"Does Arrington know you hid the pistol?"
"No. I never told her."
Stone put the pistol on top of the chest of drawers, then, weak at the knees, sat down one the sofa. "So we'll never know for sure."
"I know," Manolo said. "I'm a little surprised that you don't, Mr. Barrington." He picked up the pistol by the trigger guard, put it back in the safe's rear compartment, and closed it.
"I'll leave it there for a while, then I'll get rid of it and send the jewelry box to Mrs. Calder."
Stone was beyond arguing with him.
Chapter 62
Stone stayed in L.A. for a couple of more days, paying the last of the bills to come to the bungalow and seeing that Vance Calder's estate was released to Arrington.
After he had packed his bags and was ready to leave the bungalow, Lou Regenstein came into Vance's study.
"Good morning, Lou."
"You on your way home, Stone?"
"Yes, I'm done here. Louise can pack up Vance's things and send them to the house. Manolo and Isabel are still there."
"Have you talked to Arrington?"
"No, she isn't speaking to me."
"I should think she'd be grateful to you for everything you've done for her."
"Maybe, but there are other things she's not grateful to me for."
"The business in the tabloid?"
Stone nodded. "Among other things."
"Well, I want you to know that I am certainly grateful to you. Arrington is now the second-largest stockholder in Centurion, after me, and together, the two of us control the company. If she'd gone to prison, God knows what would have happened here."
"I'm glad it worked out all right."
"Is there anything I can do for you, Stone?"
"You can have someone drive Vance's car back to the house," he said, holding out the keys.
Lou accepted the keys. "I'll have my driver take you to the airport." Lou picked up the phone and gave the order. "He'll be here in a minute."
Stone looked around. "What will happen to Vance's bungalow?"
"Charlene Joiner is moving in, as soon as we've redecorated it to her specifications. She's Centurions biggest star now."
"She deserves it."
They chatted for a few minutes, then Lou's chauffeur knocked at the door. "Shall I take your bags, Mr. Barrington?"
"Yes, thank you." He shook hands with Lou. "Thanks for all your help."
"Stone, you'll always have friends at Centurion. If there's ever anything, anything at all, we can do for you, just let me know."
"When you speak to Arrington, tell her I'm thinking of her."