Chapter 31

Monica woke Stone in the most delicious way, after which he returned the favor. One thing led to another and by the time they made it downstairs, it was nearly ten a.m.

They found Dino poolside, sipping on a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and his wife, Viv, lying on a nearby lounge, clad in a black bikini.

When Dino saw them, he looked at his watch. "Viv, you owe me a twenty." To Stone and Monica, he stage-whispered, "I said you wouldn't be down until ten. She said nine."

"Put it on my tab," Viv said.

"Viv, let me introduce you to Monica Reyes," Stone said. "Monica, this is Dino's wife, Vivian Bacchetti."

"A pleasure to meet you," Viv said. "And please call me Viv. Dino tells me you've been keeping Stone in line."

"It's a burden, but someone has to do it," Monica said.

Viv grinned. "We're going to get along just fine."

"I think we're in trouble," Dino said to Stone.

"You're just now figuring that out?" Stone said.

"I blame jet lag."

To Viv, Stone said, "When did you get in?"

"Around three a.m."

"You must be exhausted," Monica said.

"I slept most of the flight, so I'm not too tired yet."

"Have you two eaten?" Stone asked.

"Two hours ago," Dino said.

"Then I guess it's just you and me," Stone said to Monica. "What would you like?"

"What are my choices?"

"Room service can whip up pretty much anything you might want."

"I keep forgetting we're in the middle of a hotel."

"Think of it as a fancy resort," Dino said.

"It is a fancy resort."

"See? You've already adapted."

"Breakfast?" Stone reminded her.

"Right. Eggs Benedict?"

"One of my favorites. Anything else?"

"Some strawberries, if they have any."

"Done."

Stone called in their order, and they joined Dino at the table.

Monica checked her phone, then frowned and set it down.

"Still no word?" Stone asked.

"No." She had sent Tristan several texts since the premature end to their meeting the previous evening, but he had yet to respond. "The gallery opens at eleven. I'll call him there."

"Tell him you're planning on coming by again. I have a feeling he'll agree to an alternate location to keep you from showing up."

"That's devious. I like it."

"Unfortunately, in my line of work not all the people I come in contact with are on the up-and-up."

"I thought you'd have a better clientele than that."

"Not my clients. More the people with whom my clients have issues."

"Ah, so you are a bastion of truth and justice."

"I try my best."

To Monica, Dino said, "It's not my nature to poke my nose in something without being invited—"

"Since when?" Stone and Viv said in unison.

Ignoring them, Dino continued where he left off. "But remember, Stone is a lawyer, which makes him a professional liar."

"Don't listen to him," Stone said. "He's law enforcement and making lawyers out as less than truthful is a stereotype his ilk likes to perpetuate."

"Says the former police detective, who I recall on several occasions saying something similar."

"The key word there is former."

"Careful, Monica," Viv said. "If you wind them up too much, they'll be like this all day."

Breakfast soon arrived. Monica checked her phone several more times as she ate, but still no word from Tristan. By the time she and Stone finished their meals, it was twenty to eleven.

"Someone has to be at the gallery by now, don't you think?" she said.

"Seems reasonable," Stone said.

She made the call.

After two rings, a female voice answered, "Duchamp Gallery, Los Angeles. How may I help you?"

"I'm looking for Tristan Williams."

For a moment, Monica thought they'd been disconnected, then the woman said, "I'm sorry. Tristan Williams doesn't work here any longer."

"I saw him there yesterday. He didn't mention anything about leaving."

"Perhaps I could assist you?"

"Did he get a new job or give any reason why he left?"

"I don't know any more details than what I've already told you, and even if I did, I wouldn't give them out to someone over the phone."

"If I came down there, would you be able to—"

"Ma'am, as I'm sure you're aware, all employment information is a matter of personal privacy. Is there something else I can help you with?"

"No. Thank you for your time."

"Have a good day," the woman said and hung up.

Monica stared at her phone, brow furrowed.

"I take it from what you were saying that Tristan is no longer an employee of the gallery?" Stone said.

"That's what she said," Monica said.

"Do you know if he quit or was fired?" Viv asked.

"She didn't give a reason," Monica said. "But last night, when I asked how long he'd worked there, he didn't act like he'd lost his job."

"What about the man who chased him last night?" Stone said. "Maybe he caught Tristan and did a number on him."

"Do you think so?" Monica asked, concerned.

"I have no idea, but it's another possibility. Though I don't know why he'd quit or be fired because of that."

"Could be as simple as he was skimming from the register and they finally found out."

"For the most part, transactions at galleries would either be by credit card, bank transfer, or check."

"Please tell me you've heard of credit-card skimmers."

"Right. I hadn't thought of that."

"I can think of one other reason," Stone said. "What if he told someone about his conversation with you, and they weren't happy."

"But why fire him for that? He didn't tell me anything."

"Perhaps they thought he did."

"However he lost his job, he probably hasn't responded because he's not in the mood to talk to anyone," Viv said.

