"Shoot, Stone, I could worm Beverly's genetic code out of her, if she knew it."
"Vanessa said something about this to me, and I wouldn't like for Beverly to know that. Vanessa felt she was breaking a confidence, just by mentioning the possibility."
"That sounds like Vanessa," Charlene said, looking misty for a moment. "Shed be true blue, even to Beverly."
"When do you think you could see her?"
"She'll be over at the house on Saturday, with the others, I'm sure; we'll have some commiserating to do over Vanessa."
"I'd appreciate any help you could give me."
Charlene smiled a small smile. "How much would you appreciate it?"
"A lot," Stone said.
"I don't believe you," Charlene replied. "It's Arrington, isn't it? She's why I can't get you in the sack."
"We're old and good friends," Stone said.
Charlene laughed. "Well, at least you didn't say you were just good friends. I don't blame you, Stone; she's perfectly gorgeous. I'd hop into bed with her in a minute."
Stone laughed, put down his fork, and stood up. "I'll tell her you said so, if the occasion should ever arise. I've got to get going. Thanks for the lunch, and, especially, for your help."
Charlene put down her wine glass, arose, and came toward Stone. She snaked one arm around his neck, hooked one leg around his and kissed him, long and deep.
Stone enjoyed the moment.
"Just you remember," she said, "you owe me one."
Stone released himself and made his way out of the RV On the short drive back to the bungalow, Stone made a concerted effort to forget how Charlene Joiner had looked naked and failed.
Chapter 44
Stone spent the evening alone in Vance's bungalow, heating a frozen dinner and watching one of Vance's movies from a selection of videotapes in the study. It turned out to be one in which Charlene Joiner had costarred, and that didn't help him think pure thoughts. Her ability as an actress actually lived up to her beauty, which surprised him, though it was not the first of her movies he had seen.
He slept fitfully, then devoted the following day to a combination of Calder Estate business and correspondence FedEx'ed by Joan from New York, which kept his mind off naked women, living and dead. The noon news said that Daniel Pike was not a suspect in his ex-wife's death, but he didn't believe it. The police had probably leaked that information to make Pike think he was safe. He'd done the same thing, himself, in his time.
Arrington called early in the afternoon. "Dino and Mary Ann are arriving at three," she said, "and Manolo is meeting them. I can't wait to see them!"
"Same here," Stone said, and he meant it. Cut off from Arrington most of the time, he craved affectionate company.
"You be here at seven," she said.
"Can I bring anything?"
"Yes, but I don't think you'll share, in your present mood."
"When this is over, I'll share until you cry for mercy."
"Promises, promises! Bye." She hung up.
Stone left the studio at six-thirty, which would make him fashionably late to Arrington's. Then, after no more than a mile, the car's steering felt funny, and he pulled over. The front rear tire was flat. He thought of changing it himself, but there was a gas station a block away, and he didn't want to get his fresh clothes dirty, so he hiked down there and brought back a mechanic to do the work. As a result, he was half an hour late to dinner.
He entered through the front gate, for a change, and noted that there were no TV vans or reporters about. Manolo let him in and escorted him into the living room where Arrington, Dino, and Mary Ann sat on sofas before the fireplace. Another woman was there, too, but her back was to him.
He hugged Dino and Mary Ann, but when he made to embrace Arrington, she kept an elbow between them. "And look who else is here!" she cried, waving a hand toward the sofa. The other woman turned around.
"Dolce," Stone said weakly. "I've been trying to reach you."