Swimming to Catalina

don’t know. We keep plugging away, something might pop. Calder’s the way in. You know him; what would it take to get him on our side?”
    “I’m worried that it might take Arrington’s death. Jesus, Ithink that would do it. His secretary explained movie stars to me once, and from what she says, theythink only about the career; there’s nothing else they love as much.”
    “You don’t think he loves his wife?”
    “According to Betty’s theory, sure, but she isn’t as important as his remaining a movie star. Of course, that’s just her theory.”
    “Then again,” Rick said, “she knows Vance Calder better than you or me.”
    “Yeah. All we can do is hope she’s wrong,” Stone replied. “Say, how are you and Barbara getting along?”
    Rick smiled a little. “Very well, thank you.”
    “I thought you’d like her.”
    “You’re very perceptive. You should have been a detective.”

43
    Stone parked on the quiet Beverly Hills street and switched off the engine. He had driven around the block twice, and there was no sign of unwanted company. He got out his pocket cell phone and dialed the number.
    “Hello,” she said.
    “Hi, it’s Stone.” He waited tensely for the reaction.
    “Well, hello, stranger,” she said, and there was delight in her voice. “I was beginning to think I was never going to hear from you again.”
    What did she mean by that? “You don’t get off that easily,” he replied.
    “How are things in New York?”
    “Lonely.”
    “Me, too. I might be able to get away for a few days while Vance is between pictures; all I need is an invitation.”
    “Let me work on that. You home alone?”
    “Yes. Sad, isn’t it?”

    “You going to be there for a while?”
    “Nothing else to do. Vance hasn’t been in for days; I’m underworked.”
    “A friend of mine is going to drop by with a present for you.”
    “Who’s the friend?”
    “An ex-cop.”
    “What’s the present?”
    “Wait and see.”
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    “Talk to you soon.” Stone broke the connection, got out of the car, walked to the front door, and rang the bell.
    “Coming!” she called, her voice muffled. There were footsteps, and she opened the door.
    “Good evening, Ms. Southard,” Stone said.
    Her mouth dropped open, and just for a moment he knew she wasn’t glad to see him.
    “May I come in?”
    “Of course.” She stood back and let him in. “What are you doing back in L.A. so soon?”
    “Fix me a gin and tonic, and I’ll tell you anything.”
    She waved at the living room sofa. “Sit.” Then she went into the kitchen, came back with two drinks, and sat down beside him.
    “I don’t think you’re really glad to see me,” he said.
    She didn’t deny it. “You surprised me.”
    “Not entirely a pleasant surprise, I take it.”
    “I wish I could say it was. You’re back here to make trouble for Vance, aren’t you?”
    “I never left town,” he said.
    She looked at him, astonished. “You don’t know how dangerous that was.”

    “And I couldn’t possibly make more trouble for Vance than he already has on his hands.”
    “It was very dangerous, Stone.”
    “More dangerous than you know Ippolito had two of his goons drop me in the Pacific with an anchor attached.”
    Her eyes grew wide.
    He held up a hand. “Don’t worry, I survived.”
    She sank half her drink and set it down. “Oh, God,” she said. “It was my fault.”
    “How so?”
    “I told Vance you were still here, and he must have told Ippolito.”
    “That’s accurate, I think.”
    “What are you going to do about it?” she asked apprehensively.
    “Well, I don’t have to find the two goons. They were dredged up by a trawler this morning in a similar condition to what they intended me to be.”
    She shook her head. “Swell. What have I gotten myself involved in?”
    “Kidnapping, murder, probably a number of other major crimes.”
    “You don’t think I had anything to do with…what they did to you?”
    “No; not intentionally, anyway.”
    “Well, thank God for that much, at least. Please tell me what is going on, Stone.”
    “I think you’re in a better position to tell me.”
    “I’ve already explained myself on that point.”
    “You’ve got to help Vance.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Well, right now, Vance is well on his way to getting his wife killed and destroying himself. Are you going to help him do that?”

    “I don’t really know all that much,” she said, picking up her