Bel-Air Dead (Stone Barrington 20)

“Very good point,” Rivera said. “It’s doubtful that a real estate developer would have the kind of direct connections to do these things, except maybe the shanking of Long. After all, we’ve been told that Prince spoke to Carter.”

“Wouldn’t hold up in court,” Dino said.

“Stone,” Rivera said, “do you have any names of the drug people Prince is dealing with?”

“No, I was just told they’re out of Colombia and Mexico.”

“Do you think you could get some names? That might be a big help.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Stone said. “Excuse me.” He stepped away from the table and called Carolyn Blaine. “Is this a bad time to talk?” he asked her.

“Let me call you right back.”

Two minutes later his phone buzzed. “I’m here,” Stone said.

“I bought one of those throwaway cell phones,” she said. “Now the number is in your cell phone.”

“Right.”

“Always call me on this phone, not the regular one.”

“Carolyn, you said that the drug people backing Prince are from Colombia and Mexico; do you have any names?”

“The Mexican is named Ricardo Montino,” she said. “He’s based in Tijuana, I think. I don’t have a name in Colombia. Why do you ask?”

“Well, this morning, somebody torched the car of Jack Schmeltzer. Remember, you asked about him?”

“Yes, but I didn’t pass anything on to Terry.”

“And this afternoon, my rented Mercedes exploded a moment after it was started.”

“Oh, my God. Were you hurt?”

“No, Dino started the car, then got out; that’s when it blew. The police are picking up the pieces now.”

“This stuff is too crazy for Terry to be doing it,” she said. “It’s got to be the Mexican.”

“That’s why I was asking for a name.”

“I wish I could tell you more.”

“Just keep an ear to the ground and let me know what you hear.”

“All right. Are you going to accept Terry’s offer for the Bel-Air property?”

“I’ve told him the conditions, and he hasn’t met them. I don’t have anything more to say to him.”

“He’s very, very nervous,” she said. “I’ve never seen him like this. Normally, he’s the coolest guy in town.”

“Before this is over, he’s going to get a lot more nervous,” Stone said. He hung up and went back to give Rivera the name of Ricardo Montino.

40

A woman from the rental car company showed up with a brand, spanking new Mercedes E500. “We had one with the big engine,” she said.

“Thanks very much.”

“You look like the type who would enjoy the extra power.”