"How about this?" Stone said. "Let's give him a few more hours. If he hasn't gotten back to you by then, you and I will drive out to his house."

"That's a great idea," Monica said, her tension easing. "Thank you."

"In the meantime, how about we take a drive along the beach? It'll take your mind off all this."

"I'd love that."

"Viv, Dino, you are welcome to join us. I was thinking we could have lunch in Malibu."

"Sounds great to me," Dino said. "But I defer to my beautiful bride."

"We'd be delighted."

"When I was in high school, my friends and I would drive to Malibu to look for movie stars," Monica said, as they passed the city limits sign.

"You grew up in Los Angeles?" Viv asked.

"Just north of it, in Ventura County."

"Did you ever see any?" Dino asked.

"Only once. We were at a stoplight and Martin Sheen pulled up next to us. I waved to him, and he smiled and waved back. And then the light turned green and that was it."

"You won't be able to miss them at the party on Saturday."

"Party?"

"Billy Barnett is throwing a post–board meeting party at his house. Didn't Stone invite you yet?"

"As a matter of fact, no."

All eyes turned to Stone.

"Monica, would you like to join me at Billy Barnett's party on Saturday?"

"Are you only asking because you're being pressured into it?"

"I'm asking because I planned to do just that but hadn't gotten around to it yet."

She smirked. "In either case, my answer would be yes."

"Great," Dino said. "I'll introduce you to my daughter-in-law."

"Who's your daughter-in-law?"

"Tessa Tweed."

Monica turned and looked into the back where he and Viv sat. "You're not pulling my leg, are you?"

"He is not," Stone said.

"In that case, I would be thrilled to meet your daughter-in-law." She faced forward. "I will need to do some clothes shopping first, though."

A few miles on, Stone said, "Does anyone mind if we make a stop before we eat?"

"I'm still full from breakfast," Monica said.

"Okay by me," Dino said.

Viv nodded her agreement.

Stone turned into a private seaside neighborhood where many celebrities had homes.

As he pulled up to the guarded gate, Monica whispered, "Do you know someone who lives here?"

"Not yet," Stone said.

He identified himself to the guard, and they drove into the colony. They passed several large homes before Stone turned into a driveway and parked.

"This is gorgeous," Monica said, looking at the house. "Whose house is this?"

"At the moment, mine."

They all climbed out and he led them inside.

"Oh, my," Monica said as they entered the living room.

The all-glass back wall overlooked the beach and the ocean beyond.

"Like it?" Stone asked.

"It's spectacular. Are you planning on moving here?"

"Not a chance. I enjoy visiting California, but my home is in New York, and always will be."

She looked around. "There's no furniture. Don't you ever stay here?"

"My house at the Arrington is more than enough for me."

"You're going to let this place sit empty then?"

"That, I'm afraid, is a state secret."

Her eyes narrowed. "Has anyone ever told you that you can be exasperating sometimes?"

"We have. Multiple times," Dino chimed in.

"I've never said that," Viv disagreed.

"You don't hang around him enough."

"You want me to hang around him more?"

"Viv, I would welcome spending more time with you," Stone said.

"On second thought," Dino said, "you spend more than enough time in his presence already."

"I thought as much," Viv said.

They spent some time outside, admiring the view, then Stone gave them a tour of the house.

Once they were back in the car, Monica checked her phone and let out a breath of surprise.

"You miss a call?" Stone asked.

"No, a text from Tristan. He asked if I could meet him this evening at eight at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Do you know it?"

"It was my go-to hotel before the Arrington was built." He glanced at Dino and Viv in the back seat. "Do you two have plans tonight?"

"Nothing specific," Viv said.

"I think we should go, too. Between the three of us, we should be able to make sure what happened last night doesn't happen again. Viv, Dino can fill you in on the details." To Monica, he said, "Work for you?"

"Very much. Thank you."

She replied to Tristan's text, telling him they were on.

An hour and a half later, after they were sated and headed back to the Arrington, Stone's phone lit up with a call from Mike Freeman.

"Hi, Mike. What's up?"

"Are you still in Santa Fe?" Mike asked, his voice coming over the car's speakers.

"L.A., I flew in yesterday."

"Perfect. So am I. Herb just arrived in town and would like to meet with both of us. Since we're all in the same place, let's do it at Strategic Services' L.A. office."

"Sounds good. I should be able to get there by four p.m."

"Works for me. I'll let Herb know."

Mike hung up.

"Do you mind if I tag along with you?" Viv said. "There are a few things I need to deal with at the office."

"Fine by me."

"If she's going, I'm going, too," Dino said.

Stone glanced at Monica. "How about you? Want to join us?"

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you drop me off at the hotel? I'd like to go over my notes again."

"No trouble at all," Stone said.

"If you have time, get a massage," Viv said. "They'll bring the table to the house and set it up by the pool."

"That sounds exactly like what I need."

"If you want," Stone said, "I can call it in now and they'll be there when you arrive."

"Perhaps you're not as exasperating as I thought."