Billy, back when he was still Teddy Fay, had killed people, but he had never done it for money, and he frowned on the practice. Maybe he should have a chat with Harry. Or, on the other hand, maybe he should just mind his own business. He decided to do that.

—

STONE HAD SPENT the morning by the pool reading the papers, and it got to be lunchtime. Ed Eagle came over from the house, and they ordered club sandwiches and beers.

“I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls from the media,” Ed said.

“So have I,” Stone replied. “Will Lee’s advice was to lie low, and that’s what I’m doing.”

“Then I’ll do the same,” Ed said. “Anyway, we’re getting out of here first thing tomorrow morning, and they won’t chase me to Santa Fe.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Stone said.

“I got an odd piece of news this morning,” Eagle said. “I was speaking with a client of mine who has a problem and needs my advice. He’s got a house for sale in Bel-Air, and he got an offer from somebody named Grosvenor.”

“Funny,” Stone said, “I know somebody named Charles Grosvenor who’s looking for a Bel-Air house.”

Eagle stared at him. “Why didn’t you mention that?”

Stone frowned. “Why would I do that? The guy’s a Brit who’s moving to L.A. My office asked me to meet with him, and I introduced him to the managing partner of our L.A. office at a lunch at the Bel-Air.”

“Stone,” Eagle said, “Charles Grosvenor is Barbara’s most recent husband. They live in San Francisco.”

“Can’t be the same guy,” Stone said. “I met his wife and she doesn’t look anything like Barbara.”

“Barbara is very good at not looking anything like Barbara,” Eagle said. “Describe her.”

“Maybe early forties, slim, busty, straight gray hair to her shoulders.” Stone remembered something else. “Uh-oh, American.”

“Where did you last see her?”

“At the Bel-Air lunch a couple of days ago.”

“Barbara likes the Bel-Air,” Eagle said. “She murdered somebody there once. Thinking it was me, she put a bullet in the man’s head as he slept.”

“That’s right, she did, didn’t she? She doesn’t know you’re in town, does she?”

“If she watches TV or reads the papers, she knows,” Eagle said. “You and I are all over them. In any case, she’d know I’d be at the convention—I never miss one.”

“Ed, maybe you should talk to Mike Freeman about a little personal security while you’re in town.”

Eagle didn’t seem to hear him. “Last time, she hired somebody—a stunt man from out at Centurion. He missed, so she killed him.” He seemed to remember that Stone had said something. “I’m sorry, did you say something about personal security?”