“I’m telling the truth. I didn’t... I didn’t... I—”
His eyes fluttered and his whole body fell forward, the rope the only thing keeping him from tumbling to the floor.
“Tristan,” Simon said.
When he didn’t respond, Simon pushed him up so that he flopped against the back of the chair.
“Tristan.” Simon slapped his face. “Tristan.” He did it again, but Tristan remained unconscious. Simon looked at Phillip, who stood near the door. “Did he tell you anything of use?”
“He gave me the same story he gave you.”
“Do you believe him?”
“He wasn’t with her very long, so he couldn’t have said much.”
“That’s not what I asked you.”
Phillip shrugged. “Yeah, I believe.”
“I do, too.” Simon stood.
“What are you going to do with him?” Dalton asked.
“First off, he’s fired,” Simon said.
Phillip snorted.
“You’re going to let him go, though, right?” Dalton asked.
Simon looked at him with pity. “Do you think that would be a good idea?”
Dalton tried to swallow, but his mouth was too dry. “Probably not.”
“Then you have your answer.” He glanced at Phillip. “It’s time to deal with that other matter.”
“Understood.”
“What other matter?” Dalton asked.
Phillip’s pistol smacked into the back of Dalton’s head, dropping him to the floor.
He groaned as someone toed his ribs.
“Do you think you’re the only dirty insurance executive out there?” Simon asked. “Let me answer that for you. You are not. The only thing you are is a nuisance. And I’m afraid I can’t abide nuisances.”
A boot slammed into Dalton’s head.
As darkness began to close in, Dalton heard Phillip say, “The woman’s still going to be a problem.”
“Not for long,” Simon replied.
“You have a plan?”
“I do. One that our two friends here can help with.”
Whatever that plan was, Dalton didn’t remain conscious long enough to hear it.
Chapter 31
Monica woke Stone in the most delicious way, after which he returned the favor. One thing led to another and by the time they made it downstairs, it was nearly ten a.m.
They found Dino poolside, sipping on a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and his wife, Viv, lying on a nearby lounge, clad in a black bikini.
When Dino saw them, he looked at his watch. “Viv, you owe me a twenty.” To Stone and Monica, he stage-whispered, “I said you wouldn’t be down until ten. She said nine.”
“Put it on my tab,” Viv said.
“Viv, let me introduce you to Monica Reyes,” Stone said. “Monica, this is Dino’s wife, Vivian Bacchetti.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Viv said. “And please call me Viv. Dino tells me you’ve been keeping Stone in line.”
“It’s a burden, but someone has to do it,” Monica said.
Viv grinned. “We’re going to get along just fine.”
“I think we’re in trouble,” Dino said to Stone.
“You’re just now figuring that out?” Stone said.
“I blame jet lag.”
To Viv, Stone said, “When did you get in?”
“Around three a.m.”
“You must be exhausted,” Monica said.
“I slept most of the flight, so I’m not too tired yet.”
“Have you two eaten?” Stone asked.
“Two hours ago,” Dino said.
“Then I guess it’s just you and me,” Stone said to Monica. “What would you like?”
“What are my choices?”
“Room service can whip up pretty much anything you might want.”
“I keep forgetting we’re in the middle of a hotel.”
“Think of it as a fancy resort,” Dino said.
“It is a fancy resort.”
“See? You’ve already adapted.”
“Breakfast?” Stone reminded her.
“Right. Eggs Benedict?”
“One of my favorites. Anything else?”
“Some strawberries, if they have any.”
“Done.”
Stone called in their order, and they joined Dino at the table.
Monica checked her phone, then frowned and set it down.
“Still no word?” Stone asked.
“No.” She had sent Tristan several texts since the premature end to their meeting the previous evening, but he had yet to respond. “The gallery opens at eleven. I’ll call him there.”
“Tell him you’re planning on coming by again. I have a feeling he’ll agree to an alternate location to keep you from showing up.”
“That’s devious. I like it.”
“Unfortunately, in my line of work not all the people I come in contact with are on the up-and-up.”
“I thought you’d have a better clientele than that.”
“Not my clients. More the people with whom my clients have issues.”
“Ah, so you are a bastion of truth and justice.”
“I try my best.”
To Monica, Dino said, “It’s not my nature to poke my nose in something without being invited—”
“Since when?” Stone and Viv said in unison.
Ignoring them, Dino continued where he left off. “But remember, Stone is a lawyer, which makes him a professional liar.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Stone said. “He’s law enforcement and making lawyers out as less than truthful is a stereotype his ilk likes to perpetuate.”
“Says the former police detective, who I recall on several occasions saying something similar.”
“The key word there is former.”
“Careful, Monica,” Viv said. “If you wind them up too much, they’ll be like this all day.”
Breakfast soon arrived. Monica checked her phone several more times as she ate, but still no word from Tristan. By the time she and Stone finished their meals, it was twenty to eleven.
“Someone has to be at the gallery by now, don’t you think?” she said.
“Seems reasonable,” Stone said.
She made the call.
After two rings, a female voice answered, “Duchamp Gallery, Los Angeles. How may I help you?”
“I’m looking for Tristan Williams.”
For a moment, Monica thought they’d been disconnected, then the woman said, “I’m sorry. Tristan Williams doesn’t work here any longer.”
“I saw him there yesterday. He didn’t mention anything about leaving.”
“Perhaps I could assist you?”
“Did he get a new job or give any reason why he left?”
“I don’t know any more details than what I’ve already told you, and even if I did, I wouldn’t give them out to someone over the phone.”
“If I came down there, would you be able to—”
“Ma’am, as I’m sure you’re aware, all employment information is a matter of personal privacy. Is there something else I can help you with?”
“No. Thank you for your time.”
“Have a good day,” the woman said and hung up.
Monica stared at her phone, brow furrowed.
“I take it from what you were saying that Tristan is no longer an employee of the gallery?” Stone said.
“That’s what she said,” Monica said.
“Do you know if he quit or was fired?” Viv asked.
“She didn’t give a reason,” Monica said. “But last night, when I asked how long he’d worked there, he didn’t act like he’d lost his job.”
“What about the man who chased him last night?” Stone said. “Maybe he caught Tristan and did a number on him.”
“Do you think so?” Monica asked, concerned.
“I have no idea, but it’s another possibility. Though I don’t know why he’d quit or be fired because of that.”