6 Stone Barrington Novels by Stuart Woods Page B

and the Republicans tried to make something of it.”
    â€œWell, let me tell you: Charlene is some piece of work. She has cut a swath through the rich and powerful in this town, and she has done it very cleverly, choosing her partners carefully, as much for their discretion as for what they can do for her career.”
    â€œSounds like a smart girl.”
    â€œSmart, and from what I can glean, spectacular in the sack, in a town where outstanding is ordinary.”
    â€œBut was Vance sleeping with her?”
    Betty toyed with her drink.
    â€œI don’t think it would be disloyal of you to tell me.”
    â€œYes, I know; Vance is dead, but sometimes I feel as though he’s just on location, or something, and that he might walk into the bungalow at any moment.”
    â€œIf you feel you’d be betraying a confidence, I understand.”
    â€œThis has something to do with Arrington, doesn’t it?” she asked.
    â€œIt might, before this is all over. It’s important that I know whether this is just a rumor, or if it’s true.”
    Stone looked up to see a lush-looking brunette in her midthirties walk up to their table. She was fashionably dressed, coiffed, and made up, and Stone thought her breasts seemed too large for the rest of her.
    â€œHello, Betty,” the woman said, her voice dripping with sympathy. “How are you doing, sweetie?”
    Stone stood up.
    â€œHi, Beverly,” Betty replied. “Oh, Stone, this is Beverly Walters; Beverly, this is Stone Barrington.”
    â€œArrington’s friend?” she held out a hand. “She’s told me so much about you.”
    â€œHow do you do?” Stone said.
    â€œHow long are you in town for?”
    â€œNot very long,” Stone replied.
    She fished a card from her handbag and handed it to him. “Call me; maybe I can help.”
    Stone pocketed the card. “Thank you.”
    â€œBetty, I’m so sorry about Vance; I know how close you were.”
    â€œThanks, Beverly,” Betty replied, without much enthusiasm.
    â€œCall me, if you want to bend an ear,” the woman said. She gave Stone a little wave and walked back to her table.
    â€œSteer clear of her ,” Betty said through clenched teeth.
    â€œShe’s the source of the rumor I’m trying to confirm,” Stone said. “She told the police that Vance was sleeping with Charlene Joiner.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know anything; she’s just inventing gossip.”
    Their dinner arrived.
    â€œBetty, one more time: Was Vance sleeping with her?”
    â€œAll right, I’ll tell you about Vance. It was his practice to sleep with all his leading ladies, and a lot of those in supporting roles, too.”
    â€œEven after he was married?”
    â€œHe never wavered. He’d either have them back to the bungalow for lunch or to his trailer. You haven’t seen the trailer, have you? It is very comfortable.”
    â€œ All his leading ladies?”
    â€œYou go back and watch any film that Vance starred in, and you may wonder why the love scenes are so convincing. Well, they were convincing, because they had been very well rehearsed.”
    â€œAnd how many pictures did Vance make after he was married?”
    Betty counted on her fingers. “Four,” she said.
    â€œYou think Arrington knew about this?”
    â€œI don’t think Vance was shortchanging her, if that’s what you mean.”
    â€œThis Walters woman told police that Arrington had complained to her that Vance had stopped sleeping with her, and that the reason was an affair with Charlene Joiner.”
    Betty shook her head. “That just doesn’t ring true. Vance was a sexual athlete his whole life. He was in superb physical condition, and he loved sex. He could have made a very nice living doing porno movies, because he had both the equipment and the endurance for the work. It’s much more likely that Arrington