"Louise, there is no Mrs. Barrington," Stone replied, keeping his tone light. "Just a woman who claims to be that. Her name is Dolce Bianchi; what's her number?"
"She didn't leave a number," Louise said. "She just said you'd be hearing from her, and she kind of chuckled."
"Call the Bel-Air Hotel, and see if there's anybody registered under either name. If so, buzz me, and I'll talk to her."
"All right. Oh, and Mrs. Calder called, too."
"I'll return the call after I've spoken to Miss Bianchi."
A couple of minutes passed, and the phone buzzed. Stone picked it up. "Dolce?"
"No, Mr. Barrington," Louise said. "The Bel-Air says she's not registered there."
"Thanks, Louise. Try the Beverly Hills and the dozen best hotels after that, too. Ask about both names." He hung up the phone and thought for a minute. Actually, he admitted to himself, Dolce did have a right to call herself Mrs. Barrington, given the latest news from Italy, but it grated on him to hear her do it. Now he allowed himself to think about whether Dolce might have had anything to do with the torching of Vanessa's house and her death in the fire. Crazy, it certainly was, and he could not bring himself to believe that Dolce would have had anything to do with it, based simply on the fact of his visit there. He thought of mentioning it to the police, but dismissed the idea. He had no evidence whatsoever, and it might seem to the police like an attempt on his part to use them to rid himself of a troublesome woman. Still, he had to consider: If Dolce had been involved in Vanessa's death, might she try to harm Arrington? All the extra security he had arranged to guard the Calder estate was gone, since the press had lost some interest in her. Then he had a thought. He dialed Arrington's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's Stone."
"Where are you? I've missed you."
"Same here, but I've been busy. I'm at the bungalow at the moment. Tell me, you're awfully alone there; how would you like some houseguests? The judge didn't bar that."
"I'd like you for a houseguest," she replied.
"I was thinking of Dino and Mary Ann, if I can get them out here."
"Oh, I'd love to see them! I've got cabin fever in a big way, and since you're being so standoffish, their company would be very welcome."
"I don't feel standoffish," Stone said. "Circumstances are keeping us apart."
"Would you visit me, if Dino and Mary Ann were here?"
"I think that would be perfectly kosher."
"Then, by all means, invite them!"
"I'll call you back." He hung up and dialed Dino's office.
"Lieutenant Bacchetti."
"Dino, it's Stone."
"How's sunny California?"
"You said you had some time off coming; why don't you come out here and see for yourself? And bring Mary Ann?"
"You in some kind of trouble, pal?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure.".
"Dolce?"
"Possibly. A woman I had dinner with, somebody I'd met twice, died in a fire last night, not long after I left her house. It was arson, and they suspect her ex-husband, but…"
"And how can Mary Ann and I help?"
"You can come and stay at Arrington's."