Bel-Air Dead (Stone Barrington 20)

“If you were my attorney, you’d tell me not to answer that,” she said.

“Then it must be something pretty bad.”

“A lot of people in business have done bad things,” she said. “Happens all the time.”

The waiter arrived with menus and told them the specials. When he had gone, Stone said, “If you find yourself in a compromised position because of something Prince is doing, feel free to call me,” he said, giving her his card. “Knowing too much can sometimes be felonious.”

She tucked the card into her bra. “Good point,” she said. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

After a good dinner he took her home and gave her a fairly chaste goodnight kiss. She didn’t invite him in, and he didn’t press the issue.

12

Stone and Dino were having breakfast the following morning when Manolo brought an envelope to the table.

“A fax for you, Mr. Stone.”

Stone opened the envelope and took out Arrington’s financial statement.

“What’s that?” Dino asked.

“It’s a list of all of Arrington’s assets and liabilities, in detail, and a statement of her net worth.”

“So, what’s she worth?”

“Sorry, pal, that’s a client confidence.” Stone began looking through the statement. It was pretty straightforward, even if the numbers were large. She owned her house in Virginia, which she valued at twenty million dollars, the Bel-Air house, valued at fifteen million, her Centurion stock, which she had valued at two billion, but which might end up worth half again as much, a securities account with Chase Private Bank in New York, valued at one point two billion, and cash balances in her various accounts at Chase of just over two million.

Stone’s breath was taken away. Even without the Centurion stock, Arrington was a billionaire. He felt a new respect for the intelligence and business acumen of Vance Calder, who had obviously used his earning power as Hollywood’s greatest star over nearly half a century very wisely indeed. He also realized that, for him, Arrington’s wealth was the key to a new kind of relationship with Woodman amp; Weld.

Stone had always been the firm’s outside man, available to take the cases Woodman amp; Weld did not want to be seen to be involved with. He had always been well compensated, but given his lifestyle, he had never been able to accumulate much wealth beyond his possessions. Then a few months ago, he had brought a very profitable new client, Strategic Services, to the firm, earning himself a million-dollar bonus for the previous year. Bill Eggers had dangled a partnership before him, but had not mentioned it since. Neither had Stone, but now was the time.

Dino excused himself to go and get dressed, and Stone picked up his phone and dialed Bill Eggers.

“Good morning, Stone.”

“Good morning, Bill. Have you a few minutes to talk?”

“Of course, Stone, always for you.”

Although they had been friends for more than twenty years, this was a little more cordiality than Stone was accustomed to from Eggers. He seized the moment. “Bill, I’m sure you will recall the generous bonus the firm gave me a few months ago, when I brought Strategic Services into the fold.”

“How could I forget it?” Eggers asked.

“And I’m also sure you’ll recall the encouragement you gave me regarding a partnership at Woodman amp; Weld.”

Eggers took a couple of beats before replying. “I believe I raised that as… a possibility, at some time in the future.”

“I believe that time has come, Bill.”

Eggers emitted a low chuckle. “I divine that the work you’re doing for Arrington Calder has given you new confidence, Stone.”

“Let’s just say that it raises the… possibility of an important new client for Woodman amp; Weld.”

“How important a client?”

“One with a net worth in the range of four billion dollars.” Stone heard a sharp intake of breath.

“Would we be representing her in the Centurion deal?”