L.A. Dead

The fireman spoke up. 'The fire was started with gasoline near the master bedroom windows,' he said. 'We found a can, apparently from the victim's own garage. The perp had wheeled over a gas grill next to the house, and when the fire got going, the propane tank exploded. It must have been full, or nearly so, because it did a lot of damage. The explosion probably killed the woman.'

'We haven't heard from the M.E. yet,' Goldman said, 'but that sounds right.'

'You're a lawyer, right?' Rivera said to Stone.

'Right.'

'You're in town about the Calder thing?'

'Right.'

'When you left last night, did you notice anybody hanging around the street?'

'When I backed out of the driveway, there were no moving cars visible on the street, just parked ones, but as I drove down the block toward Sunset, I saw some headlights in my rearview mirror. My guess is, somebody was waiting in the street, then started up and followed me to Sunset. I lost the car after I turned.'

'Any idea of what kind of car?'

'No, all I saw was headlights.'

'So the guy was hanging around, waiting for you to leave and for her to go to sleep.'

'Could be. I didn't notice anybody following when we drove to the house, but I wasn't watching my mirror especially.'

'What was your relationship to Mrs. Pike?' Goldman asked.

'I met her the day before yesterday in Palm Springs, at Marc Blumberg's house. Late yesterday afternoon, I had a meeting with Blumberg in his office, right after he returned from the Springs, and she was there. He asked me to give her a lift home, and she invited me to stay for dinner. That was it.'

'Did you have sex with her?' Rivera asked.

'No.

'Ever met the husband?'

'No; I don't even know his name.'

'Daniel Pike; big-time producer/director.'

'I've heard of him.'

'You know any of her friends?'

'Blumberg says she's friendly with a group that hangs around with Charlene Joiner.'

'Joiner, the movie star?'

'One and the same.'

'We'll talk to her.'

Rick spoke up. 'Anything else you fellows require of Stone?'

'Not at the moment.'

'You can reach me through the switchboard at Centurion Studios,' Stone said. 'I've got a temporary office there, and here's my New York number.' He handed them his card.

'You here for long?'

'Until the Calder thing is done.'

'Good luck on that one,' Goldman said. 'I hear the wife is toast.'

'Don't believe everything you hear,' Stone said.

He and Rick turned and walked back to their cars.

'Thanks for coming over here, Rick,' Stone said. 'They might not have been as nice, if you hadn't been here.'

'Glad to do it. Stone, do you know something you didn't tell those guys?'

'No, that's everything.'

'Good,' Rick said, shaking hands. He got into his car and drove away.

Stone got back into his car. Well, almost everything, he thought. He had one other thought, but it was completely crazy, and he dismissed it.

Chapter 42

Back at THE STUDIO bungalow, Stone called the Centurion switchboard. 'Good morning, this is Stone Barrington, at the Vance Calder bungalow.'

'Good morning, Mr. Barrington,' a woman replied, 'how can I help you?'

'Can you tell me if Charlene Joiner is working on the lot today?'

'Yes, she is; shall I connect you to her dressing room?'

'Thank you, yes.'

The phone rang, and an answering machine picked up. Charlene's honeyed southern voice said, 'Hey. I'm shooting, or something, at the moment, but I'll get back to you, if you're worth getting back to.' A beep followed.

'Charlene, this is Stone Barrington. I'd like to see you sometime today, if you have a moment. You can reach me at Vance's bungalow. By the way, you should expect a call from the police, too, about Vanessa Pike's death.' He hung up.

Louise Bremen came and knocked on the door. 'Mrs. Barrington called,' she said.

'Louise, there is no Mrs. Barrington,' Stone replied, keeping his tone light. 'Just a woman who claims to be that. Her name is Dolce Bianchi; what's her number?'

'She didn't leave a number,' Louise said. 'She just said you'd be hearing from her, and she kind of chuckled.'

'Call the Bel-Air Hotel, and see if there's anybody registered under either name. If so, buzz me, and I'll talk to her.'

'All right. Oh, and Mrs. Calder called, too.'

'I'll return the call after I've spoken to Miss Bianchi.'

A couple of minutes passed, and the phone buzzed. Stone picked it up. 'Dolce?'

'No, Mr. Barrington,' Louise said. 'The Bel-Air says she's not registered there.'

'Thanks, Louise. Try the Beverly Hills and the dozen best hotels after that, too. Ask about both names.' He hung up the phone and thought for a minute. Actually, he admitted to himself, Dolce did have a right to call herself Mrs. Barrington, given the latest news from Italy, but it grated on him to hear her do it. Now he allowed himself to think about whether Dolce might have had anything to do with the torching of Vanessa's house and her death in the fire. Crazy, it certainly was, and he could not bring himself to believe that Dolce would have had anything to do with it, based simply on the fact of his visit there. He thought of mentioning it to the police, but dismissed the idea. He had no evidence whatsoever, and it might seem to the police like an attempt on his part to use them to rid himself of a troublesome woman. Still, he had to consider: If Dolce had been involved in Vanessa's death, might she try to harm Arrington? All the extra security he had arranged to guard the Calder estate was gone, since the press had lost some interest in her. Then he had a thought. He dialed Arrington's number.

'Hello?'

'Hi, it's Stone.'

'Where are you? I've missed you.'

'Same here, but I've been busy. I'm at the bungalow at the moment. Tell me, you're awfully alone there; how would you like some houseguests? The judge didn't bar that.'

'I'd like you for a houseguest,' she replied.

'I was thinking of Dino and Mary Ann, if I can get them out here.'

'Oh, I'd love to see them! I've got cabin fever in a big way, and since you're being so standoffish, their company would be very welcome.'