Chapter 50

Billy Barnett smiled warmly as the first of his guests arrived. "Charlie! So glad you could make it. And, Janice, nice to see you again."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Charlie said. He'd been a film producer for more than forty years, and his wife, Janice, was an award-winning production designer.

Behind them came a group of veteran actors, each of whom Billy greeted by name. It wasn't long before the trickle of guests became a steady stream.

As Billy was saying hello to Logan Chase, an actor in Peter's last film, one of the agents from Strategic Services signaled that he wanted a word.

"Grab yourself a drink," Billy told Logan. "I'll catch up to you later."

Billy made his way over to the agent.

"Our two friends are on the east slope and watching the party through binoculars."

"No sign of anyone else?"

"Not yet."

"Thank you." Billy returned his attention to a group of new arrivals. "Gretchen, you look stunning as always."

At the same time guests started arriving at Billy's party, Petry and Nico were finishing up dinner at Crustacean in Beverly Hills.

Petry dabbed his mouth with his napkin. "Call him."

Nico punched Sticks's number.

"Yeah?" Sticks answered.

"Mr. Petry would like to know if everything is ready."

"All set."

"And Barrington?"

"Not here yet."

"All right. As soon as you see him, let us know."

Nico hung up and relayed the information to his boss.

"I suppose we have time for dessert then," Petry said and signaled the waiter.

Stone, Monica, and Dino swung by the Arrington to change and pick up Viv. By the time they arrived at Billy's, it was nearly nine.

Billy shook hands with the men and kissed the cheeks of the women.

"This place is breathtaking," Monica said, taking in the exterior of Billy's house.

"I quite like it."

She looked toward the open-air tents where the party was in full swing. "Wait, is that…?"

Billy glanced over his shoulder. "Victoria Salazar? It is."

"I have all of her music!"

"I'll make sure to introduce you to her."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

"You've already helped take down a notorious art thief tonight," Stone said. "Anything else you do will be child's play."

"If you say so."

"I take it everything went well with Simon," Billy said.

Stone nodded. "Like clockwork. What's the situation here?"

"Sticks and his buddy are on the slope to my left, probably looking at us right now. Their truck is parked on a nearby street."

"And Petry?"

"Last I heard, he was dining at Crustacean. Viv has a team watching him, so we'll know when he moves. Which, given that you're here now, will probably be any minute. In the meantime, grab a drink and introduce Monica to a few movie stars."

"Yes, please," Monica said.

Nico snatched up his phone and read the text that had just arrived.

"Barrington's at the party."

"Pay the bill."

After Nico took care of the check, they retrieved their sedan from the valet and headed toward the hills, neither man noticing the black Acura SUV that pulled onto the road several car lengths behind them.

And neither those in the sedan nor the men in the SUV noticed the motorcycle that joined the back end of the chase.