“Oh my God,” Peter said.
50
Peter Barrington came through. At five o’clock in the morning a fully equipped makeup kit and a complete change of inconspicuous clothing were delivered to Stone Barrington’s residence adjacent to the Arrington Hotel. Per Peter’s instructions, the production assistant entrusted with the task did not ring the doorbell, but merely left the items on the stoop. The gofer was getting a generous tip for the service, and an even larger tip not to talk about it. There was nothing odd in that. What movie folk did was nobody’s business.
As soon as the young man was gone, Teddy inspected the items. His main concern was the makeup kit. It wasn’t nearly as good as his own, but it would do, at least to get stuntman Mark Weldon onto the back lot and into wardrobe and makeup, where a wig and costume would transform him into movie villain Leonard Kirk.
Teddy had gotten to the studio and just finished changing when Tessa walked onto the set. She was shocked. “Your house burned down?”
Teddy grabbed her arm and pulled her away. “No, no, no, you must be confused. Billy Barnett’s house burned down,” he said meaningfully.
Her eyes widened. “Of course, Mark, how silly of me.”
“It happens to the best of us.”
“And where is Mark Weldon’s house, exactly?”
“That’s something I’m going to have to take care of. It never was an issue before now. Nobody on this picture needed to know my address, so I didn’t need to have one.”
“Damn it,” Tessa said. “I don’t care what you’re going to tell everybody else. What happened?”
“My house burned down. It was arson. Someone tried to kill me in my bed.”
“Oh my God!”
“Relax, I’m fine. But someone burned my house. They did a thorough job of it, too, completely drenched it with gasoline. It was pretty extensive for arson, more likely enough to ensure nobody got out.”
“Was it because of me?”
“Don’t get a swelled head. Just because you’re a movie star, the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Billy, I’m not in the mood.”
“Mark, I’m not in the mood,” Teddy corrected. “The more you do it when we’re alone, the more chance you’ll do it in front of someone else.”
“Is this because of the meeting?”
“It could be,” Teddy said. As far as he was concerned, it was equally likely it was because of things he had done after the meeting, but there was no reason to tell her about that.
“Is it about the gun?”
“Interesting idea. I’ll have to think about that.”
“Where is it?”
“I’m glad you asked.”
Tessa waited. “Well?”
“Oh, I’m not going to tell you. But thanks for reminding me. I’ve got a lot of things to remember.”
“Did it burn up in the fire?”
“Another interesting idea. I’m afraid guns don’t burn very well.”
“Then—”
“Tessa, I’m handling it. You just worry about things you’ve got to worry about.”
“I’m not that type of girl.”
Teddy sighed. “No, you’re not. That’s what I like about you, but it’s damn exhausting.”
“Aren’t you worried?”
“Worried about what?”
“That someone tried to kill you.”
“Well, he didn’t succeed.”
“You’re taking it so casually.”
“When something like this happens, you have to keep a clear head and assess the situation. What happens, happens.”
“What happened was someone burned down your house.”
Teddy shrugged. “There are glitches.”
51
Mason Kimble looked up from the newspaper. “Did you burn his house down?”
“Who?” Gerard said.
“Billy Barnett.”
“No. Do you want me to burn his house down?”
“Someone already did.”
“What?”
“His house burned down last night. He barely escaped with his life. Are you sure you didn’t do that?” Gerard had been known to use forceful methods to deal with problems.
“Barnett escaped. Does that sound like my work?”
“No offense meant, but what the hell is going on?”
Gerard shrugged. “All of this is news to me. I don’t know anything about this Billy Barnett person, except he’s chosen to make himself a major pain in the ass. The last I heard, we have two weeks to deal with him. But rushing off half-cocked to burn the guy’s house down—that’s a messy solution, not my style. No way to make it look like an accident.”
“No, there’s not.” Mason pointed to the newspaper. “According to this, he was on vacation and just came home for a board meeting.”
“He came back just to fuck with us?”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
“Why indeed. I guess he’s a friend of the Bacchettis’.”
“And this actress appealed to him for help?”
“Which she shouldn’t have done, as I have told her in no uncertain terms.”
Gerard frowned. “If he was just here for the meeting, why is he still in town?”
“Someone burned down his house.”
“He didn’t know that was going to happen. Why’d he stick around for it?”
“Are you saying he burned down his own house?”
“That’s probably what the police are wondering, based on the fact that he survived. You did say he got out?”
“Yes.”
“Was he injured?”
“Apparently not.”
“Then someone didn’t do a very good job. Assuming it was arson.”
“The police aren’t saying, but it sure sounds like it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The police refused to comment. You can practically hear the reporter saying, ‘The only reason I can’t tell you it’s arson is the cops are being hard-asses.’”