L.A. Dead

Chapter 18

STONE OPENED THE door. A steely-looking man in his sixties, carrying a large case stood on the doorstep.

"I'm Harold Beame," the man said. "Marc Blumberg sent me; you Stone Barrington?"

"Yes, come in."

"Marc didn't want to come himself; he figured there'd be press at the gate, and he was right."

"Might they have recognized you? Marc says you're well-known to the press."

"My car windows are heavily tinted, and they wouldn't recognize the car. Where's my subject?"

"She's upstairs; I'll get her in a minute." He led the man into the study. "Can I see your list of questions?"

"Sure." Beame handed over a sheaf of papers. "Marc faxed them to me."

Stone read through the list. They were tough questions, designed not for a milk run polygraph, but for learning the truth. Apparently, Blumberg wanted very much to know if his client was really innocent. "Fine," Stone said. "I'll get Mrs. Calder." He went upstairs and found Arrington at her dressing table. She was wearing a cotton shift over her bikini and was brushing her hair.

"Mr. Beame is downstairs in the study; he's ready for you."

"I'll be right with him." She seemed entirely serene.

"This is nothing to worry about; just give a truthful answer to each question."

"I'm not worried," she said. "I have nothing to hide."

Stone walked her downstairs to the study. "Do you mind if I sit in?" he asked Beame.

"I mind," Beame said. "It has to be just me and my subject; I don't want her to have any distractions."

Stone left the two of them alone in the study and walked out to the rear deck of the house. Beyond a carefully tended beach, the blue pacific stretched out before him. He took off his jacket and stretched out in a lounge chair. He'd had hardly any time to himself, and he was grateful for the break.

He thought of Dolce, and his thoughts were still angry. He felt some guilt about her, but he told himself he was now a free man. Dolce's behavior had made him want out of the relationship; he couldn't imagine a lifetime with a woman who behaved that way. He should have taken Dino's advice, he thought, and he'd certainly take it now. He would have to call Dolce and tell her flady that it was over.

He thought of Arrington, and his thoughts were not pure. They had lived together for nearly a year, and during all that time, he had been happier than he had ever been with a woman. He had been crushed when she had married Vance Calder, a fact he had tried to hide from himself, without success. Now she was a free woman again-except, she might not be free for long. He had to get her out of this mess, and if he could, then they could see if they might still have some sort of life together. He thought about the money, and it annoyed him. Eduardo Bianchi's money, and his casual gift of the Manhattan house, had bothered him; he was accustomed to making his own way in the world, and the thought of a wife who was half a billionaire was, somehow, disturbing. He thought of Arrington's son, Peter. He liked the child, and he thought he could get used to being a stepfather. He might even be good at it, if he used his own father as a model. He took a deep breath and dozed off.

Arlington was shaking him, and he opened his eyes. The sun was lower in the sky, and the air was cooler.

"We're all done," she said.

"How'd it go?"

"You'll have to ask Mr. Beame."

Scone walked into the study and found Beame packing his equipment. "Want to give me a first reaction?" Stone asked.

"Marc said I could," Beame replied. "I'll send him a written report, but I can tell you now that she aced it." He frowned. "Funny, I don't think I've ever had a subject who was more relaxed, less nervous. I don't think she was tanked up on valium, or anything like that; I can still get good readings when they try that."

"I don't think she was," Stone said.

"Anyway, if she can pass with me, she can pass with anybody."

Stone realized that his pulse had increased, and now he could relax. "Thank you; I'm glad to hear it."

Beame smiled. "It's a lot easier to represent an innocent client than a guilty one, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. When you leave, make sure that crowd at the gate doesn't see your face. I assume your windshield isn't blacked out."

"I'll wear a hat and dark glasses, and don't worry, the car is registered to a corporate name. If they run the plates, they'll come up dry."

Stone showed Beame to the door and thanked him, then he went back out to the terrace. Arrington was out of the shift, now, stretched out on a lounge in her bikini, and there was a cocktail pitcher on the table next to her.

"It's not too early for a drink now, is it?" she asked. "I made one of your favorites."

Stone poured the drinks into two martini glasses, handed her one and stretched out on the lounge next to her. He sipped the drink. "A vodka gimlet," he said. "It's been a long time."

"Poor deprived Stone," she said.

"I think I associated the drink with you."

She smiled. "I'm glad you waited until now to have one."

"You passed the polygraph with flying colors," he said.

"I know."

"You know? Arrington, you haven't been taking tranquilizers, have you?"

"Of course not. You told me just to tell the truth, didn't you?" She smiled again. "Are you relieved?"

Stone laughed. "Yes, I'm relieved."

"There was always the possibility that I'd killed Vance, wasn't there?"

