Dishonorable Intentions (2 page)

S
tone was asleep, curled up behind Gala, when a noise woke him. It wasn't much of a noise, so he began drifting off again, then there was a loud crash. Bob was snoring away, ignoring his role in security management.

Gala woke, too. “What was that?”

“I don't know. Do you have a gun in the house?”

“Bedside table, top drawer. There's one in the chamber.”

There was another noise, loud enough to waken even Bob. He began growling, but he didn't move.

Stone got up and trotted noiselessly across the kitchen and into the master suite. He found the gun, a Colt Government .380; he opened the slide slightly to be sure there was a round chambered. The noise came again. He tiptoed to the door opening onto a patio and silently opened it, stepping outside in his bare feet.

A scraping noise came from his left, sounding like somebody trying to get in through a window or door. The evening desert chill hit him, and he realized he was naked. He crept to the corner of the house and looked around it, just as an outdoor security light came on. The intruder blinked in the harsh light, then stared at Stone.

Stone found himself staring back at a large black bear, no more than ten feet from where he stood. The bear uttered a low, threatening noise. Stone screamed wordlessly at him, while jumping up and down and waving his arms. The bear seemed to reevaluate his threat, while watching Stone with curiosity.

“Okay,” Stone said to the bear, “I can't shout any louder than that. How about this?” He pointed the gun and pulled the trigger twice, hitting the tree he had been aiming at.

The bear thought better of things, spun around, and hurried off into the darkness.

“Well done,” a voice behind him said.

Startled, Stone spun around. Gala stood in the door, as naked as he. Bob peeked out from behind her. “Did you invite that guy over for drinks?”

Gala laughed. “They sometimes come down the mountain and into the village. When I had the new roof put on, the roofers found bear scat up there.”

Stone suddenly realized he was cold and stepped inside, shivering.

“Dinner is in twenty minutes,” Gala said. “We'd better get dressed.”

They arrived at the residence of Ed and Susannah Eagle fashionably late.

“I'm sorry we were late,” Stone said, “but we had an intruder.”

“An intruder?” Ed asked.

“Biggest black bear you ever saw.”

“Did he get into the house?”

“No, I fired a couple of shots into a tree, and he thought better of it.”

Ed handed them both a Knob Creek on the rocks. “Susannah is finishing dinner. Use this as a stopgap.” He waved them to a living room sofa. “You don't ever want one of those things to get into the house, Gala, they can destroy it in minutes.”

“I'll keep that in mind, Ed.”

“Didn't you bring Bob?”

“I thought he needed his rest. I think the bear scared him to death.”

“Stone, can we hitch a ride to L.A. with you tomorrow? My airplane blew a couple of current limiters, and we had to order replacements from Wichita.”

“Of course.”

“Anyway, I've wanted a chance to fly your airplane.”

“You'll love it. My cockpit is identical to your M2's, except for a single cockpit switch.”

Susannah came into the room and greeted them both with hugs and kisses. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour,” she said, accepting a drink from her husband. “We're looking forward to your party Monday night, Stone.”

Stone was throwing a large party at his house at the Arrington for Ben Bacchetti. “It's going to be mostly studio people,” he said.

“Why aren't Dino and Viv with you?”

“Dino had a thing he couldn't avoid. They're flying in commercial tomorrow.”

“Will Mary Ann be there, too?”

Mary Ann Bianci was Dino's ex-wife and Ben's mother.

“Oh, sure.”

“That should be exciting.”

“Mary Ann has been behaving herself, since her father died. The experience seems to have mellowed her.”

“I'm so glad to hear it. I remember when she could be a horrible bitch.”

“If she gets started, we'll throw a bag over her and push her into the pool.”

“That, I'd like to see. Who from the studio is coming?” Susannah asked.

“I left that to Ben and Peter. They tell me we'll be thirty for dinner. We'll do a buffet around the pool.”

“Will the President and the President be there?”

“The Lees will be in town to meet with the Japanese prime minister. They'll be occupying the presidential cottage, but I don't expect to see them during their visit.”

“How's their baby doing?”

“I've met him only once, and he seems to be behaving like a baby should. He's cheerful enough.”

—

D
inner was beef and plenty of it, washed down with a couple of bottles of the Caymus Special Selection Cabernet. It was nearly midnight when the party broke up, and Stone and Gala returned to her house.

“Shall I inspect for bears?” Stone asked as they got out of the car.

“Not without the gun,” Gala replied. “It's back in the bedside drawer.”

