Page 77 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“I was just about to settle in with the new season ofOnlyMurders in the Building, but that can wait.”

“I appreciate it. How long do you think this will take?”

“Depends. Could be a few minutes, could be a few hours. Also, if it’s a burner, chances are whoever you’re trying to find will have already dumped it.”

“Do what you can, Bob, and call me when you have something. Don’t worry about the time.”

“Consider me on the job.”

Stone hung up and lifted the wine bottle. “Another glass?”

“How about a shower and change of clothes first. It’s getting a little chilly.”

They relocated to the guest suite, where they did more than merely soap each other’s backs.

After toweling off, Stone checked his phone. He had a missed call and a text from Bob, the latter reading:Call me.

Stone did so.

“The number is for a cell phone that belongs to someone named Tristan Williams,” Bob said. “I have an address for him in Echo Park. That’s near downtown, next to Dodger Stadium.”

“Were you able to get a location on the actual phone?”

“The most recent location I could get was from an hour ago, on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District.”

Stone knew the area. It was near West Hollywood and was a fifteen-minute drive from the Arrington, depending on traffic.

“I’ll text his home address and where I got the hit,” Bob said. “The latter won’t be exact, mind you, but should be close.”

“Thanks, Bob. Please send an invoice to Joan.”

“I already have.”

Stone hung up and told Monica what he’d learned.

“Well, I guess I know where I’m heading next,” she said.

“When would you leave?”

“Too late to get a plane out tonight, so tomorrow.” She opened her phone and began scrolling for flights.

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“I need to be in Los Angeles in a few days, but I can just as easily leave tomorrow. Why don’t you fly with me?”

“You have a plane?”

“I do.”

“It’s not one of those little prop planes, is it? If so, thank you very much for the offer, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.”

“You have an issue with prop planes?”

“My first and last experience in one involved a thunderstorm and a very hard landing.”

“That sounds more like your pilot was unprepared than a problem with the plane itself.”

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