Chapter 13

Stone was waiting on a couch outside Ed's office when the door opened. Ed stepped out in the company of a man and two women, all in their forties or fifties.

From the trio's similar facial features, Stone guessed they were related, and from their grim expressions, he was sure the topic they'd been discussing had not been a happy one.

The older of the women shook Ed's hand. "Thank you, Ed. We know you're doing what you can. We'll discuss everything and decide how we want to proceed."

The other two also shook hands with Ed, then Ed's secretary escorted them out.

Once they were alone, Ed clapped Stone on the back. "I don't know about you, but I'm starved."

They walked to an Italian restaurant called Cavano's, a couple of blocks from Ed's office.

Before Stone had a chance to crack open his menu, a white-haired man sporting an impressive mustache approached their table.

"Ed, it's been too long."

"Danny, I'm starting to worry about your memory," Ed said. "I had lunch here three days ago."

"I know. Three days is too long."

"If I ate here every day, I'd be as big as a house."

"You're as big as a house now, so what would it matter?"

Danny wasn't wrong. While Stone considered himself tall in most circumstances, at nearly six foot eight, Ed towered over him by several inches, and was sturdily built.

"Let me introduce you to my friend Stone Barrington. Stone, this is Danny Cavano, the owner."

"A pleasure to meet you," Danny said, shaking Stone's hand.

"The pleasure's all mine." Stone opened his menu. "What do you recommend?"

Danny snatched it from him, then grabbed Ed's. "Do me the honor of ordering for you."

"My stomach is in your hands."

"What would you like to drink?"

"Do you have Knob Creek?"

"Do I look uncivilized? Of course we do. Ed?"

Ed grimaced. "I have a meeting later this afternoon, so I'm afraid I'll have to stick to iced tea."

"Very good." Danny gave them a small bow and left.

"I helped Danny out of a difficult situation with his former landlord, so now I get the royal treatment. I would come more, but he doesn't let me pay. Feels wrong to take advantage of that, but it's the best Italian food in town."

"How long has he been here?"

"About two years."

"I take it he has a better landlord now."

"I might be biased, but I'd say so." Ed smirked. "Susannah and I own the building."

A waitress arrived with their drinks and a caprese salad for each of them.

After she left, Ed said, "I hear the Russian mob's been keeping you busy."

"Don't believe all you read."

There had been several articles about the incident at the New York State Bar Association dinner in which Stone played one of the starring roles. And though he had pulled as many strings as possible to keep his name out of it, stories in a few of the less reputable papers had implied his participation, to a surprisingly accurate degree.

"And on a completely unrelated note," Stone added, "I've been reliably informed their unsavory attention has moved elsewhere."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"You and me both."

"And how are things going with the Arrington?"

Stone grimaced.

"Trouble?"

"We're starting to expand in the U.S. like Marcel's been doing in Europe, with the International Arrington Group. We were looking at a property in Phoenix, but it fell through last week."

"Sorry to hear that."

"As both you and I know, that's business."

Their conversation turned to other things and soon Danny returned with their waitress, carrying their lunch.

As she set the plates in front of Stone and Ed, Danny said, "This is a personal favorite. Lobster ravioli in creamy white wine sauce. Lobster flown in this morning, and pasta made fresh today. Please enjoy." He and the waitress retreated.

Stone took a bite and his eyes lit up.

"Not bad, right?" Ed said.

"Ed, not bad doesn't even come close to how good this is."

When they were finished, Ed requested the check, but Danny was having none of it. When he wasn't looking, Ed slipped some cash under his plate, and Stone and Ed headed out.

"Do you have plans this afternoon?" Ed asked.

"I'm a free man."

"Take a drive with me?"

"Don't you have a meeting?"

"I'll be back in plenty of time."

"Then sure."

Ed drove Stone to the outskirts of town and parked on a quiet side road in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere. From there, they walked through a grove of pines to the top of a small ridge.

Ed nodded at the view. "Not bad, huh?"

Below, the land was a mix of trees and clearings, with not a building in sight. And beyond, the mountains cut a jagged line against the sky.

"Gorgeous," Stone said.

"I was thinking that this would be a wonderful spot for an Arrington Resort."

Stone looked at Ed, then back at the land, and assessed it anew.

"I take it this land is available."

Ed nodded. "You remember the people who left my office before lunch?"

"I do."

"They're Alfonso Otero's children. Alfonso was a fixture here in Santa Fe for decades."

"I've met him a couple of times," Stone said. "But did you say was?"

"He passed away two weeks ago."

Ed explained that while Alfonso had once been one of the city's most successful businessmen, he had racked up considerable debt by the time he'd died.

"As executor of his will, I had to deliver the bad news. None of his kids were involved in the business and had thought everything was okay."

"They were expecting a big inheritance?"

"No, but I'm sure they wouldn't have turned it down. What they weren't expecting was to inherit a company that owed more than it was worth." Ed motioned to the area below the ridge. "What you're looking at is the estate's most valuable asset."

"Why didn't he sell it before he died?"

"He tried, but there were no takers."

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"Not a thing. Just didn't find the right buyer."

"Zoning restrictions?"

"Nothing that can't easily be dealt with."

Stone studied the land for several moments. "If the Oteros are able to sell it…"

"They'd be able to cover their debts, maybe even have a little extra to split between themselves."

Stone scanned the land again, liking what he saw. "I'll discuss it with Mike Freeman. No promises, though."

"I wouldn't expect any."

Once they were back in the car, Ed said, "If you're free tomorrow night, Susannah and I are going to an exhibition opening at a gallery in town, and we'd love to have you join us."

"Count me in."

"Dinner first?"

"A man has to eat."

"I'll call you with the details."

Stone sent Mike photos of the property as soon as he returned to the Lees' house and had no sooner set his phone down when it rang.

"A potential location for the new Arrington?" Mike asked.

"Right in one."

"It's breathtaking. Where is this?"

"Santa Fe."

"Ah, I should have recognized the mountains. You're there now?"

"I am. Ed Eagle represents the estate that owns the property. He's the one who showed it to me."

"Your thoughts?"

"It's definitely worth looking into."

"I agree. I'm flying to San Diego the day after tomorrow. I can make a stop there and drop off an assessment team."

"That's a great idea. And bring Herb Fisher, if he's free. He can coordinate everything and handle an offer if we decide to make one."

"Will do."