Bel-Air Dead (Stone Barrington 20)
Page 79
“Those are words I don’t hear nearly often enough.”
She laughed. “Bye.” She hung up.
Stone put the offer back in its envelope and tossed it on the table. It might make a nice souvenir, he thought. He picked up the phone and buzzed Manolo.
“Yes, Mr. Stone?”
“Manolo, if a Mr. Prince phones me, I’m not available, and you don’t know when I will be.”
“Yes, Mr. Stone.” He hung up.
Dino came out of the guesthouse in fresh clothes. “Lunch?” “Don’t mind if I do,” Stone
said. He called Manolo and ordered for them. Stone showed Dino the offer.
“Wow!” Dino said.
“That’s what Arrington said.”
“Is she going to take it?”
“Nope. We’re not even going to respond.”
“I think you’d better start traveling with a bodyguard,” Dino said.
“But Dino, I have you; what more security do I need?”
“I hope you’re right, pal.”
Stone’s cell phone buzzed. He checked the caller ID before answering. “Hello?”
“It’s Harvey Stein; I have good news.”
“I can always use good news,” Stone said.
“I saw the judge this morning, and I’ve gotten Jim released on bail. His doctor says we can take him home tomorrow morning.”
“That is good news, Harvey.”
“There’s more. He signed the sales documents and the stock certificates just a moment ago.”
“That’s great news, Harvey; messenger them to me at the Calder house, and I’ll get the funds wired”-he looked at his watch-“just as soon as I receive them.”
“I’ll bring them myself,” Stein said. “Is now a good time?”
“It is,” Stone said.
“I’ll be there in half an hour.”
They hung up. “Long has signed,” Stone said, “and he got bail.” “Congratulations,” Dino said.
“Harvey Stein is bringing over the completed documents. Then I’ll call Bill Eggers and get the money wired.”
Lunch arrived, and they had just finished eating when Manolo escorted Harvey Stein out to the patio. Stone shook his hand and introduced Dino.
“Here you are,” Harvey said, handing him the documents. “Take a look and see if they’re properly executed.”
Stone went through the papers. “Perfect,” he said. “Just a moment.” He called Eggers and told him to wire the funds to Long’s account, then hung up. “Long’s account will have the funds within the hour,” he said to Stein.