6 Stone Barrington Novels by Stuart Woods Page A

the moment, Arrington’s personal representative. I have her confidence and a power of attorney.”
    Blumberg looked Stone in the eye. “You and Arrington ever have a thing, Stone?”
    â€œWe were living together in New York when she suddenly married Vance.”
    â€œYou want me to represent her?”
    â€œIf it becomes necessary.”
    â€œI think you’re right about my presence being a red flag; the media would play that big. Here’s what we do. I don’t so much as even speak to Arrington, unless we find out she’s going to be arrested.”
    â€œI might be able to get advance notice of that, if it happens.”
    â€œGood. If you do, I surrender her to the D.A. I can arrange that. From then on, I’m her lawyer, not you; I’m running the case.”
    Stone shook his head. “If it comes to that, I’ll want to be involved every step of the way.”
    â€œThat’s not how I work.”
    â€œThen I can only thank you for your time,” Stone said.
    Blumberg thought for a moment. “What do you want?”
    â€œSecond chair; partner in decision-making; no move without my agreement.”
    â€œAll right,” Blumberg said. “Are you licensed in California?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’ll deal with that. I’ll want a hundred-thousand-dollar retainer up front, against a half-million-dollar fee, the remainder payable before the trial starts.”
    â€œTo include all your expenses,” Stone said.
    â€œAgreed. If I can stop it before it goes to trial, I’ll bill her at a thousand dollars an hour.”
    â€œTo include your associates and staff.”
    â€œDone.” Blumberg held out his hand, and Stone shook it.
    â€œI’ll draft a letter appointing you and get a check drawn, immediately after any arrest.”
    â€œWhen is Arrington returning home?”
    â€œTomorrow, I think.”
    â€œWhere are you living while you’re here?”
    â€œIn the Calders’ guesthouse.”
    â€œI don’t want the two of you to spend so much as a single night under the same roof. Move out before she gets home.”
    â€œAll right.”
    Blumberg looked at his watch and stood up. “I’ve got to run,” he said.
    â€œOne thing, Marc,” Stone said. “I don’t want you to mention this to anybody —staff, wife— anybody .”
    â€œThat goes without saying,” Blumberg replied.
    Stone walked him to his car. “Thanks for coming,” he said.
    â€œDon’t worry about a thing,” Blumberg said breezily. “I’ll get her off.”
    Stone waved good-bye, then went to his own car. You probably will, he thought, but I hope to God it doesn’t come to that.
    He went back to his desk, called Dolce again and got the same message. It only made him angrier. He was glad to be having some company tonight.

Fifteen
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    S TONE AND BETTY SAT AT A GOOD TABLE AT SPAGO BEVERLY Hills. “I remember when this was another restaurant,” he said. “I had lunch here a couple of times, in the garden.”
    â€œI’ll give you a little Beverly Hills gossip,” Betty said. “You know why the old place failed, after many years as a success?”
    â€œTell me.”
    â€œThe story is, a group of prominent wives were having lunch here, when they overheard the owner make an anti-Semitic remark. They told their friends, their friends told their friends, and within two weeks, the place was empty. It went out of business not long afterward.”
    â€œI’ll bet you’re full of Beverly Hills gossip,” Stone said.
    â€œYou bet I am.”
    â€œThen tell me, was Vance sleeping with Charlene Joiner?”
    Betty smiled. “What do you know about Charlene Joiner?”
    â€œJust what I read in the papers during the presidential campaign. She had once had an affair with Will Lee, back when he was first running for the Senate,