Cut and Thrust

11

Stone was waiting by the pool when Ed Eagle arrived. Manolo saw to the couple’s luggage, then brought a pitcher of iced tea for Stone and his guest.

“You’re looking well, Ed.”

“You, too, Stone. I was awfully sorry about Arrington’s death.”

“I got your note, thanks, and the flowers. Is Susannah well?”

“She’s just great. She’s been developing her own films for a while now and she enjoys that.”

“She’ll have to meet my son, Peter. He and Dino’s son, Ben, are at Centurion now.”

“I’ve read about him and I’ve seen both his films. Susannah and I were impressed.”

“I’m sorry she couldn’t make lunch. My girlfriend, Ann Keaton, may join us if she can get away from work.”

“What does she do?”

“She’s Kate Lee’s deputy campaign manager, and, as you can imagine, she’s pretty busy this week.”

“I expect so.”

“Let’s give her a few minutes before we go ahead and eat,” Stone said. “Tell me, what’s going on with your ex-wife these days?”

“She remains a thorn in my flesh,” Ed said. “I won’t feel entirely safe until she’s dead.”

“Just don’t help her along.”

“It’s crossed my mind,” Eagle said. “Susannah would go up to San Francisco and shoot her on sight if I’d let her.”

Stone laughed. “That would be even worse than doing it yourself.”

“You’d think that with all the money she’s got these days she would forget about me, but, no, she hasn’t.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Stone looked up to see Ann approaching, and the two men stood up. Stone introduced them and poured her a glass of iced tea.

“I’m very pleased to meet you,” Ed said. “I hear you’re up to your neck in Kate Lee’s campaign.”

“Over my head, half the time. Oh, Stone, I was right — the photograph of Marty Stanton and Charlene Joiner made the front page of the Post! It’s also all over the West Coast papers.”

“Why hasn’t Stanton dropped out of the race?” Ed asked.

“We’re working on it,” Ann replied.

“I’d sure like to see Kate get the nomination,” Ed said. “I’ve already sent money. Stone, I hear you were in at the beginning, among the big twenty-one contributors.”

“Best money I ever spent,” Stone said, “if she gets elected.”

Ed looked around him. “This is certainly a beautiful place,” he said. “Why don’t you open an Arrington in Santa Fe?”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Stone said.

“A client of mine has a little ranch for sale near Tesuque, on the outskirts of the city, that would make a good site.”

“I’ll speak to the board about it,” Stone said. “We’re opening a hotel in Paris next year with a French partner, but we haven’t made another move in the States yet.”

“I’d be glad to work with you if you want to come to Santa Fe. Susannah and I would invest, too.”

“Let me talk to some people,” Stone said.

“I’ve never been to Santa Fe,” Ann said. “What’s it like?”

“God’s country,” Ed said. “Seven thousand feet up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, beautiful climate, great restaurants and art galleries.”

“We can stop there on the way home, if you like,” Stone said.

“Only if we lose the nomination,” Ann said. “Then I’d need somewhere to lick my wounds. But if Kate wins, then I’m going to have more on my hands than I know what to do with.”

“That gives me a terrible conflict of interest,” Stone said.

The phone on the table buzzed, and Stone picked it up. “Yes?”

“Mr. Bill Eggers for you, Mr. Barrington,” Manolo said.

“Excuse me a minute while I take this,” Stone said. He picked up the phone and walked away from the table. “Hello, Bill?” Eggers was the managing partner of Stone’s law firm, Woodman & Weld.

“Hello, Stone,” Eggers said. “I know you’re having too much fun out there, so I scared up some work for you.”

“Gee, thanks, Bill, I’m just sitting here, having lunch with Ed Eagle, and you had to interrupt.”

“Tell Ed I said hello. This could be a good client,” Bill said. “A Britisher named Charles Grosvenor is making a move to Los Angeles and he wants a law firm to represent him. Word is, they’re part of the London Grosvenor family, which includes the Duke of Westminster.”

“You’ve got a dozen good lawyers in the L.A. office,” Stone said.

“Your name came up — apparently he’s heard of you from a friend.”

“What friend?”

“I don’t know, but I’d appreciate it if you’d meet with them. They’re staying down the road at the Bel-Air Hotel.”

“All right, I’ll call them this afternoon,” Stone said. “Maybe we can have a drink later in the day.”

“That’s good. Let me know what comes of your conversation.”

“I’ll do that.” Stone hung up and went back to the table.

“Bill Eggers says hello, Ed. He also says I’m having too much fun out here, so he’s found me some work.”

“It’ll be good for you,” Ed said.

“We’ll see.”