"No; I don't even know his name."
"Daniel Pike; big-time producer/director."
"I've heard of him."
"You know any of her friends?"
"Blumberg says she's friendly with a group that hangs around with Charlene Joiner."
"Joiner, the movie star?"
"One and the same."
"We'll talk to her."
Rick spoke up. "Anything else you fellows require of Stone?"
"Not at the moment."
"You can reach me through the switchboard at Centurion Studios," Stone said. "I've got a temporary office there, and here's my New York number." He handed them his card.
"You here for long?"
"Until the Calder thing is done."
"Good luck on that one," Goldman said. "I hear the wife is toast."
"Don't believe everything you hear," Stone said.
He and Rick turned and walked back to their cars.
"Thanks for coming over here, Rick," Stone said. "They might not have been as nice, if you hadn't been here."
"Glad to do it. Stone, do you know something you didn't tell those guys?"
"No, that's everything."
"Good," Rick said, shaking hands. He got into his car and drove away.
Stone got back into his car. Well, almost everything, he thought. He had one other thought, but it was completely crazy, and he dismissed it.
Chapter 42
Back at THE STUDIO bungalow, Stone called the Centurion switchboard. "Good morning, this is Stone Barrington, at the Vance Calder bungalow."
"Good morning, Mr. Barrington," a woman replied, "how can I help you?"
"Can you tell me if Charlene Joiner is working on the lot today?"
"Yes, she is; shall I connect you to her dressing room?"
"Thank you, yes."
The phone rang, and an answering machine picked up. Charlene's honeyed southern voice said, "Hey. I'm shooting, or something, at the moment, but I'll get back to you, if you're worth getting back to." A beep followed.
"Charlene, this is Stone Barrington. I'd like to see you sometime today, if you have a moment. You can reach me at Vance's bungalow. By the way, you should expect a call from the police, too, about Vanessa Pike's death." He hung up.
Louise Bremen came and knocked on the door. "Mrs. Barrington called," she said.