6 Stone Barrington Novels Read Online Free PDF

worry about from me, and I told him he didn’t. He thanked me and left. That was the last time I saw either of them.”
    â€œSounds as though you handled the situation about as well as it could be handled.”
    â€œGod, I hope so; I hope none of this has anything to do with Arrington and me.”
    â€œI hope so, too,” Dino said, “but I’m not going to count on it.”
    â€œCome on, Dino, you don’t really think she . . .”
    â€œI don’t know what to think,” Dino said.
    Eduardo and the cardinal returned, and Dolce was with them, her face streaked with tears. She came and put her arms around Stone.
    Stone had never seen her cry, and it hurt him. “I’m sorry about all this, Dolce,” he said to her.
    â€œIt’s not your fault,” she said. “You didn’t have any control over her.”
    â€œNow, let’s not jump to conclusions,” he said. “We don’t know what happened yet.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.”
    â€œYou’d better get ready to go, Stone,” Eduardo said.
    â€œGo?”
    â€œYou’re going to Los Angeles, of course,” Eduardo said. “She asked for you, and she may not have anyone else.”
    â€œHer mother is on the way.”
    â€œHer mother can take care of the child, of course, but this is going to be a very difficult situation, given Vance’s fame and position in the film community.”
    â€œGo, Stone,” Dolce said. “We can’t have this hanging over us; go and do what you can, then come back to me.”
    â€œCome with me,” Stone said, wanting her protection from Arrington as much as her company.
    â€œNo, that wouldn’t do. You’re going to have to deal with Arrington on your own.”
    â€œMy friend’s jet is not available today,” Eduardo said, “but there’s a train at nine-thirty for Milano, and a one o’clock flight from there to Los Angeles. If you miss that, the trip will become much more complicated.”
    Stone held Dolce away from him and looked into her face. “You’re sure about this?”
    â€œI’m sure,” Dolce said. “I hate it, but it’s the only thing to be done; I know that.”
    He hugged her again, then left and went to his room, where he found that a servant had already packed most of his things. Half an hour later, he stood on the palazzo’s jetty with Dino, Eduardo, the cardinal, and Dolce. He shook hands with Eduardo and Bellini. The cardinal gave him a card. “If I can ever be of service to you, please call me. Of course, I’ll make myself available for a service when this situation has been sorted out.”
    â€œThank you, Your Eminence,” Stone said. He turned to Dolce and kissed her silently, then motioned Dino into the launch. “Ride with me,” he said.
    â€œHave you heard any more from Rick?” Stone asked as the launch pulled away from the jetty.
    â€œNo, but it’s the middle of the night in L.A. Where will you be staying?”
    â€œAt the Bel-Air Hotel. Oh, will you call and book me a room?”
    â€œI’ll let Eduardo handle it; you’ll get a better room.”
    A few minutes later they docked at the steps to the Venice train station. Eduardo’s butler met them there with Stone’s train and airplane tickets and took his bags. Dino walked him to the train.
    â€œI wish you could come with me and help make some sense of this.”
    Dino shook his head. “I’m due back in the office first thing Wednesday. Call me when you’ve got your feet on the ground, and I’ll help, if I can.”
    The train was beginning to move, and Stone jumped on. He and Dino managed a handshake before the train pulled out of the station.
    Stone found his compartment and sat down. Stress often made him drowsy, and he dozed off almost immediately.

Six
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