She let them into the house. Stone collected the gun and walked back onto the patio off the master suite. The outside lights automatically sensed his presence and came on. He moved carefully around the rear exterior of the house. Something rustled in the bushes, but nothing big enough for a bear; however, he managed to step in something that was too much for a dog or a coyote. He had to get paper towels from the kitchen to clean it off his shoe.

Gala was looking out of sorts when he returned. He cleared the weapon and returned it to its drawer. “I'll clean the gun for you tomorrow.” He looked at her closely. “Something the matter?”

“A phone message from my ex-husband,” Gala said wearily. “He wants to see me when we're in L.A.”

“You don't have to see him.”

“If I don't, he'll just keep calling. I'll have a drink with him and get it over with.”

“Whatever you say.”

“I just can't imagine what he could want. He's gotten everything the settlement entitled him to. The last thing he demanded was a case of old wine that he forgot to include.”

“I hope you drank it.”

“No, I shipped it to him.”

“But he keeps asking for things?”

“That's his pattern.”

“You'll have to call an end to that. I'll help, if I can. You can introduce me as your new attorney.”

“That's a thought. Let's see how it goes in L.A.”

They made love again and were soon asleep. Why did beautiful women always seem to have grumpy ex-husbands? he wondered as he drifted off.

S
tone was served a sumptuous breakfast in bed, while watching his favorite Sunday-morning shows, which Gala had TiVo-ed for him. To his surprise, CBS News
Sunday Morning
had a feature on Boris Tirov, Gala's ex-husband.

“I heard about this a couple of weeks ago,” Gala said, “but I forgot about it. We may as well watch it.”

In an interview conducted next to his large pool overlooking Malibu Beach, Tirov, a handsome, fit-looking fellow of around fifty, waxed eloquent about his success in the film business, commenting graciously on some of the people he'd worked with.

“I understand you're leaving Sony and taking your production company to Centurion,” the interviewer said.

“I'm afraid I can't comment about that,” Tirov replied.

“Would such an announcement come as a surprise to Sony?” he was asked.

Boris chuckled. “It might come as a surprise to Centurion.”

“How long ago was this interview filmed?” Stone asked.

“At least a couple of weeks ago, maybe longer. I'm a bit surprised—Boris would seem to be a better fit at one of the bigger studios than at Centurion, which is a more gentlemanly place.”

“Would you like him not to be at Centurion?”

“From the sound of it, it's probably too late for that. At least he won't be in management, so he won't be able to interfere with my new deal at Centurion.”

“How many pictures is your deal for?”

“Three, but it's a writing deal, not a production deal. I don't have a company to move there and take up a lot of office space, the way Boris does. I'll get a small bungalow, and that's good enough for me, since I do most of my work at home or while traveling.”

“If Boris's deal isn't signed and sealed, I may be able to have some effect on it after tomorrow, when I'm appointed to the board.”

“Don't do anything on my account,” Gala said. “It would just get back to Boris and make things more difficult for me.”

“Whatever you say,” Stone replied, downing the rest of his orange juice and pouring himself some coffee. “I'll stay out of it.”

“That would probably be best.”

Stone turned to the Sunday
New York Times
, and in the Arts section immediately found a story about Boris Tirov's move from Sony to Centurion. He handed it to Gala. “Looks like he's
serious enough to give the story to the
Times
. Or is that just a PR move, to make Sony think twice about his deal there?”

“Could be,” she said. “Boris has done that sort of thing before.”

Stone picked up his iPhone, looked up the name of the CEO of Centurion, Leo Goldman Jr., and pressed the button.

“Good morning, Stone,” Leo said. “Nice to hear from you on a Sunday.”

“Sorry about that, Leo. I just wondered if you'd seen the story in the
Times
about Boris Tirov leaving Sony for Centurion.”

“Yes, I did see that, and it was a surprise, since the board is not scheduled to consider that deal until tomorrow. You'll be there, won't you?”

“I will be.”

“Do you have a view on the Tirov move?”

“I find it a little premature to announce a deal that is still awaiting board approval.”

“Tell me, Stone, is it possible that you are calling from Santa Fe?”

“Entirely possible.”

“I thought perhaps you might be. There'll be time for a full discussion of the Tirov deal at tomorrow's meeting. See you there.”

“Goodbye, Leo.” Stone hung up. “Boris's deal is before the board tomorrow. I think Leo was annoyed that it was in today's
Times
.”

“Oh.”

“And he figured out that I am here with you.”

“How did he do that?”

