“There’s more. He went to Mexico City and managed to get the bulk of his money back, then he put a couple of trackers on her to bring her back to the States. Meantime, she had killed a Mexican cop in Acapulco who had attacked her, and they got ahold of her before she could leave the country. She was sent to a women’s prison east of Acapulco and within a pretty short time she had escaped and somehow made her way back to the States, where she got arrested for another murder. She was tried and, while awaiting the verdict, she escaped from the courthouse and with the help of a friend decamped to a spa somewhere around Palm Springs. It was there, a few days later, that she learned she had been acquitted at trial. At this point, all they had against her was jailbreak, and she negotiated that down to a suspended sentence.”

“Is there more? I’m exhausted.”

“There’s more. She met and married a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who had made a billion in the electronics business. He got himself killed in a freeway accident and she inherited everything. Now she lives in San Francisco, married to a car salesman she bought a Bentley from, and she bought him the dealership. She’s also inherited a significant chunk of stock in Centurion Studios.

“But all this newfound wealth has not caused her to stop hating Ed Eagle. On two occasions, she’s hired hit men to kill him. Both attempts failed, but Ed lives with the knowledge that she could try again.”

“What’s her name?”

“She didn’t change it after leaving Ed—it’s still Barbara Eagle, as far as I know.”

“Holy shit! I know about her. She’s very big in half a dozen arts organizations in San Francisco, and she was a big Democratic contributor until someone uncovered her more unsavory aspects and Dick Collins stopped taking her money. Now she’s a big-time Republican contributor!”

“As far as I’m concerned,” Stone said, “they can have her.”

“I want to meet Ed Eagle,” Ann said.

“He’s coming to lunch here today. Can you shake free?”

“I can try. Twelve-thirty, did you say?”

“Out by the pool. Susannah won’t be there today, she’s spa-ing.”

“I’ll do what I can,” she said.

“I think you’ll like Ed—I know he’ll like you.”

Chapter 11

Stone was waiting by the pool when Ed Eagle arrived. Manolo saw to the couple’s luggage, then brought a pitcher of iced tea for Stone and his guest.

“You’re looking well, Ed.”

“You, too, Stone. I was awfully sorry about Arrington’s death.”

“I got your note, thanks, and the flowers. Is Susannah well?”

“She’s just great. She’s been developing her own films for a while now and she enjoys that.”