"Be there at eleven. I'll call you around noon at the studio." Blumberg hung up.
Stone made himself some breakfast, then packed his bags, put them into the car, then showered and dressed in a guest bathing suit. He grabbed a towel and left the house by the front door. He walked down a couple of houses and cut through a yard and onto the beach.
It was a beautiful California morning, and Stone enjoyed the walk. He was passed by other people in bathing suits, joggers, and people walking their dogs. He got to the restaurant a little early, had a cup of coffee, then walked out into the parking lot. An attractive young woman was standing beside the Mercedes, waiting.
"Good morning, I'm Stone Barrington," he said, offering his hand.
"Hi, I'm Liz Raymond, one of Marc's associates," she replied.
"Can I drop you anywhere?"
"I'll be picked up here," the woman said. "Nice swimsuit."
"Thanks, it's borrowed."
"See you later," she said, as a car pulled up. She got into it and was driven away.
Stone drove to Centurion, gave the guard at the gate a wave, and drove to the bungalow. He walked inside with his bags to be greeted by an astonished Betty Southard.
"Well, now," she said, "you've just topped Vance. He never walked in here in a bathing suit."
"It's a long story," Stone said.
"I'll bet, and I've got all day," she replied.
Chapter 21
Stone explained his appearance, then he pointed at three large canvas bags on the floor near Betty's office door. "What are those?" he asked.
"Arrington's mail," she said.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"After Vance's death, his fans kept writing. I've got two girls in the back room sorting it now. Those are the bags we haven't gotten to yet."
"I don't believe it."
"Well, believe this: Right now, opinion is running about sixty-forty in favor of
Arrington being a murderess."
" 'Murderess,' that has a quaint Victorian ring to it."
"I guess I'm just a quaint, Victorian girl," she replied.
Stone picked up his bags. "Where's the bedroom?" he asked. "Marc Blumberg wants me to move in here."
"Somewhere the Inquisitor can't find you?"
"I was just hugging her," he lied.
"Come on, I'll show you." She led the way down a hall and into a comfortably furnished bedroom with an adjacent bath and dressing room. "Want me to unpack for you?" she asked.
"Thanks, I can manage," he replied, laughing. "Go back to your mail; I want to get dressed." Betty left the room, and Stone got out of the swimsuit and into some clothes.
Betty appeared in the doorway. "Marc Blumberg's holding a press conference on TV." She switched on a set at the foot of the bed, and the two of them sat down to watch it as, on television, a secretary opened a set of double doors and the press poured into Blumberg's office, where he awaited them, seated behind an impressive desk.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," Blumberg said, remaining seated. "I have a brief statement for you regarding the investigation into the death of Vance Calder. Can we hold the flash cameras until I've finished, please?"