Gerard nodded. “So maybe he did burn it himself.”
“Why?”
“To frame us.”
“How? What connects us to the crime?”
“The fact that we’d profit from his death.”
“You and I know that. No one else does. It makes no sense.”
“Who else would want to burn down this guy’s house?”
“Exactly.”
52
Sammy Candelosi was pissed. “He got out?”
“Yes.”
“You burned down his house. He was in it. And he escaped?”
“The guy is good.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. That’s not what I want to hear. I want to hear the guy is dead. Then he can be as good as he likes.”
“I understand.”
“This is not your first fire.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Back in Jersey, Slythe had torched two houses belonging to a rival family. In neither instance had anyone escaped.
“So what happened?”
“It’s not like I did anything wrong. I did everything right. I overprotected. I drenched that house with enough gasoline to burn down L.A.”
“So where is he now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
Slythe called Centurion Pictures. “Billy Barnett, please.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Barnett’s on vacation. Would you like to talk to his secretary?”
“Yes. Can you connect me?”
Moments later the secretary came on the line. “Billy Barnett’s office.”
“Could I speak to Mr. Barnett?”
“I’m sorry, he’s on vacation. Could I take a message?”
“I need to speak to him directly. Could you ring him, please?”
“I’m sorry, that’s not possible.”
“Well, hang on, here. You say he’s on vacation. According to the paper, his house burned down, and he was there at the time.”
“That’s right. Mr. Barnett has been on vacation all month. He returned temporarily for a board meeting, and while he was here his house burned down. He’s put the matter in the hands of the police, and they are investigating. In the meantime, he’s gone back on vacation. Which is actually convenient, since he has no place to live.”
“How can he be reached?”
“He can’t.”
“And just where is he on vacation?”
Slythe could practically hear the smile in the secretary’s voice. “If I told you that, he could be reached.”
“I’m afraid my employers are not going to appreciate that answer. Can you help me?”
“If this is a matter relating to Centurion Pictures, I can put you in touch with someone else. If you have urgent personal business to discuss, I could refer you to his attorney.”
“No, thank you.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. Would you like to leave a number?”
Slythe hung up the phone. “He’s been on vacation all month, and no one’s going to tell us where he is.” He shook his head. “This is not good. Genaro hires an out-of-town hitter and the guy disappears.”
“Hang on,” Sammy said.
“What?”
“Something’s not right.”
“What do you mean?”
“They just told you Billy Barnett’s been on vacation all month? That he came back for a board meeting, but aside from that he’s been gone?”
“Yeah. So?”
“According to Jake, this cocktail waitress over at Pete Genaro’s saw him on a movie set.”
“Maybe it was a while ago.”
“Didn’t sound like it was a while ago. He was talking like it just happened.”
“Maybe he got it wrong. The guy’s not very bright.”
Sammy nodded. “Let’s ask him.”
53
Jake felt like he was about to get whacked. He had no idea what he’d done to deserve it, but that only unsettled him further. He’d been summoned to Sammy’s office, with no explanation, which couldn’t be good. Even the curvy secretary looked foreboding. Now he was sitting in a chair in front of Sammy’s desk, and no one was talking to him, and he was scared to ask why.
Then the door opened and Slythe came in, and he started saying his prayers.
Sammy picked up a newspaper from his desk and extended it to Slythe. “Show him.”
Slythe took the newspaper and thrust it in front of Jake’s face.
“What do you have to say about that?” Sammy demanded.
The newspaper was folded open to an article.
“‘Producer escapes deadly blaze’?” Jake read.
“That’s right.”
“What about it?”
“You tell me.”
Jake blinked uncomprehendingly. Getting no help from Sammy or Slythe, he looked back at the article. It read:
“Producer Billy Barnett, in town for a board meeting, nearly paid with his life. Mr. Barnett woke up in the middle of the night and smelled smoke. He was lucky he did. His house was gone minutes later.”
Jake looked up to find Sammy glaring at him.
“This is the out-of-town hitter you warned me about?”
“That’s his name.”
“I know it’s his name. Is it him?”
“Of course it’s him. Who else would it be? Billy Barnett, movie producer.”
“What studio was he with?”
“Oh, Christ, I don’t remember.”
“Centurion Pictures?”
“That’s the one! Centurion Pictures!”
“Who told you that?”
“Bambi.”
“Bambi?”
“One of Pete’s bar girls. Said she saw him on the set of a movie. She was an extra, he was a stuntman.”
“Stuntman? I thought he was a producer.”