Swimming to Catalina

they’ll do.”
    “They know I’m not in New York.”
    “What?” Vance asked, alarmed.
    “They think I’m dead.”
    “Dead?” he asked weakly.
    “Did you go to a dinner party on Ippolito’s yacht at Catalina a few nights ago?”
    “I was invited but I didn’t go.”
    “I was invited and didn’t go, either. On the way to the party, I got dumped into the Pacific with my hands and feet bound and an anchor shackled to me.”
    Vance’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “They wouldn’t do something like that to…”
    “They’ve been threatening to do it to Arrington, haven’t they? Why wouldn’t they do it to me?”

    Vance buried his face in his hands. “Oh, shit, shit, shit. I’m so sorry, Stone; I never meant for something like that to happen to you, and it’s my fault.”
    “How so?”
    “I told them you were at the Bel-Air.”
    “And how did you know?” Stone asked, knowing the answer.
    “Betty told me.”
    “She told you not them?”
    “Yes. She doesn’t know who’s involved; she doesn’t know anything about this, except what she might imagine. She told me because she would never hide anything from me.”
    “I’m glad to hear she didn’t tell Ippolito,” Stone said, and he was. He felt better about Betty now.
    “Betty would never do anything to harm you,” Vance said. “I think she’s half in love with you.”
    “You’re very lucky to have her,” Stone said, reflecting that Vance seemed to have the women he wanted.
    “I certainly am.”
    “Vance, if you will trust me enough to tell me what’s going on, I can help, I’m sure I can.”
    Vance looked at him, his jaw set. “Stone, if I could, I would; but I can’t doanything that might have even the slightest chance of harming Arrington.”
    Stone nodded. “Then I guess I’d better be going.”
    Vance walked him to the door. “I hope I can tell you all about this someday, when it’s over.”
    “Vance, are you going to tell Ippolito I was here, that I’m alive?”
    “No. I swear to God I won’t.”
    Stone shook his hand and left. He hoped the actor wasn’t lying.

41
    Stone walked into the Beverly Hills branch of the Safe Harbor Bank and asked to see the branch manager. Shortly he was seated at the man’s desk. “Welcome back, Mr. Barrington,” Marshall said. “I hope you’ve come to open an account with us.”
    “I’m afraid not, Mr. Marshall; I’ve just come to cash the cashier’s check you arranged for me on my last visit.”
    “Of course.”
    Stone took the check from his inside pocket and handed it over. “I’m afraid it’s a little worse for the wear; I had a boating accident.”
    Marshall inspected the check closely. “Yes, it is a bit worn, isn’t it? Still, I can make out the check number and what’s left of my signature. Of course we’ll cash it; how would you like the money?”
    “In hundreds, please.”
    Marshall was no longer looking at Stone, but over his shoulder.

    “Good afternoon, Mr. Ippolito,” he said, “Would you excuse me for just a moment?” he said to Stone. Marshall walked past his desk toward the door of his office.
    Stone froze in his seat; he could hear the voices both men from behind him.
    “What brings you to see us?” Marshall asked.
    “I was in the neighborhood, and I just thought I’d drop in,” Ippolito said.
    “I’m just cashing a check for a customer,” Marshall said. “If you’ll wait just a moment my office will be free, and we can talk, if you like.”
    “No, no,” Ippolito said. “I really was just in the neighborhood. I do want to compliment you, though, on the very nice increase in new accounts.”
    “We’ve been working hard on that,” Marshall said.
    “Well, I’ll be off, then; you get back to your customer.”
    “Good to see you again, Mr. Ippolito.” Marshall returned to his desk. “That was our chairman,” he said to Stone. “I’m sorry, I should have introduced you.”
    “That’s quite all right,” Stone said, dabbing at his damp forehead with a handkerchief “If you don’t mind, I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
    “Of course; I’ll be right back with your money.”
    Stone allowed himself to look over his shoulder. Ippolito was still in the bank, shaking hands with a man just inside the front door.
    Marshall returned with Stone’s fifteen thousand dollars and handed him an envelope. “Be sure and count it.”
    “Thank you,” Stone said, standing up. “That won’t be necessary.” He