Stone realized that his pulse had increased, and now he could relax. "Thank you; I'm glad to hear it."
Beame smiled. "It's a lot easier to represent an innocent client than a guilty one, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. When you leave, make sure that crowd at the gate doesn't see your face. I assume your windshield isn't blacked out."
"I'll wear a hat and dark glasses, and don't worry, the car is registered to a corporate name. If they run the plates, they'll come up dry."
Stone showed Beame to the door and thanked him, then he went back out to the terrace. Arrington was out of the shift, now, stretched out on a lounge in her bikini, and there was a cocktail pitcher on the table next to her.
"It's not too early for a drink now, is it?" she asked. "I made one of your favorites."
Stone poured the drinks into two martini glasses, handed her one and stretched out on the lounge next to her. He sipped the drink. "A vodka gimlet," he said. "It's been a long time."
"Poor deprived Stone," she said.
"I think I associated the drink with you."
She smiled. "I'm glad you waited until now to have one."
"You passed the polygraph with flying colors," he said.
"I know."
"You know? Arrington, you haven't been taking tranquilizers, have you?"
"Of course not. You told me just to tell the truth, didn't you?" She smiled again. "Are you relieved?"
Stone laughed. "Yes, I'm relieved."
"There was always the possibility that I'd killed Vance, wasn't there?"
"I never believed that," he said truthfully.
She reached over and took his hand. "I know you didn't; I could tell."
They sat in silence for a minute or two and sipped their drinks.
Finally, Arrington spoke. "I told you last year I'd leave Vance for you, remember?"
"I remember."
"You were terribly proper, and I was angry with you for not taking me up on it, but I must admit, I admired you for the way you behaved."
Stone said nothing.
"I'm free now, Stone; I hope that makes a difference to you."
"It does, but there's something that troubles me, and I'm not quite sure how to deal with it."
"I'm listening."
"I've spoken with Vance's accountant and lawyer, and as soon as we're past this thing with the police and the will is probated, you're going to be a very rich woman."
"Well, I suppose I assumed that," Arrington said. "How rich?"
"Half a billion dollars."
Her jaw dropped. "Half a billion? Is that what you said?"