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“What’s not to enjoy?”
She laughed. “I like your attitude. Maybe the next time you come out here I can arrange something like that.”
“What an exciting idea.”
She had his genitals in both hands now, and they were both unbearably excited. She lay down beside him and took him into her, throwing a leg over his body. From that time until morning they did not speak again.
“So, you’re leaving today?” Betty asked over breakfast.
“Maybe. Or maybe I’ll stick around a little longer.”
“What for? Last night you sounded determined to leave.”
Tired of cat-and-mouse, he decided to go for broke. “Ippolito interests me,” he said.
“The banker? Why?”
“I think he’s behind all this.”
“Behind what?”
“Affington’s disappearance.”
“That doesn’t make any sense at all, Stone,” she said, sounding worried.
“I’m begi
She stopped eating. “Stone, I think it’s better that you stay away from Mr. Ippolito.”
“Why? It’s a free country. I’ve been a cop and an investigator long enough to know that you can find out anything about anybody, and I’m going to find out more about Ippolito.”
“That could be dangerous,” she said quietly.
“I thought you didn’t know anything about the man,” he said, “and here you are telling me he’s dangerous.”
“It’s just an impression.”
“And how did you get that impression?”
“Just from things I’ve heard.” She looked at her watch. “God, I’ve got to get to the office; Vance is coming in early this morning for a meeting about a new film.”
Stone walked her to the door. “I want to thank you,” he said. “You’ve been wonderful.”
She put her arms around his neck. “If you want to thank me, go back to New York today.”
“I don’t think so,” Stone said.
She looked frightened but said nothing. She kissed him and ran out the door.
Stone watched her go, wondering how long it would take to pass on their conversation.
It took until just before lunch. The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Barrington?”
“Yes.”
“This is Onofrio Ippolito. How are you?”
“I’m very well, Mr. Ippolito. I’m surprised to hear from you; hardly anyone knows I’m staying at the Bel-Air.”
“It’s a small town.”
“I suppose so.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk more at di
“We discussed it.”
“I have many interests in New York, too; I wonder if we might talk about your doing some work for me?”
“Of course.”
“Tell you what; I’m giving a di
“I’d be delighted.”
“The yacht is moored off Catalina Island, so if you’ll be at Marina Del Rey at eight o’clock, I’ll see that you’re ferried out there.”
“Fine.”
Ippolito gave him a slip number and a boat’s name,Maria. “I’ll look forward to seeing you,” he said.
“Thank you; I’ll see you this evening.”
Stone hung up the phone and sat back. Time to face the man and ask some direct questions. In the meantime, he thought, he’d have a swim. He got up and went to look for a robe.
30
Stone arrived at Marina Del Rey at a little after eight and parked the car. He had dressed in one of his new Purple Label suits, dark blue with a white pinstripe, and had wom one of the new Sea Island cotton shirts and a new tie. He would probably e overdressed at the di
He walked down the ramp and along the pontoons, looking for the berth number he had been given. The light was going now, and as he passed the pontoon wherePaloma was berthed, he noticed no lights were on. Maybe he’d see Barbara and her boyfriend at di
Stone experienced an urge to turn around and walk the other way, but before he could, the man smiled and spoke.
“Mr. Barrington? We’ve been waiting for you; come aboard, please.”
Stone walked up the small gangplank.
“I’m Ma
Vincent Mancuso stuck out a hand, and Stone shook it. After all, they had never been formally introduced. “We’re all ready,” Vi
“Where’s Mr. Ippolito,” Stone asked, “and the other guests?”
Vi
“Can I get you something to drink?” Ma
“A beer would be good.”
Ma
“I’ll stay up here, I think,” Stone replied. “It’s a nice evening.” He felt more comfortable now, and he took a seat near the stem and sipped his beer.
“Yeah, it is a nice night, isn’t it?” Ma
Stone watched the moored boats go past as the sports fisherman moved down the cha
“Oh, forty or forty-five minutes, I guess,” Ma
The boat was roaring through a flat sea now, into a giant red ball of a sun, and Stone began to enjoy the ride. They passed other boats coming from and going to Marina Del Rey, then after a while, they were alone on the water, tearing along.
Stone began to think about what he was going to say to Ippolito. Not much, he decided; he’d listen instead. He doubted if he was ever going to get any legal work from either Sturmack or Ippolito-that had just been the bait to get him out here. He was dying to know what they wanted to tell him.
They had been moving fast for more than half an hour when Vi
“Don’t want to rock anybody’s boat with our wake,” he said, then made a ninety-degree turn to the left and pulled the throttles back to idle, out of gear. The boat drifted.
“Where’s Mr. Ippolito’s yacht?” Stone asked. Then, from behind him, he heard the metallic sound of a gun being cocked, and he felt cold steel on the back of his neck. He turned to find Ma
“You’re not going to make it to the yacht,” Ma
Stone opened his mouth to speak as Vi
“Hold out your hands,” Ma
Stone didn’t move.
Ma