“The client retained our firm’s services for a nonrefundable twenty-five thousand pounds. But that money’s earmarked for back salaries, debts and overhead.”
“You must’ve passed through a dry spell, Artie.”
“Bone dry.”
“If my addition’s right,” Stallings said, “the figures you mentioned, not counting the retainer, add up to seven hundred thousand, not seven hundred and fifty thousand.”
“That remaining fifty thousand will be held in reserve for contingencies until the job’s done. If there aren’t any contingencies, it’ll be split into five equal shares as either a bonus or getaway money.”
“Or both,” Stallings said.
“Or both.”
“You’re beginning to make it sound kind of interesting. What do we have to do to earn it?”
“Find two missing hypnotists.”
“What else?”
“That’s the goal, but to reach it we’ll probably have to travel the usual twisty byways.”
“Where’re these byways located?”
“Los Angeles and environs.”
“Well, shit, I was kind of hoping for London and environs.”
“The weather’s better in L.A.”
“There’s that,” Stallings agreed.
After the briefest of pauses, Wu said, “Can you talk?”
“Georgia’s not up yet.”
“When did she get out?”
“Yesterday afternoon. I picked her up at the Women’s Correctional Institution in Mandaluyong in a Mercedes I rented from the Peninsula.
Even brought along flowers and a bottle of champagne. She drank some champagne but left the flowers in the car when we got back to the hotel.”
“How is she?”
“Doesn’t look much different.”
“Mentally?”
“Quick as ever. Maybe even quicker. But I suppose there’re some emotional dents that need smoothing out.”
“What’ve you told her?”
“Just that you and Durant have something going and want her, Otherguy and me to help out.”
“What’d she say?”
“She said it sounded like more nursery games.”
“That all?”
“That’s all so far.”
“She may need a large helping of reassurance.”
“Tell me something, Artie. How d’you reassure someone with a rock-solid ego?”
“You’ll find a way,” Wu said and paused. During the pause Stallings heard a faint click from twelve thousand miles away, which he assumed was Wu’s lighter. The click was followed by either a sigh or the sound of exhaled cigar smoke. Then Wu was saying, “I have a little news and a little clarification. The hypnotists are a rather bent British brother-and-sister team who’ve been involved with Ione Gamble.”
“America’s heartthrob,” Stallings said.
“She really called that?”
“Mostly by old crocks like me who find comfort in the cliches of their youth. Truth is, Artie, I haven’t kept up with Hollywood much since Sheilah Graham died.”
“Then you may not’ve heard that Ms. Gamble has been indicted for the murder of William A. C. Rice the Fourth.”
“They deliver USA Today right to your hotel room door all over the world. I saw the headlines, but can’t say I’ve followed it closely.”
“Then you may want to do some research on it.”
“Okay.”
“My news is that Ms. Gamble has retained your son-in-law to defend her.”
