12
STONE DROVE THE HUNDRED YARDS up the mountain and turned into Anastasia Bounine’s driveway. She was just locking the door to her house, and a suitcase and a train case stood next to her.
“Good afternoon,” Stone said with a kiss. “Ready to go?”
“Always,” she replied.
He stowed her luggage, and they drove to the airport and through the security gate. Stone’s CJ3 Plus awaited, and he put their luggage on board. “Last chance for the powder room,” he said to Ana. She walked into the FBO, and he did a thorough preflight inspection.
“Would you like to be comfortable in the rear?” he asked when she returned.
“Where are you sitting?”
“In the pilot’s seat.”
Her eyes opened a little wider. “Somehow I was under the impression that two gentlemen in those cute uniforms would be occupying the front seats.”
“I prefer doing it myself. Would you like to be copilot?”
Ana raised an eyebrow. “I think that would terrify me, but I’ll do it anyway, just to be near you.”
Stone closed and locked the cabin door, then got her settled and strapped in and adjusted her headset so they could hear each other over the intercom. “The microphone should be close enough to your lips so that you can kiss it,” he said.
She kissed the microphone. “There, dear,” she said.
“Is your seat belt comfortable?”
“It’s a little like being in a straitjacket, isn’t it?” she said.
“It’s called a five-point restraint, to keep you secure. The FAA requires it.” Stone handed her the checklist. “It would be a help if you read me the items one by one.” He pointed at the first.
She began reading, and he began replying with “Check” after accomplishing each task. After a little while, he said, “Now we’re ready to start engines.” He talked her through the procedure as he accomplished it, and soon both engines were running smoothly and the air-conditioning was on.
Stone called the tower for his clearance and permission to taxi, and he turned the airplane and taxied to runway 20. A moment later they were given an initial altitude and cleared for takeoff. The winds were light, so there was no turbulence. He steered the airplane onto the runway center line, then moved the throttles smoothly to the max. The light jet began to roll, and a moment later he eased back the yoke, and the aircraft rose into the clean, clear high desert air.
“It’s very powerful, isn’t it?” Ana said.
“For its size, yes.” He switched on the autopilot and the airplane turned toward its first assigned waypoint.
“Why don’t you have your hands on the thing, there?” she asked, pointing at the yoke.
“The autopilot is flying the airplane, now, and it’s a better pilot than I. It will continue to fly us until we’re ready to land.”
An hour and a half later Stone set down the airplane gently at Santa Monica Airport.
“I’m surprised,” Ana said, “that was actually fun.”
“I always enjoy flying myself rather than being flown. It gives me a sense of accomplishment all out of proportion to what I’ve actually done.” He steered the airplane onto the Atlantic Aviation ramp, ran through his checklist, and shut everything down. A Bentley with the Hotel Arrington insignia on the door pulled up to the airplane; Stone unlocked the luggage compartment, and the driver moved their bags to the car. Then they were gone.
• • •
TWENTY MINUTES LATER they were waved through the security gate at the Arrington, and the driver deposited them at Stone’s house, where the butler took charge of their things.
“You keep a butler, even when you’re not here?”
“No, the hotel provides a cook, a maid, and a butler when I’m in residence. It’s very convenient.” While their bags were taken upstairs he gave her a tour of the house. “Oh, your own pool?” she asked, looking out a window.
“Ours alone.”
“Does one need a swimsuit?”
“One does not.”
In no time they were in the water, and after a bit of frolicking, Stone handed her a robe and a towel and called the house for a pitcher of sangria. They occupied a double lounge and relaxed.
“Usually, Sundays are a big workday for me,” Ana said. “It’s nice to be off.” She let her hand wander under his robe, and shortly, she was on top of him.
• • •
TEDDY AND SALLY arrived back at her house, dusty and tired. “Let’s go straight into the hot tub,” she said, starting to strip.
“I didn’t even know you had a hot tub,” Teddy replied.
“You haven’t seen my back garden.” She took him by the hand and led him out the back door into a beautifully planted garden, then uncovered the tub and set the temperature. It was getting dark.
“This is lovely,” Teddy said, getting out of his clothes.
“It’s my pride and joy. I don’t mind if there’s time between jobs—I use it here.” Her cell phone rang, and she looked at the caller’s name before answering. “Excuse me,” she said, “it’s my assistant, Jenny.” She walked away and talked for a moment, then returned.
“You look concerned,” Teddy said.
“It’s our leading man, Jake. He and Dax had a big argument in the bar at La Fonda, and now he’s there alone, drinking.”
“I hope he makes work tomorrow.”
“There seems to be some doubt about that. Jenny thinks he may have quit the film, and Heckel and Jeckel are lurking nearby, apparently waiting for Jake to leave.”
Teddy started to get dressed. “Is Jenny with Jake?”
“She’s been trying to talk to him, but he’s not very communicative.”
“Tell her to keep him at the bar, whatever she has to do,” Teddy said, buttoning his shirt.
“Where are you going?” Sally asked, alarmed.
“I think I’ll have a drink at La Fonda and see that Jake gets to his suite unmolested.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sally said.
“I don’t need help for this,” Teddy said.
“Jake likes me. I can talk him out of there. I don’t want you mixing with those two apes, though.”
“Come on, then.” They drove the few blocks to the big hotel, and Teddy parked the pickup in the indoor lot. They walked into the hotel and down the hallway toward the bar. Teddy stopped at a shop in the little mall, where there was a basket of umbrellas outside the door, seeking buyers. He bought a golf umbrella with a thick, curved handle.
“Ted, it’s not raining,” Sally said, as they hurried toward the bar.
“It could get wet,” Teddy replied.