles?”

“I do, at The Arrington, just up Stone Canyon, but I’m normally here only two or three times a year. I may be here more often now since my son is living here, working as a film director at Centurion Studios.”

“Ah, Hollywood. That interests me.”

“Well, you’ll see a lot of it in Los Angeles,” Stone said. “Are you available for lunch tomorrow?”

“I believe so.”

“Let me invite a partner to join us who is more savvy about living in California. He will be up to date on taxes, for instance.”

“Of course. What is his name?”

“I have in mind Thomas Wise, our managing partner here. He’s a native Angeleno and a very knowledgeable attorney.”

“May I bring Mrs. Grosvenor?”

“Of course. Would you like to have lunch in the garden here? Say, at one o’clock tomorrow?”

“That would be delightful.”

Stone set down his glass, stood up, and offered his hand. “Until tomorrow at one, then.”

“Good day,” Grosvenor said. He left the bar, leaving Stone to deal with the check.

Back in the car he phoned Tom Wise.

“Good afternoon, Stone.”

“Good afternoon, Tom. I think Bill Eggers must have alerted you to the possibility of an important new client?”

“He did.”

“I’ve made a lunch date with him and his wife for tomorrow at one in the garden at the Bel-Air.”

“That’s fine. Will you be joining us?”

“I will, then I’ll hand off to you. His name is Charles Grosvenor, of Eaton Square, London.”

“Family connection to Westminster?”

“I assume so but have no real knowledge. Perhaps you can pry it out of him.”

“What’s his wife’s name?”

“He didn’t say, but she’ll be at lunch. Will your secretary book the table?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Tom. See you tomorrow.”

Stone called Eggers.

“And did you meet your new client?”

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s Tom Wise’s new client,” Stone replied. “I told Grosvenor I’d be available for consultation from New York.”

“Did that put him off?”

“Didn’t seem to.”

“Did he say that he was related to the Duke of Westminster?”

“No, but he did say that he lives in Eaton Square and has a country place near Chester. That puts him in the duke’s neighborhood. Are you coming out for the convention?”

“Can you put me up?”

“No, I’ve got Dino, Mike Freeman, and Ed Eagle staying. I can try to do something at The Arrington for you.”

“Okay, let me know.” He gave Stone his dates.

Stone called the manager and found Eggers a suite and got him some tickets for the gala.