L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington 6)

"Okay, come over here, and we'll go to the studio commissary. Borrow a car from Manolo; he'll give you directions."

"In an hour?"

"Good." They both hung up. Stone buzzed Louise and asked her to arrange a studio pass for Dino.

Dino was introduced to Louise, then Stone showed him around the bungalow.

"These movie stars live pretty well, don't they?" he said.

"Better than cops and lawyers."

"Better than anybody. That guest house we're staying in is nicer than any home I've ever had."

"The pleasures of money."

"I'm hungry; let's eat. We can talk over lunch."

Stone drove him slowly through the studio streets, pointing out the exterior street set and the sound stages.

"It's like a city, isn't it?" Dino said.

"It has just about everything a city has, except crime."

"Yeah, that happens in Bel-Air and Beverly Hills."

Stone parked outside the commissary, which was a brick building with a walled garden. Stone showed the hostess his VIP studio pass, and they were given a table outside, surrounded by recognizable faces.

Dino took it all in, pointing out a movie star or two, then they ordered lunch.

"All right, what happened after I left last night?" Stone asked.

"Not much. What could compare to the scene just before you left?"

"What was Dolce doing there?"

"Mary Ann invited her, with Arrington's permission. It was an innocent thing on both their parts, I guess.".

"How innocent could it be? Mary Ann was in Venice; she knew everything."

"She thought Arrington knew everything, too. You didn't tell her?"

"I hadn't found the right moment," Stone said.

"She was pretty upset after you left, even though she tried not to show it. I tried to smooth things over, but she wouldn't talk about you."

"I've never been double-teamed like that," Stone said.

"I felt sorry for you, but there was nothing I could do. You're going to have to find some way to square things with Arrington."

"As far as I'm concerned, the ball's in her court. I was ambushed, and I didn't like it."

"That wasn't her intention, Stone."

"Maybe not, but the result was the same."

"Fortunately, Dolce left when you did. Did you go together?"

"No, I outran her."