Bel-Air dead

35

The pianist returned to his work, and Stone moved out of the corner and back into the thick of the party.

Jack Schmeltzer, his host, reappeared. “Why don’t we step out onto the deck for a moment?” he said to Stone.

“Of course,” Stone replied. They moved through the French doors and onto the now-empty expanse of teak overlooking the Pacific.

“I know, of course,” Schmeltzer said, “of the controversy over the sale of part of the Centurion property.”

“I suppose word has gotten around,” Stone said.

“I invited Terrence Prince here this evening to get a close look at him. We don’t move in the same circles.”

“I’m not sure what circles Mr. Prince moves in,” Stone said, “though I did notice that he brought more than himself to your dinner party.”

“Yes, he told me they are all ex-Secret Service agents.”

“Did he mention why he felt he needed that sort of security?”

“I asked him that,” Schmeltzer replied, “but he was evasive. Quite frankly, from what I’ve been hearing, there are people around who need protection from Prince. Are the rumors true?”

“I’m not entirely certain which rumors you’re referring to,” Stone said. “Can you be more specific?”

“The rumors about Jennifer Harris and Jim Long.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve heard those particular rumors, too,” Stone said. “I’m inclined to give them a certain degree of credibility.”

“You know,” Schmeltzer said, “I knew Vance Calder pretty well; I produced three pictures with him, and I liked him a lot. If Vance were still alive, I would be on his side of this deal.”

“How do you feel about his widow?” Stone asked.

“I’ve met her once, and she was charming, but I don’t really know her.”

“I see”.

“I’ll tell you this, though: having now seen Mr. Prince up close, I like Arrington Calder more than him.”

“Are you a shareholder, Jack?”

“I own fifteen thousand shares.”

“Are you interested in selling them?”

Schmeltzer gazed out to sea. “What do you hear from Jim Long?” he asked.

“I hear he’s in and out of consciousness but not well enough to make a business decision.”

“And you need his shares for a majority?”

“That’s correct.”

“Do you know the reason for this dinner party, Stone?”

“No, I’m afraid not.”

“I opened a picture last weekend, Window Shade.”

“I hope it’s doing well.”

“It brought in sixty-five million dollars domestic for the weekend. It’s the biggest hit of my career, and I think it’s going to have legs both in this country and around the world.”

“I congratulate you.”

“I made that picture at Centurion for a third less than it would have cost to produce at a major, and it’s going to make me rich beyond my fondest dreams.”

“I congratulate you again.”

“The fact is, when I agreed to sell my shares to Prince, I did it because I needed the money to make my next film. Now I don’t need the money.”

“And?”

“I won’t sell Arrington my shares, but I’ll vote with her and Rick Barron against the sale.” Schmeltzer offered his hand. “You have my word on it.”

Stone took his hand and shook it warmly. “Thank you, Jack. That means that Centurion is going to be the studio you’ve always known, both for your next picture and the one after that, and for a long time to come.”

Schmeltzer smiled. “Let’s go get some dinner.”

They walked back into the living room where a line was forming for a huge buffet at one end. Stone found Charlene. “Hungry?” he asked.

“Always. How did you and Jack get along?”

“Famously,” Stone replied.

“Is he on board?”

“I believe he is.” Stone looked at her. “Did you have anything to do with his change of heart?”

“Well,” she said, “this afternoon I fucked his brains out.”

Stone burst out laughing.

Dino and Hetty joined them in the buffet line. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Tell you later,” Stone replied.

“You look awfully relaxed,” Dino said.

“I think I’m more relaxed than at any time since we arrived in this town,” Stone replied.

Dino looked at Hetty. “I’m planning to get more relaxed myself.”

The four of them sat at Charlene’s breakfast table the following morning.

“Feeling relaxed, Dino?” Stone asked.

“You bet your ass,” Dino replied, and the women laughed.

Stone’s cell phone buzzed, and he stepped out of the room to take the call. “Hello?”

“Stone, it’s Harvey Stein; Jim Long is conscious, and his doctor says he’s going to make a complete recovery.”

“That’s s good news, Harvey. Thanks for letting me know.”

“I’m going to wait a day or two before asking him to sign the documents and transfer the shares. I want to be sure that he’s right on top of things before such a big move.”

“That’s fine with me, Harvey; we’re not so much under the gun now.”

“Why is that?”

“We’ve rounded up another fifteen thousand shares to vote with us.”

“Do you still want to buy Jim’s shares?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Well, that’s a relief; he certainly needs the money.”

“Has anything developed on the case against him?”

“I’m going to use his condition to try and get him bail, so he can recuperate at home. And once the prosecutor hears he’s in the money again and can fight back, I think I can get the case dropped. They’re really after Barbara Eagle.”

“I understand, and I wish you luck. Let me know when Jim has completed the sale, and I’ll get the funds wired.”

“Thanks, Stone.” They both hung up.

Stone called Rick Barron and gave him the news about Jack Schmeltzer’s decision to vote his shares against the sale.

“What a relief!” Rick said. “This has been a real roller-coaster ride; what else can happen?”

“Don’t ask,” Stone replied.