“Well, that didn’t interfere with either your work or Betsy’s, so I don’t see why it should be any different with Sally.”
“I’m relieved you think that,” Teddy said. “Shall I have her call your secretary?”
“Just tell her to show up at my office at ten tomorrow morning and to bring her résumé.”
Teddy took an envelope from his pocket. “Here’s her résumé,” he said. “She’ll be there at ten.”
? ? ?
TEDDY WAS HAVING a drink on the deck when Sally arrived with half a dozen shopping bags. She dumped the shopping bags, poured herself a drink, and joined him. “Well, Billy, you’re a poorer man by a couple of thousand dollars, and you have only yourself to blame, turning me loose with two credit cards.”
“I’ll survive,” Teddy said. “You’ll spend more as time goes by. You’ll fill that dressing room, if I’m any judge of character.”
“You are an embarrassingly good judge of character,” Sally said, raising her glass. “Cheers.”
“Anyway, I may have found you some work to keep you busy, instead of shopping.”
“What, are you putting me on the street?”
Teddy laughed. “No, but the movie business isn’t all that different.”
“What would I be doing, sweeping up?”
“A bit more than that. You have a ten o’clock meeting tomorrow morning with Peter Barrington at Centurion, to discuss the possibility of becoming his number-two production assistant.”
“You’re kidding me!”
“I kid you not.”
“Number two, huh? How many production assistants does he have?”
“Two, and number two is with child and thus changing careers.”
“She’s not coming back after maternity leave?”
“Nope, she’s ascending to the nobility of full-time motherhood.”
“Well, bless her heart! What would I be doing for Peter?”
“Whatever he asks you to do.”
“What does it pay?”
“Whatever he offers you.”
“Does it include being chased around a desk?”
“Peter is happily married.”
“Aren’t they all?”
“Are you speaking from experience?” he asked.
“God, yes. Movie people are the horniest people in the world, and they don’t easily take no for an answer.”
“Well, I gave him your résumé. I hope it says something about taking no for an answer.”
“If I put that on my résumé, I’d never be interviewed.”
“You have a point, but believe me, you have nothing to fear from Peter, except maybe being overworked from time to time.”
“What makes you think I can do this job?”
“I’ve seen you in action. Also, Dan thought so, and apparently so did Dax Baxter.”
“Well, he did offer me a job in L.A., didn’t he?”
“There, you’re fully qualified.”
“What’s Peter like?”
“Handsome, charming, smart—no, brilliant. Have you seen any of his films?”
“All six of them.”
“Did you like any of them?”
“Each one more than the last.”
“Then it couldn’t hurt to tell him so. Peter has an ego, just like everybody else. Don’t overdo it, though.”
“I’ll try not to actually slaver.”
“Good idea. Are any of the clothes you bought appropriate for a job interview?” he asked.
“They all are, if he likes really, really tight jeans.”
“I’m sure he does, but maybe you’d better run back to the Village before the shops close.”
“Well, there is a very nice little dress that’s appropriate for absolutely anything.”
“Wear that.”
“I thought I might.”
“And maybe you should invest in a few more outfits in that category.”
“I’ll see what the other women in the office are wearing.”
“That would be effective reconnaissance.”
“Does Peter know that you and I are fucking all the time?”
“He’ll guess that when he sees you, but it won’t be a problem, unless we’re doing it at the office.”
“We can’t fuck at the office?”
“We’ll have to wait until we get home.”
“Awwwwww!”
24
PETER BARRINGTON REGARDED the woman who sat across the desk from him. She was bright, sounded willing, had a good résumé, and was quite attractive. Billy, he thought, had very good judgment. “Sally, the job pays fifteen hundred a week to start—that’s seventy-eight thousand. Is that satisfactory?”
It was a third more than Sally had ever made in a year. “It is,” she replied.
“Can you start Monday?”
“Yes, I can.”
“Good,” Peter said. “Your predecessor is at a doctor’s appointment right now, but she’ll be here for your first week—two, if you need it—to get you up to speed.” He stood up and offered her his hand. “Welcome aboard,” he said.
She shook his hand and smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Barrington.”
“I’m Peter to everybody around here,” he said.
“Peter, it is.”
“See you Monday morning.” Sally left, and Peter turned to his schedule on one of his computer screens. He was meeting his father at the studio commissary for lunch in half an hour, and he was bringing a woman.
? ? ?
SALLY SAT IN HER CAR and phoned Teddy.
“Did you get it?” he asked, without saying hello.
“I got it. I start Monday.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“You don’t think it will be odd for us to be working in the same office?” she asked.
“Certainly not. You’ll hardly ever see me, anyway. I spend more than half my time on sound stages or locations.”
“I’ll be home in half an hour. Buy me lunch?”
“I’ll make you lunch,” he said. “And you’re dessert.”
“Promises, promises.”
? ? ?
PETER PARKED HIS GOLF CART in a reserved spot outside the commissary and walked in to find his father and a very attractive woman at a table with his partner and the studio’s head of production, Ben Bacchetti. He took a seat. “Are you joining us, Ben?”
“No, I’ve got a lunch date. I just wanted to say hello to your dad and ask about my dad.”
“Your dad is as ever,” Stone said.
Ben stood. “It’s good to see you, Stone, and to meet you, Ana.”
“I haven’t met Ana,” Peter said, as Ben departed. He shook her hand.
“You didn’t tell me he was so handsome,” Ana said to Stone.
“Is he?” Stone asked. “Ana is in Santa Fe real estate,” he said to Peter. “She has to flatter everybody.”
Ana’s phone rang, and she stood. “I’m sorry, I have to take this.” She walked away from the table.
“Dad,” Peter said, “before Ana returns, I’ve been hearing rumors about some sort of incident at Dax Baxter’s house in Santa Fe, something involving Billy. Do you know anything about that?”
“I do,” Stone said. “I spent a few days with Ed and Susannah Eagle, and I saw Billy there at dinner. What do you know about Dax Baxter?”
“Able producer, miserable excuse for a human being, from all I’ve heard.”
“Apparently he’s also a paranoiac,” Stone said.
“Only one of his charms,” Peter replied.
“Somehow he got the idea that Billy had been sent by some enemy of his to kill him, and he promptly sent for a pro out of L.A. to eliminate his problem.”
“That’s insane. How does Baxter even know Billy?”
“Billy took a temporary job on a Baxter shoot at a movie ranch in Santa Fe. Didn’t use his own name. Billy and his girl went to a wrap party at Baxter’s new place there, and the pro, a Russian, came after him with a knife outside the house. The Russian got the worst of it. Billy put him in the hospital.”
“Have there been any legal ramifications?”
“No. Baxter wasn’t about to call the police.”
“Billy’s back in town, now, and I’ve just hired his new girlfriend, Sally Ryder, as one of my production assistants. I’m glad he’s met somebody. I think he was in a pretty bad way after Betsy’s death.”
“How could you tell? The man has the most consistently calm mien of anyone I’ve ever met.”
“I agree,” Peter said. “He can be hard to read, but there was this sadness evident in him. Is this thing over with Baxter?”
“I don’t know, and from what I’ve heard about Baxter, he may not know either.”