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Chapters (65)
  1. Cover
  2. BOOKS BY STUART WOODS
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  64. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  65. What’s next onyour reading list?

“What other interests do you have?”

“This hotel, among other things, and a growing list of others of the same name. And you design theater sets?”

“I do.”

“And what brings you to Los Angeles? Film work?”

“No, I came to supervise the installation of a set that I originally designed for New York. After L.A., they’ll take it on the road for a national tour, and the hell with them—they can install it themselves.”

“What play?”

“Native Daughter.”

“I saw it a few months ago, and I enjoyed it, but of course I particularly admired the set.”

She laughed. “Hardly anybody ever says that, unless they know I’m the designer.”

“I admired it before I knew you were the designer. I especially liked your very effective use of the scrim.”

“Careful, you’ll make me blush with such language. What brings you to L.A.?”

“A meeting of the Arrington board, upon which I sit.”

“Is it painful, talking company business while sitting on a board?”

“The board is well-cushioned, and the company good.”

“You said that’s your house?” she asked, nodding at it.

“I did.”

“On the grounds of a hotel?”

“The hotel is named for my late wife, Arrington, and the house was built for her on this property, which belonged first to her previous husband, then after his death, to her.”

“And now to you?”

“And now to the hotel, which bought it.”

“It’s becoming clear, as through a scrim. The actor Vance Calder once owned the land, didn’t he?”

“He was her previous husband.”

“Such a history!”

“Indeed.”

She stretched. “That was a delicious lunch, but I feel a nap coming on.”

“Shall we continue this conversation over dinner?”

“What a good idea.” She stood up, shed the robe, and draped it over her chair, then she walked slowly away.

Stone appreciated the view for a few seconds before calling, “Seven o’clock? My house?”

She waved a hand in assent, then stepped through a small opening in the hedge that separated Stone’s house from the cottage next door and disappeared from view.

32

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF the Arrington Hotels Group convened at five PM that afternoon, and Stone, refreshed by his swim and renewed by his new acquaintance, attended.