Barrington?â
âYes.â
âThis is Hillary Carter, Arringtonâs mother.â
âHow are you, Mrs. Carter?â
âTerrible, of course, but Iâm glad youâre here. Arrington badly needs someone to take charge of things.â
âHave you seen her?â
âOnly for a few minutes, yesterday, and she was semiconscious. She was asking for you, though.â
âIâm seeing her at noon today.â
âOh, good. The doctor doesnât want her to see Peter, yet; I donât know why.â
âIâll see if I can find out.â
âIâm at Vanceâs house, now, and the situation here is nearly out of hand. Iâve had to call the police to keep people from climbing over the fence.â
âIâll see if I can arrange some private security.â
âThat would be a very good idea, I think.â
âIs Peter all right?â
âYes, but he wants his mother and father, and Iâm having to stall him. What Iâd like to do is to get him out of this zoo and take him home to Virginia with me. Arrington is quite happy for him to come with me.â
âThat might be a good idea. Can I call you after Iâve seen Arrington?â
âYes, please; Iâll give you Vanceâs most secret number. The press hasnât learned about it, yet.â
Stone wrote down the number.
âIâm so sorry weâve never met face to face,â Mrs. Carter said. âArrington has always spoken so well of you.â
âMrs. Carter, do you have any objection to my taking over all of Arringtonâs legal decisions and contacts with . . . everyone outside the family?â
âIâd be very grateful if you would, but of course, Iâd like to be consulted about any medical treatment beyond what sheâs getting now.â
âOf course. Iâll talk to you later today.â He said good-bye and hung up. There was a knock on the door, and an envelope was slid under it. Stone checked the contents and found the documents Joan had faxed to him.
He telephoned Lou Regenstein.
âYes, Stone?â
âIâve just spoken with Arringtonâs mother, who is at Vanceâs house with her grandson. She says the press there is out of hand, and sheâs had to call the police. Can you arrange for some private security to take over that?â
âOf course; how many men do you want?â
âShe says theyâre coming over the fence, and my recollection is that theyâve got a large piece of property there.â
âSomething like eight acres,â Regenstein said.
âI should think half a dozen men inside the fence, two in the house and a car patrolling the perimeter of the place, twenty-four hours a day, for the time being.â
âConsider it done; anything else?â
âMrs. Carter wants to take Peter back to Virginia with her. Do you think you could arrange transportation?â
âThe Centurion jet is at her disposal,â Regenstein said. âIâll have a crew standing by in an hour.â
âI shouldnât think sheâd need it until later today. Is it at Burbank?â
âYes, but the press would know that. Iâll have it moved to Santa Monica and hangared at the Supermarine terminal, until sheâs ready to leave.â
âThank you, Lou. Iâll call you later.â
There was nothing else to do, Stone reflected. Dino would be in the air, now, on his way back to New York. He checked his notebook, dialed the palazzo number in Venice, and asked for Eduardo.
âStone?â
âYes, Eduardo?â
âThis is Carmen Bellini. Eduardo and Dolce are on their way back to New York. Iâm spending a couple of more days here to rest, at his suggestion. Are you in Los Angeles?â
âYes.â Stone told him most of what he knew so far. âIf Eduardo contacts you before I reach him, please pass on that
Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams