“Stepson. His mother and I had a relationship before she and Vance were married.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “And she married him, knowing that she was carrying your child?”

“A few weeks passed before she knew.”

“And what did she do then?”

“Nothing, as far as I know.”

“She didn’t tell either of you?”

“No, though she thought that Vance came to suspect later on. Still, he and Peter had a good relationship.”

“And when did the two of you have that opportunity?”

“A few years ago. It worked out very well in the end.”

The butler refreshed their drinks.

“I’m sorry to be digging into your personal life.”

“I don’t mind. I’d like you to know me better, as I would like to know you.”

“What a nice thought.”

“And since you so immediately satisfied my curiosity, I’m happy to satisfy yours.”

“That was a mutual satisfaction, if you recall.”

“I’m happy you think of it that way. Oh, and I hope you like beef.”

“One of my favorite things.”

“Good. I’ve ordered chateaubriand for us. They do it very well here.”

“Oh, that kind of beef. Well, I like that, too.”

Stone laughed aloud.

The butler called them to dinner, at a table for two set in the study. Stone tasted the wine and pronounced it satisfactory.

“And what are we drinking tonight?” she asked.

“A Château Mouton Rothschild 1978.”

“My goodness!”

“Drinking better wines was something I started to do when I began to prosper.”

“What a good idea! When I began to prosper I began drinking wines with corks, instead of screw tops.”

“A good move up. By the way, since we’re both returning to New York the same day, may I give you a lift?”

“A lift in what?”

“I’m here in my own airplane.”

“What sort of an airplane?”

“A jet.”

“Well, I seem to be moving up in all sorts of ways.”

34

AN ARRINGTON HOTEL CAR drove Stone to Centurion Studios the following morning, and his board of directors’ pass got him through the gate. Peter’s offices were housed in what had been Vance Calder’s cottage on the lot, and he had expanded into another building next door.

Billy Barnett was waiting for him in a rocking chair on the front porch. Billy had begun life as Teddy Fay and had been a career CIA officer, working in and eventually directing their office of special services, which equipped agents with all sorts of things, from weapons to communications equipment and even more exotic items. Upon his retirement Teddy had started a personal war against certain politicians, and for some years he had been an elusive fugitive from justice, until Stone had used his friendship with the former president, Will Lee, to get him pardoned and his identity wiped clean from the government’s computers. “Billy Barnett” was now an upstanding citizen.