“Goodbye.” He hung up the phone. “Now Tirov is saying I pushed him into the pool.”

“He would say that.”

Stone pushed away his tray. “I’ve got to get into the shower. Dino and I are playing golf at the Bel-Air Country Club, and we’ve got a ten o’clock tee time. What are your plans for the day?”

“I believe I’ll stick close to home today. I’m sure Boris has found a way to blame me for last night, and I don’t want to run into him.”

“I don’t blame you a bit.”

—

Shortly before ten o’clock that morning, Stone and Dino stood, waiting for a foursome to tee off ahead of them at the Bel-Air Country Club, when they were approached by a man wearing a suit.

“Mr. Barrington?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Martin Glock. I’m the chairman of the membership committee at the club.”

This didn’t sound good, but Stone extended his hand. “How do you do, Mr. Glock?”

“Very well, thank you. We’re aware that you’ve been playing here for a year or so as a guest of Leo Goldman at Centurion Studios.”

“That’s correct.” I’m about to be kicked out of here, he thought. I smell Boris Tirov.

“Well, the membership committee met earlier this morning and elected three new members—yourself, your son, Peter, and his business partner, Ben Bacchetti. You’ll be notified by mail, of course, but I wanted to take the opportunity to meet you and give you the news personally.”

Stone heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, Mr. Glock, I’m delighted to hear it. May I introduce my guest? This is Dino Bacchetti, New York’s police commissioner.”

The two men shook hands. “Welcome, Commissioner. We’d be delighted to have you at the club anytime.”

“Thank you, Mr. Glock.”

“Please call me Martin. I’m afraid I have other news that isn’t so good,” Glock said.

“Oh?” Now what?

“The committee also considered the application of Mr. Boris Tirov, and he was declined, not least because of what we all read in the papers this morning. That, of course, is entirely confidential.”

“Of course,” Stone said. “I hope Mr. Tirov won’t be given the impression that I had anything to do with his being declined.”

“Certainly not. In cases like this we never give a reason for declining. You gentlemen appear to be up for teeing off. I hope you have a pleasant round.”

“Thank you,” Stone said. He teed his shot, took a couple of practice swings, and sliced his drive a good ten yards into the rough.

“Ah, your maiden drive as a new member,” Dino said, teeing his ball. He took a practice swing and drove his shot even with Stone’s but right down the center of the fairway.