Bel-Air Dead (Stone Barrington 20)

“He really is slimy, isn’t he?”

“I hope there’s something terribly wrong with the house you sold him,” Stone said.

She laughed. “I told him there were bats in the cellar and raccoons in the attic, but he didn’t believe me.”

“Are there?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. It will be a nice surprise for him. I put it on the disclosure form, too, but I’ll bet he didn’t bother to read it.”

“He implied that Howard Sharp somehow slanted things in his favor during the proceedings.”

“Then he deserves the raccoons and bats.”

“I think you’re well rid of Mr. Sharp,” Stone said.

“Well, I’m certainly a lot happier with you and Woodman amp; Weld,” she said. “I’m very impressed at how smoothly you’re all handling things. I would never have dreamed of asking Chase for a two-hundred-million-dollar loan.”

“The rich are different from you and me,” Stone said. “Well, from me, anyway.”

“I never paid much attention to what I have,” Arrington said, “as long as the check arrived every month, and there was enough to pay for the house and furnishings. That reminds me: the auction of all my furnishings is this weekend, so I hope to be able to fly home tomorrow.”

“I’ll speak to Mike and see that everything is ready for you.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. When I’m in the new house I want you to come and visit. It would be nice if you got to know your son a little, too. I think you’ll like him.”

“I’m sure I will,” Stone replied, though the thought of dealing with a child frightened him. “I hope I’ll know what to say to him.”

“Oh, he’s easy to talk to; easy to listen to as well.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Stone’s phone buzzed, and he answered it.

“Hi, it’s Mike.”

“Just talking about you,” Stone said.

“I hope that’s good. I just wanted you to know that all the paperwork on the airplane will be finalized by the end of business today. The pre-purchase inspection went very well indeed, only a few small things to be corrected. It’s in beautiful shape.”

“Can she fly out tomorrow morning for Virginia?”

“She can indeed. Our New York office has arranged temporary housing for her crew, while they look for something more permanent, and she now has hangar space at Charlottesville Airport.”

“You’ve done a fantastic job for her, Mike. Please send your bill to me in New York, and I’ll see that it’s taken care of.”

“There won’t be a bill; it was mostly a few phone calls.”

“You’ve done a lot more than that,” Stone said. “I owe you.”

“I have to run,” Mike said. “I’ll tell the crew to be ready for a nine a.m. departure tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Stone hung up and gave Arrington the news.

“Oh, I’m so happy about this,” she said. “I hated borrowing the Centurion jet, and I was appalled at what air charters cost.”

“You’ll be queen of the air,” Stone said. “Start making a list of places you’d like to go.”

“A happy thought.”