Stone Barrington 27 - Doing Hard Time

looked embarrassed. “Maybe four feet.”
    “I don’t think Mike Freeman would hire you.”
    The agent returned. “We’ll have different vehicles tomorrow—no SUVs.”
    Teddy looked toward the rear of the hangar and saw Peter and Betsy standing outside the office, chatting. They shook hands, and Teddy joined them.
    “I’ve just hired myself a personal assistant,” Peter said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Betsy, and I’ll leave a studio pass and a parking pass for you at the gate.”
    Betsy went back upstairs, and Teddy and Peter sat down in the office.
    “Betsy is perfect,” Peter said. “Two minutes into our conversation, she was redefining the job, and she was right. She’s going to work for Ben and Hattie, too, until we need more help. We’ve got another room at the bungalow that you and Betsy can use as an office. I’ll call Ruth and have her get some furniture in there.”
    “Sounds great,” Teddy said. “Now let’s get to work.”
    •   •   •
    Stone rode back to The Arrington with his agent driver, and as they passed the Bel-Air Hotel, Stone said, “Let’s stop here for a drink.”
    The driver ignored the instruction and continued on.
    “Didn’t you hear me?” Stone asked.
    “You used to be a cop, didn’t you?”
    “Yes, for fourteen years.”
    “During those years, how many times did you do security details, protecting a VIP?”
    Stone thought about it. “Never.”
    “I thought not, otherwise you wouldn’t ask me to take you into a place where two people who want to kill you and know what you look like are staying. Can you see why that wouldn’t be a good idea?”
    Stone said nothing.
    “You were hoping to get another shot, weren’t you?”
    “All right, I guess I was.”
    “You’ve already been involved in one shooting incident today and got off scot-free. You’ve got a lot to lose. Don’t push your luck.”

Stone and Mike Freeman were having an early breakfast. The kids had already left for work.
    “I read the reports from yesterday,” Mike said.
    “Your people did well.”
    “Yes, they reacted well, even if one of them tiptoed along the edge of our company policies. He was reprimanded for that.”
    “You should be pleased to have him working for you,” Stone said.
    “I am, but all my people are expected to meet company standards in their behavior—that means
my
standards.”
    “Mike, I apologize for leading your agent even a little astray, but I came within an inch of ending this.”
    “Yes, and in the middle of a crowded Los Angeles avenue, with a cop watching from across the street and at least fifty potential witnesses.”
    “We walked away from it,” Stone said.
    “This time. You’re going to have to alter your behavior.”
    “In what way?”
    Mike sighed. “You’re going to have to be more careful.”
    Stone looked at him askance. “You’re not telling me to stop trying?”
    “Just be more careful,” Mike said. “And I will not collude with you on this.”
    “Understood. Do you have any advice?”
    “Don’t work alone,” he said. “You have access to someone who is experienced at these things, much more so than you or I.”
    “Ah, Teddy. Or Billy. He thinks his best move is to guard Peter and take out Vlad when he comes for him.”
    Mike shrugged. “That’s one way to work—a valid way.”
    “He won’t go on offense because he says the Bel-Air is too secure.”
    “Not
that
secure,” Mike said. “I think he means there are too many people around for him to get in and out alone.”
    “So you’re telling me to work with Billy?”
    “I told you, I will not collude with you in this business. However, I did send two men with Peter this morning, instead of one. They will be with him all day. That should free up Billy.” He took a jotter pad from a pocket, wrote down something, and slid it across the table. “This is Billy’s cell number.”
    •   •   •
    Stone was sitting at poolside, reading some contracts that had been sent from New York, when the phone beside him rang. “Yes?”
    “Mr. Barrington, this is the front gate. There’s a Mr. Barnett to see you.”
    “Send him up to the house.” He hung up. He had already alerted his security man.
    Five minutes later, Billy Barnett was sitting next to him, sipping a Virgin Mary. “In my former existence,” Billy said, “we used to call this drink a Bloody Awful.”
    Stone smiled. “A very good name.”
    “Why did you want to see me?”
    “Because