“Don’t go anywhere alone while you’re out here,” Billy said. “I can arrange for studio security to hang with you, until you’re ready to go back to New York.”

“Thanks, Billy, but I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”

Stone went to find Gala.

—

Ben put away his phone and approached Billy. “I heard that, Billy,” he said. “Good idea—put a couple of people on Stone, but not too closely. Keep them in the background.”

“Got it,” Billy said.

7

Stone woke the following morning as the butler brought the breakfast cart into his bedroom. He woke Gala gently, and they had the breakfast. Stone began to read the New York Times, and Gala started on the L.A. papers.

“Uh-oh,” she said.

“What’s wrong?”

“Last night’s incident made the papers, both the Times and the Hollywood Reporter.”

“Are the pieces accurate?”

“Entirely.”

“We can thank the Centurion press office for that.”

“The problem is, any factual account of last night’s events will humiliate Boris.”

“Fine with me.”

“Not that he doesn’t deserve the humiliation, it’s just that he will react badly.”

“He seems to react badly to everything,” Stone observed.

“Everything but unqualified praise,” she admitted.

“Well, I don’t see what I can do about that, except ignore him.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Do you have a suggestion for handling this?”

“That’s the problem—there’s no way to handle it. I mean, I don’t think that Centurion is going to reverse its decision, do you?”

“Certainly not.”

“Then we’ll just have to sit it out and hope he doesn’t show his face around the hotel again.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“The L. A. Times piece refers to his being escorted out of the bar last week, after he insulted their film critic.”

“The head of security mentioned that. Did I tell you that I ordered him banned from the hotel grounds?”

“No, but what a good idea!”

“And Leo Goldman has banned him from Centurion, canceled his gate pass.”

The phone at bedside rang.

“Yes?”

“Mr. Barrington, there’s a lady on the phone from an entertainment television show, Hollywood Tonight, who wishes to speak with you.”

“All right, put her through.” There was a click. “Mr. Barrington?”

“Yes?”

“This is Helen Carr at Hollywood Tonight.”

“Good morning, Ms. Carr.”

“I wonder if I could ask you a few questions about last night’s incident at your home at the Arrington?”

“I’d rather not discuss it,” Stone said, “but the piece in the Times this morning was substantially accurate.”

“Mr. Tirov is saying that you pushed him into the swimming pool when he wasn’t looking. Is that correct?”

“It is not. Mr. Tirov found his way into the pool without my assistance or that of anyone else, and there were numerous witnesses.”

“May I quote you on that?”

“Please do, and now I’d like to finish my breakfast.”

“Of course. Goodbye.”