Swimming to Catalina (Stone Barrington 4)

“Hello?”

“It’s Arrington.”

His voice warmed. “How are you?” He had not talked with her in months, because she didn’t want him to.

“I’m okay. How did the business in L.A. turn out?”

“Ippolito goes on trial shortly after the first of the year; I’ll be going back out there to testify.”

“There was certainly enough in the papers about it. I think the Wall Street Journal was more upset than anybody.”

There was something in her voice that bothered him; she seemed to be straining for small talk.

“I still find it hard to believe that David Sturmack was involved; he and his wife were always so sweet to me.”

“They haven’t found her yet,” Stone said. “She apparently got to Panama after cleaning out the safe at their house, and she hasn’t been seen since.”

“Imagine, a woman like her on the run.”

“She’s very rich, so don’t worry about her; I’m sure she’s making some gigolo very happy.”

“Vance told me he sent you a tape of Out of Court; he had it cut especially, so you could see yourself in the movie.”

“Yes, he did. It was very embarrassing to look at.” He couldn’t take the chat anymore. “What’s happening, Arrington?”

Her voice changed. “Stone, there’s news.”

Stone flinched. He had an awful feeling he knew what was coming.

“Vance’s child was born last night.”

Stone let out the breath he had been holding. “Congratulations to both of you,” he managed to say.

“The blood tests left no doubt,” she said. “I want you to understand that; there was no need to go to DNA tests.”

“I understand,” he replied. A memory flooded over him: he was walking through F.A.O. Schwarz, the big toy store, looking for a first gift for a new baby. He snapped himself out of it. “I understand what you have to do.”

“I’m glad you do,” she said, then she started to cry.

“It’s all right, Arrington,” he said. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“I have to,” she said.

“I know.”

“Vance did pay your bill, didn’t he?” she said, incongruously.

“He reimbursed all my expenses,” Stone said. “I didn’t send him a bill; I didn’t do it for him.”

“Stone, I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did.”

“Don’t worry about that…”

“Really, Vance and the baby and I owe you so much.”

Stone was extremely uncomfortable with this. “Was it a boy or a girl?”

“A girl. Seven pounds, one ounce.”