Bel-Air Dead (Stone Barrington 20)

“You may have the pleasure of telling him I’m not budging, if you like.”

“Not yet; we still have to be sure we have a voting majority of the shares on our side.”

“I suppose so. Would you like to go to the Bel-Air party with me?”

“I’m already going with Mike Freeman, the CEO of Strategic Services, a client of mine, so you must join us.”

“I’d love to. Where’s Dino? Surely he’s here.”

“Out running around town,” Stone said. “Mike’s coming for drinks at six; Dino will be back by then.”

“Well, then,” she said, “I think I’ll go and have a nap. Care to join me?”

“Maybe later,” Stone said. “I want to read your estate documents.”

“Oh, all right.” She set down her iced tea, picked up her handbag, and walked toward the main house. Just before entering, she looked over her shoulder to be sure he was watching, then gave him a little smile.

20

Arrington excused herself to change for the Bel-Air Hotel party, and Stone changed clothes as well. Uncharacteristically, in L.A., he wore a suit and tie.

Mike Freeman arrived on time, and Stone sat him down by the pool and ordered drinks. “There’s someone joining us, if that’s all right,” Stone said.

“Of course,” Mike replied.

“Her name is Arrington Calder, an old friend and now my client.”

“Vance Calder’s widow?”

“Yes, and this is her house.”

“It’s extraordinary,” Mike said, looking around.

“So is Arrington,” Stone said.

She chose that moment to appear, wearing a white silk pajama suit, so Stone didn’t have to continue the description. He introduced the two.

Dino trotted past them. “I’ll change and be with you shortly,” he said, disappearing into the guesthouse.

“Mike,” Stone said, “Arrington is thinking of buying herself a jet, and I hope you can advise her, having had some experience yourself along those lines.”

“Of course,” Mike said. “We often advise clients on jet purchases. What will be your typical mission, Arrington?”

“Mission?”

“What sort of travel will you be doing?”

“Well,” she said, “I’m based near Charlottesville, Virginia, and I sometimes travel to L.A., Dallas, Miami, other cities.”

“Would you like to fly internationally?”

“Yes, to Europe.”

“How about the Far East?”

“I don’t go there very often.”

“If you don’t need to fly regularly nonstop to Tokyo or Hong Kong, you’ll save a great deal of money on an airplane by giving up range.”