L.A. Dead

Chapter 56

Stone found a paring knife behind the bar and cut into the sofa, just as Dino returned from the pool area.

"It's clear out there," he said. "The guy must have come up from the beach, since no traffic passed us on the way in here." He looked at what Stone was doing. "Whatcha got there?"

"Two slugs," Stone said, holding them up. "And it wasn't a guy."

Dino took the two lumps and looked closely at them. "Holy shit," he said.

"What?"

"These are mine." He held one up and pointed. "See? I made a mark there on each one, so if I ever got involved in a shootout, I'd know which slugs came from my weapon. These came from the thirty-two automatic I loaned you, Stone. How'd that happen?"

"It seems that Dolce took the gun from my house."

Dino groaned. "Are the cops coming?"

"I didn't call them," Charlene said.

"Why not?" Stone asked. "I told you to call nine-one-one."

"Two reasons: First, the tabloids would make my life hell if they found out that somebody shot up my house; second, I know who her father is."

Stone nodded. "All right."

"Also, once I had the Berretta in my hand, I figured I could handle her."

"Yeah, I thought I could handle her, too," Stone said. He turned to Dino. "Is Eduardo still in L.A.?"

Dino nodded. "At the Bel-Air."

Stone turned back to Charlene. "You want to come with us? Maybe you shouldn't stay here tonight."

"I'll come with you," she said. "I'll sleep at the studio in my RV; let me get some things." She disappeared into the bedroom again.

Stone picked up the phone, dialed the Bel-Air, and asked for Eduardo."

"Yes?"

"Eduardo, it's Stone Barrington."

"Good evening, Stone."

"It's important that I come and see you right away"

"Of course; I'll be here."

"I'll be there in an hour."

"Have you had dinner?"

"No."

"I'll order something."

"Thank you." He hung up as Charlene emerged from her bedroom, wearing jeans and a sweater and carrying a small duffel.

They drove into town, not talking much. Charlene wedged into the space behind the two front seats. Stone dropped Dino at the bungalow. "Tell Mary Ann I'm sorry I can't have dinner, but don't tell her what's happened."

"I'll send her back to Arrington's with the car," Dino said. "I'm coming with you."

"You don't have to, Dino."

"I'm coming."

"I'll be right back." He drove Charlene to her RV and got her settled there. "Will you be all right here?"

"Sure, I will. The fridge is full; I'll eat something and watch TV. Will you come back later?"

"Probably not," Stone said. "I have to take care of this."

"I understand."

"And thanks for not calling the police."

She gave him a little kiss. "Go safely." She held up the Berretta. "You want this?"

"Thanks, I have my own." He left her and drove back to the bungalow for Dino. Mary Ann was about to leave in Arrington's station wagon, and Stone traded cars with her.

"Don't hurt her, Stone," Mary Ann said.

"I don't intend to," Stone replied.

Stone drove to the upper end of the Bel-Air Hotel complex and parked the station wagon. Followed by Dino, he found the upstairs suite and rang the bell. Eduardo, wearing a cashmere dressing gown, opened the door and ushered them in.

"Good evening, Stone, Dino," he said.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Eduardo," Stone replied.

"Not at all. Come and have an aperitif; dinner will be here soon." He pointed at the bar in the living room. "Please help yourselves; I'll have a Strega." He picked up the phone and told Room Service there would be three for dinner, then he joined Stone and Dino.

Stone poured three Stregas and handed two of them to Eduardo and Dino. They raised their glasses and sipped.

"Come, sit," Eduardo said, motioning them to a sofa. "Why have you come to see me?" he asked when they were settled.

"Eduardo," Stone said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but about two hours ago, Dolce attempted to kill Charlene Joiner, the actress you met the other evening at the Regensteins'."

Eduardo winced, and his hand went to his forehead. His face showed no incredulity, simply painful resignation. "How did this occur?"

"Dolce apparently drove out to Malibu, parked her car, and approached Charlene's house from the beach. She fired two bullets through a sliding-glass door at Charlene, who was lying on a sofa, reading."