"I never believed that," he said truthfully.

She reached over and took his hand. "I know you didn't; I could tell."

They sat in silence for a minute or two and sipped their drinks.

Finally, Arrington spoke. "I told you last year I'd leave Vance for you, remember?"

"I remember."

"You were terribly proper, and I was angry with you for not taking me up on it, but I must admit, I admired you for the way you behaved."

Stone said nothing.

"I'm free now, Stone; I hope that makes a difference to you."

"It does, but there's something that troubles me, and I'm not quite sure how to deal with it."

"I'm listening."

"I've spoken with Vance's accountant and lawyer, and as soon as we're past this thing with the police and the will is probated, you're going to be a very rich woman."

"Well, I suppose I assumed that," Arrington said. "How rich?"

"Half a billion dollars."

Her jaw dropped. "Half a billion? Is that what you said?"

"That's what I said. In fact, right now, you're a multimillionaire. You and Vance have a joint stock account that's currently worth more than fifteen million dollars."

"I suppose I thought that's what the whole estate would be worth. I guess I don't think about money, much. I don't even pay much attention to the trust Daddy left me."

"You don't have to think about this right now, but you will have to later on."

"I suppose so." She looked at him narrowly. "Are you troubled by my newfound wealth, Stone?"

"Well, yes. I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

"I was wealthy before, you know. Daddy's trust fund is a fat one, worth about twelve million, last time I checked. It never bothered you before.

"I didn't know the details," he replied. "I didn't know you were all that rich."

"Poor baby," she said, patting his cheek.

Stone took a deep breath. "Now, there's something about me you have to know."

"What's that?"

"You remember Dolce."

"Eduardo Bianchi's daughter? How could I forget that dinner party in Connecticut last summer?"

"Dolce and I were to have been married last weekend, in Venice."

Arrington sat up and looked at him, surprised. "Oh?"

He started to tell her about the preliminary, but thought better of it. What did it matter? "But before it could take place, I was on a plane to L.A."

Arrington placed a hand on her breast. "Close call," she said. "Whew!" Then she sat back. "Are you in love with her?"

"I'm… a little confused about that," Stone said.

She took his hand again. "Let me help clear your mind."

"I'll admit, I had misgivings, even before going to Venice, but she was pretty overwhelming."

"I can imagine," Arrington said tardy.

"Now, I think I must have been crazy. Dino has been telling me that since the moment I met her."

"Dino is a very smart man," Arrington said. "Listen to him. I know how overwhelming a moment can be; that's how I came to marry Vance. You're well out of that relationship."

"I'm not exactly out of it, yet," Stone replied. "I still have to speak to her; she's been… unavailable when I've called her. She's in Sicily."

"That's just about far enough away," Arrington said. "That should make it easier for you."

"I'm going to have to tell Eduardo, too."

"I can understand how facing him might be more daunting than telling Dolce."

"He's been very kind to me; he made it plain that he was very happy about my becoming his son-in-law."

"He's a nice man, but try not to make him angry. He would make a bad enemy, from what Vance has told me about him."

"Yes, I know; or, at least, that's what Dino keeps telling me. God knows, I don't want him for an enemy."

"Well, I wouldn't let too much time pass before squaring this with both Eduardo and Dolce," Arrington said. "It won't get any easier."

"I know," Stone replied.

The phone on the table between them rang, and Arrington picked it up. "Yes? Oh, hello, Manolo; yes, I'm very well, thank you. I'll be spending a couple of days out here." She listened for a moment. "Did the police make much of a mess? Well, I'm sure you and Isabel can handle it. Yes, he's right here." She handed the phone to Stone. "Manolo wants to speak to you."

Stone took the phone. "Hello, Manolo."

"Good evening, Mr. Barrington. A lady has been telephoning you here; she's called several times. A Miss Bianchi?"

"Yes, I know her; I'll call her tomorrow."

"She left a number."

Stone realized he had left Dolce's number in Sicily at the Bel-Air house. He took out a pen and notebook. "Please give it to me."

Manolo repeated the number; Stone thanked him and hung up.

"Dolce called?" Arrington asked.

"Yes." He looked at his notebook. "She seems to be at the Bel-Air Hotel."

"Why don't you call her from the study," Arrington said. "I don't want to hear this conversation."

"Good idea." Stone went into the study and dialed the hotel number.

"Bel-Air Hotel," the operator said.

"Miss Dolce Bianchi, please."

"One moment. I'm sorry, sir, but we don't have anyone by that name registered."

Stone was baffled for a moment, then he had a terrible thought. "Do you have a Mrs. Stone Barrington?"

"Yes, sir; I'll connect you."

As the phone rang, Stone gritted his teeth.