“The grapevine, I suppose.”

“Does he know what we did in bed last night?”

“He'd better not.”

“Oh, good, then it's not so bad, is it?”

“I suppose not. How would you like to see the board's decision go tomorrow?”

“I don't have an opinion,” Gala said primly.

“An ex-wife without an opinion on her husband's business? I've never heard of such a thing. I believe you told me that you've already received everything due to you under your settlement?”

“That's correct.”

“Then the board's decision won't affect you.”

“Not in that way.”

“Is there some other way that it might affect you?”

“I hope it won't be uncomfortable for me, working on the same lot as Boris.”

“I see.”

“I'm glad.”

Stone turned back to his
Times.

S
tone set down at Santa Monica Airport with Ed Eagle in the right seat, and they, along with Susannah and Gala, were met by chauffeur-driven Bentleys from the Arrington. Half an hour later they were deposited in front of Stone's house on the hotel property, and their luggage was being taken to the master suite, while the Eagles were settled into a guest suite.

“This is lovely,” Gala said, looking around the house. “And it looks as if it has always been here.”

“That was my instruction to the builder and the interior designer.”

They settled into the library and were brought refreshments by a butler.

“Tell me how this Arrington group came into existence,” Gala said. “Ed told me something about it, but I'm hazy on the details.”

“My late wife, Arrington, was previously married to Vance Calder.”

“I knew that part. She's Peter's mother?”

“Yes. When Vance died, Arrington and Peter's trust inherited his property, which included eighteen acres of Bel-Air. I and a group of investors formed the group, and Arrington sold us the land, with the provision that we would build her a permanent residence on the property.”

“What happened to Calder's old house? I was there once, and it was beautiful.”

“It was expanded and became what is now the reception center and the executive offices. When Arrington died, I inherited her house, still uncompleted, from her estate. Any further questions?”

“So Peter is Vance's son?”

“No, Arrington and I were an item before she met Vance, and on our last night together she became pregnant, although she didn't know it until a bit later. She met Calder, was infatuated with him, and they ran off and got married. Peter was the result of that pregnancy. He and I didn't really become acquainted until after Vance's death. Fortunately, the relationship took, and we've been close since that time.”

“Thank you, I think I've got it all now.”

“You're welcome.”

There was a bustling in the front hall, and Dino and Viv Bacchetti entered the room. “I heard booze was being served in here,” Dino said.

Stone introduced the Bacchettis to Gala, and booze was served.

“What are we doing for dinner?” Dino asked.

“The chef is preparing some of his delicacies for us,” Stone replied.

“That works for me,” Dino said.

“Gala, would you like to see the rest of the house? Perhaps Viv would show you around.”

“Love to,” Gala said, and the two women left, carrying their drinks.

“How was your flight?” Stone asked.

“Not as good as yours was,” Dino replied. “Even first class doesn't cut it, compared to Stone Airlines.”

“It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you say so. I'll be happy to give you a lift home.”

“Apart from the party for Ben, have you got business out here?”

“I'm being seated on the board of Centurion Studios tomorrow morning at ten
AM
, followed by a luncheon in the studio canteen.”

“What time is the party tomorrow night?”

“People are invited for drinks at six, followed by dinner. L.A. is an early town.”

“Suits me, I've got three hours of jet lag to deal with.” Dino peered closely at Stone. “You don't seem to be thrilled by this board appointment.”

“I am appropriately thrilled,” Stone said, “but on the agenda
for my first board meeting is the approval of a production deal between Gala's ex-husband, one Boris Tirov, and Centurion. She's uneasy about having him on the same lot—she just signed to write three scripts for the studio. I'm uneasy about it, too, and I've been trying to figure out how I can torpedo Tirov's deal without appearing to.”

“Ah, I see you're acquiring the habits of the denizens here, already plotting against somebody.”

“I'm not plotting against him, this is just business.”

“That's what they always say just before they pull the trigger.”

“I haven't shared my concerns with any other board members, though I spoke briefly with Leo Goldman after I saw the announcement of the deal in the
New York Times
today.”

“It's already in the
Times
, and the board hasn't approved it, yet?”

“I think that may count against Mr. Tirov. He's making television appearances, too.”

“Maybe you won't have to slip the knife in, then.”

“Maybe not, though I'll do it if I have to.”

“Having had a look at Gala, I can see why. She's a knockout, just as beautiful as her sister, and younger.”

“All that you say is true,” Stone replied,

The women returned, and they schmoozed until dinnertime.