"Was Miss Joiner harmed?"

"No, only frightened."

"Do you think Dolce seriously tried to kill her?"

"I'm afraid I do, and she came very close."

"Where would Dolce have gotten a gun out here?" Eduardo asked. He seemed to be thinking quickly.

"Apparently, she took it from my house in New York without my knowledge. The gun belonged to Dino; he had loaned it to me."

"Does she still have the gun?"

Dino spoke up. "I saw no sign of it outside Miss Joiner's house, so I assume she does."

"Are the police involved?"

"No," Stone replied. "Charlene called me, instead of the police, and she has no intention of involving them."

"Thank God for that," Eduardo said. "This would have been so much more difficult."

"It's difficult enough," Stone said. "I feel responsible."

Eduardo shook his head. "No, no, Stone; something like this has been coming for a long time. If it hadn't been you, it would have been someone else."

"Why do you say that, Eduardo?" Dino asked. "Has she ever done anything like this before?"

Eduardo shrugged. "Since she was a little girl she always reacted violently if denied something she wanted."

The doorbell rang, and Dino jumped up. "I'll get it," he said.

"Dolce is all right most of the time," Eduardo said to Stone. "But she occasionally has these…" He didn't finish the sentence. "I had hoped that if she were happily married, she might be all right." He stopped talking while the waiter set the dining table, then he motioned for his guests to take seats.

He poured them some wine and waited until they had begun to eat their pasta before continuing. "She's seen a psychiatrist from time to time, but she always discontinued treatment after a few sessions. Her doctor advised me at one point to have her hospitalized for a while, but instead I took her to Sicily, and after some time there, she seemed better."

"What can I do to help?" Stone asked.

"I'll have to ask her doctor to recommend some place out here where she can be treated," Eduardo replied.

"I believe I know a good place," Stone said. He told Eduardo about the Judson Clinic and Arrington's stay there. "Would you like me to call Dr. Judson?"

"I would be very grateful if you would do so," Eduardo replied.

Stone left the table, called the clinic, and asked them to get in touch with Judson and have him telephone him at the Bel-Air. "I'm sure they'll be able to find him," he said when he had returned. "I was very impressed with Judson," he told Eduardo.

"Good," Eduardo said. "I'll get in touch with her own doctor and ask him to come out here and consult."

"I expect that, after treatment, she'll be all right," Stone said.

"I hope so," Eduardo replied, but he did not sound hopeful.

The phone rang and Stone answered it. "Hello?"

"May I speak with Stone Barrington, please?"

"Speaking."

"Stone, this is Jim Judson, returning your call."

Stone briefly explained the circumstances. "Do you think you could admit her to your clinic? Her father will be in touch with her doctor in New York and ask him to come out here."

"Of course," Judson replied. "When can you bring her to the clinic?"

"I'm not sure," Stone said. "We have to find her."

"Is she likely to be violent?"

"That's a possibility, but I don't really know."

"I'll have my people prepare, then. When you're ready to bring her here, just call the main number. I'll alert the front desk. If you need an ambulance or restraints, just let them know."

"Thank you, Jim; I'll be in touch." Stone hung up and returned to the table. "Dr. Judson will admit her," he said.

"But now we have to find her," Dino said. "Where do we look?"

Eduardo sighed. "I know where she is," he said sadly. "She's at the home of some friends of mine who are out of the country. We'll go there together."

Stone shook his head. "Dino and I can do this, Eduardo. Dolce is already angry with me; let's not make her angry with you, too."

Eduardo nodded. He found a pad, wrote down the address, and handed it to Stone. "I know I don't have to ask you to be gentle with her."

"Of course, I will be."

"But be careful," Eduardo said. "Don't allow her to endanger you or Dino."

Stone nodded and shook Eduardo's hand. "When this is done," Eduardo said, "there's something else I must talk with you about. Please call me."

"I'll call you as soon as we get Dolce to the clinic." He and Dino left before dessert arrived.