Chapter 25

They deplaned in Van Nuys, and Dean transferred their luggage to a waiting Porsche Cayenne SUV. The Arrington had a fleet of them for VIP guest use.

"Good to see you again, Mr. Barrington," the driver said as Stone and Monica climbed in. "Straight to the Arrington?"

"Please."

Monica was in for yet another surprise when, instead of being dropped off at the front of the hotel, the Porsche stopped at the entrance to a large house behind the main building.

"What is this?" she asked.

"My L.A. home," Stone said.

"Your home is in the middle of a hotel?"

"This property was inherited by my late wife when her first husband, Vance Calder, died."

"The actor?"

"The very same. When Arrington passed, Peter and I decided to turn the land into a hotel, with a home built specifically for me."

"You own the Arrington."

"Along with Peter and a company run by my friend Mike Freeman."

Before Stone could grab the door handle, it swung open from the inside.

Dino smiled out at them. "I thought I heard voices."

Monica looked at Stone. "Your butler?"

"Fortunately, no. This is my friend Dino Bacchetti. Dino, this is Monica Reyes. Dino would make a lousy butler."

"I concur," Dino said.

"Dino Bacchetti?" Monica asked. "Why do I know that name?"

"Probably because he's the New York City commissioner of police."

"That right! I've seen you on the news. You look better in person."

"Thank you, I think."

Stone put a hand to the side of his mouth and stage-whispered, "We try not to compliment him too much. Goes straight to his head."

"Are you coming in or not?" Dino asked.

"I thought you weren't arriving until the day before the board meeting," Stone said, walking in and proceeding into the living room.

"You can thank the king of Sweden," Dino said.

"I don't actually know the king of Sweden."

"Neither do I. He was supposed to visit the city this week. Tour around, see a few shows, shake hands with the mayor, things like that. There was talk that Holly might show up, too, until that nonsense with North Korea. But the king caught the flu and canceled his plans. Suddenly, my calendar was free."

"His misfortune was our gain."

"Something like that."

Stone said, "Is Viv here, too?"

"Not yet. She's in Luxembourg, or Brussels. I can't keep her schedule straight. She's flies in late tonight." He moved to the bar. "Can I get either of you a drink?"

"Thanks, but nothing for me," Monica said. "I have somewhere I need to go."

"Leaving already?" Stone said.

"I want to go by Tristan Williams's place and see if he's home. Oh, wait. I still need a car. I suppose the hotel can help with that?"

"I'll arrange for you to use one of the hotel's vehicles."

"That would be wonderful. Thank you. I'd like to freshen up first. Which way is our room?"

"Follow me."

He led her to the master suite. "Your bathroom is on that side." He pointed at the door.

"My bathroom?"

"Mine is over there," he said, pointing at the door on the opposite wall.

"Two bathrooms. How convenient."

"I think so."

He left her to do what she needed and returned to Dino, who handed him a glass of Knob Creek. Dino held up his own drink. "Welcome to Los Angeles."

"Glad to be here."

Dino nodded toward the back of the house where the master suite was located. "I distinctly remember you saying something about spending time with Holly."

"I did. Twelve hours, give or take."

"The North Korea thing?"

"The North Korea thing."

"I applaud your speed at finding a replacement."

"Monica's not a replacement. We happened to hit it off."

"Conveniently, right after your previous arrangement fell apart."

"Not right after. There was a day and a half in between."

"That makes it all better."

"That reminds me."

"What reminds you?"

Stone ignored him and went to the house phone. He was just finishing up his call to arrange a car for Monica when she reentered the living room.

"There should be a golf cart out front," Stone said.

"I think I'll need something more robust than that to get to Echo Park."

"The sass is strong with this one," Dino said. "I like her."

"If you two are through," Stone said. "The golf cart will take you to where a vehicle better suited for your needs will be waiting."

She smiled and gave him a quick kiss. "I appreciate it."

"How long will you be gone?"

"Not sure, but I should be back in time for dinner. I hope you don't get too bored without me."

"I'll soldier on."

"And I'll make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble," Dino said.

"Has that worked in the past?" she asked.

"Not as often as I would hope."

"Good luck, then. Work calls, so I'm off." She and Stone kissed again, and she headed outside.

"What kind of business is she in?" Dino asked.

"Insurance investigator, though currently unemployed."

"I feel like there's a critical piece of information missing."

"Perceptive as ever."

Stone called Peter and found out both he and Ben Bacchetti were free for lunch. Stone and Dino met them at the Centurion Pictures cantina, where their sons had already claimed a table on the exterior patio. Billy Barnett was with them.

The boys rose and hugged their fathers. Then Billy shook their hands.

"I hope you don't mind that I tagged along," Billy said.

"That was my doing," Peter said. "He and I were meeting when you called."

"I don't mind at all," Stone said. "Always happy to see you, Billy."

They ordered and their meals arrived soon after.

To Billy, Peter said, "You should tell my dad what happened."

"Nothing serious, I hope," Stone said.

"A bit serious," Billy conceded. "I purchased a painting at auction that was to be delivered yesterday. The delivery van was ambushed and robbed before it arrived."

"Was anyone injured?"

Billy shook his head. "According to the two men in the vehicle, the thieves used a knockout spray that rendered them unconscious."

"That sounds familiar," Stone said.

Billy nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

"You're talking about the spray the Russians used on Carly in New York," Dino said.

"Do you think the thieves were with the mob?" Ben asked.

"No way to know," Stone said, "but I doubt the Russians have a monopoly on the stuff."

"Billy, you said things could have been a lot worse," Peter said.

"True. The robbers stopped the van by forcing it down a road blocked by a fire."

"Fire?" Stone said, Monica's investigation immediately coming to mind.

"A guy in a uniform sprayed them before they could turn the van around, stole the painting, and left. Luckily, I got there before the fire spread too far. I called nine-one-one and got the delivery guys out of there."

"Do the police have any idea who did it?" Dino asked.

"None. I've asked Mike Freeman to look into it, too."

"That's a good idea," Stone said. "I'm sure the painting will turn up soon."

"I hope you're right. I bought it for you."

"For me?"

"It's one of your mother's. I was going to give it to you at the party Saturday night."

"Billy, I don't know what to say."

"Nothing to say until I get it back."

"Which picture was it?"

"Summer at Sheep Meadow."

Stone stilled for a moment. The painting was one of several his mother had painted of Central Park, but that wasn't the reason for his reaction. In the picture was a family on a picnic. His family. The three of them had featured in a handful of her paintings, and while he loved everything she'd created, those were the pieces he cherished the most.

"I've been looking for that one for a long time."

"So I've heard. I also heard the boy is you."

"It is. I hadn't realized the painting was up for sale."

"You're not the only one who has people keeping an eye out for her work."