Bel-Air Dead (Stone Barrington 20)

“Thanks, Stone.” They both hung up.

Stone called Rick Barron and gave him the ne

ws about Jack Schmeltzer’s decision to vote his shares against the sale.

“What a relief!” Rick said. “This has been a real roller-coaster ride; what else can happen?”

“Don’t ask,” Stone replied.

36

Stone was driving back to the Calder house when his phone buzzed again. He stopped at a traffic light. “Hello?”

“It’s Carolyn Blaine; where are you right now?”

“At Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset,” he said.

“Can you meet me at a coffee shop in fifteen minutes?”

“Where?”

She gave him the address. “It’s near my office.”

“I’m on my way.” He hung up and turned left on Sunset.

“Who was that?” Dino asked.

“Carolyn Blaine.”

“What did she want?”

“She wants me to meet her in fifteen minutes. She’s nervous about talking on the phone.”

Stone drove to the address in Westwood and parked the car. “I’ll leave the a/c on for you,” he said to Dino, then got out and walked into the coffee shop. Carolyn was already at a table.

Stone sat down, and they both ordered coffee. “What’s up?” “I should ask you that,” she said. “Terry has gotten very edgy and prickly, too.”

“Why?”

“For some reason, you really get to him. Every time he sees you he comes back fuming. It’s creepy.”

“Well, I’m sorry if I’ve made life more difficult for you.”

“What did you talk about last night at Jack Schmeltzer’s?”

“Terry took me aside and talked to me about Arrington Calder’s property in Bel-Air. Thanks for passing that information.”

“You’re welcome; what did he say?”

“He offered two hundred million bucks and to build a house for her on the grounds.”

“He’ll go higher,” she said.

“How high?”

“Two-twenty-five, maybe two-fifty mil.”

“Wow.”