L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington 6)

"Then I'll show you to your suite."

The young man led the way outdoors and briskly up a walkway, asking about Stone's flight and making chitchat. He turned down another walkway and arrived at a doorway hidden behind dense plantings, unlocked it and showed Stone in.

Stone was impressed with the size and beauty of the suite, but concerned about the cost.

As if anticipating him, Goodwood said, "Mr. Bianchi has insisted that your stay here is for his account."

"Thank you," Stone said.

"I'll send your luggage along as soon as it arrives. Can I do anything else for you?"

"Please send me the New York and L.A. papers."

"Of course." Goodwood gave Stone the key and left.

Stone left the suite's door open for the bellman, shucked off his coat, loosened his tie, sat down on a sofa, and picked up the phone.

"Yes, Mr. Barrington?" the operator said.

"Would you find the number of the Judson Clinic, which is in Beverly Hills, and ring it?" he asked.

"Of course; I'll ring it now."

Apparently the hotel knew of the hospital.

"The Judson Clinic," a woman's voice breathed into the phone.

"My name is Stone Barrington," he said. "I'm a friend of Mrs. Arrington Calder. Can you connect me with her room, please?"

"I

'm afraid we have no guest by that name or anything like it," the woman said.

"In that case, please take my name-Stone Barrington-and tell Mrs. Calder that I'm at the Bel-Air Hotel, when she feels like calling."

"Good night," the woman said, and hung up.

The bellman arrived with the luggage and the papers. "Shall I unpack anything, Mr. Barrington?" he asked.

"You can hang up the suits in the large case," Stone said. The man did as he was asked, Stone tipped him, and he left.

Stone picked up the papers. Vance had made the lower-right-hand corner of The New York Times front page and the upper-right-hand corner of the Los Angeles Times. The obituary in the LA. paper took up a whole page. There was nothing in the news report he didn't already know.

Stone ordered an omelet from room service and ate it slowly, trying to stay awake, hoping Arrington would call. At eleven o'clock, he gave up and went to bed.

Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

Chapter 7

The telephone woke Stone. He checked the bedside clock: just after nine a.m. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Is this Stone Barrington?" Yes.

"This is Dr. James Judson, of the Judson Clinic."

"Good morning. How is Arrington?"

"She's been asking for you. I'm sorry the woman who answered the telephone last night didn't know that."