Betty consulted a steno pad. "Nearly done," she said, "and opinion is running about two to one against Arrington."
"Swell," Stone said. He looked at his watch. "I've got to run; I'm meeting Marc Blumberg at the house."
Stone took the rear entrance, then watched through a front window as Marc Blumberg drove very slowly through the mob of press, through the gates, and up to the house. The lawyer certainly knew how to make an entrance.
Arrington appeared from the bedroom just as Blumberg entered the house. She gave Stone a peck on the cheek, then shook hands with Blumberg.
"How are you, Marc? It's been a long time."
"I'm teriffic, Arrington, and I hope you are, too."
"I'm all right, I guess. How is Arlene?"
"Very well."
"Tell her I miss my yoga class with her."
"I know she misses you, too."
Manolo stepped up. "May I get you anything, Mr. Blumberg?"
"No thanks," Blumberg replied. "Let's get down to work. Arrington, I want to talk with you alone at some length; where can we do that?"
"Vance's study would be a good place," she replied. "Can Stone be there?"
"Sorry, this is just you and me." He took a folder from his briefcase and handed it to Stone. "You might take a look at this while we're talking. We'll be a while."
Stone accepted the folder and watched as Arrington led Marc Blumberg into Vance's study and closed the door. He asked Manolo for some iced tea, then went out onto the rear terrace, took a seat, and opened the folder. Inside was the medical examiner's report on Vance Calder's autopsy.
Manolo brought the tea and left him alone. He began to read. Death as the result of a single gunshot to the right occipital region of the head. No news there. Subject a well-developed male of fifty-two years, seven months, six feet two, a hundred and ninety pounds. Stone's own height and weight. Drugs present in bloodstream: Zyrtec, an antihistamine; alcohol content:.03, a drink or two.
He was surprised at the number of scars found on Vance's body: two-inch scar over left collarbone-sutured; one-and-one-half-inch scar, inside of left wrist, unsutured, secondary tissue present; two-and-one-half-inch surgical scar, right shoulder; one-inch abdominal surgical scar; three-inch surgical scar, left knee, two-inch scar, sutured, right thigh; several small scars on both hands. X rays revealed some old broken bones-right femur, left tibia, and a broken nose. That, he reflected, had given Vance's face additional character, kept him from looking pretty. All in all, though, it sounded as though Vance had lead a rougher life than that of a pampered movie star. He noted the absence of any cosmetic surgical scars. Vance Calder had been the real thing.
* * *
More than an hour passed before Arrington and Marc Blumberg emerged from the study. Arrington looked decidedly pale and shaken, while Blumberg was his usual, cool, well-pressed self.
"I'm going to go lie down for a few minutes," Arrington said, and went into the bedroom.
"Well," Stone said, "do you think she's innocent?"
"She's my client," Blumberg replied, "so she's innocent."
"Come on, Marc, I want an opinion. So far, everybody I know except me thinks she did it."
"It doesn't matter," Blumberg said.
"It doesn't matter?"
"Not to me, Stone; but then I'm not in love with her."
Stone was surprised at this, but he said nothing.
"She's innocent until proven guilty, and I'm going to keep her that way."
"How are you going to handle the D.A. on Saturday?"
"I'm not going to handle him," Blumberg replied. "I'm going to stay out of his way, and let him at her."