Free Family Jewels by Stuart Woods Page A

myself to ask after dinner,” she said.
    “At your own risk.”
    They talked for another half hour, then Juan called them to dinner. Stone found himself seated next to Gala, and he didn’t argue about it.
    Later in the evening they had coffee in Ed’s study.
    “Are you staying with the Eagles?” Stone asked Gala.
    “No, I’m staying at my own place, in Tesuque village.”
    “Can I give you a lift home later?”
    “That won’t be necessary, I have my own car. You were kind enough to drive it from the airport for me.”
    “I didn’t know,” Stone said. “Why was it at the airport?”
    “I was in L.A., so the dealer delivered it to the airport. I flew into Albuquerque, and Susannah picked me up.”
    “Where was it delivered from?”
    “Broomfield, between Denver and Boulder. It’s the closest dealer.”
    “You’re going to love the car,” Stone said.
    “I’m sorry you can’t drive me home,” she said. “We’ll have to think of another excuse to get you to my house.”
    “I don’t need an excuse.”
    “Then why don’t you come to lunch tomorrow?”
    “I can’t think of an excuse not to,” he replied.

20
    T he following day Stone borrowed a Range Rover from Ed and drove into Tesuque. He found the house easily, just along from the village post office, and the gate was open so he drove in and parked in front of the house.
    Gala met him at the door. “Come in,” she said, leading him through a large living room with a fireplace at each end, then outside to where some comfortable furniture was arranged before a fireplace under a portico. “Bloody Marys are a specialty of the house,” she said. “May we get you one?”
    “Certainly. This will be my third Bloody Mary in a week,” Stone said.
    Gala gave the order to a motherly-looking Hispanic woman, who returned shortly with two tall glasses. “This is Maria, who has taken care of me for as long as I can remember.”
    “How do you do, Maria?”
    “Very well, thank you.” She returned to the kitchen.
    “You know,” Stone said, “I’ve known Susannah for quite a while now, but she has certainly kept your existence a secret.”
    “We didn’t see each other for several years. My ex-husband managed to alienate Susannah and Ed early in our marriage, something he was very good at, and he was persona non grata at their house. Out of misplaced loyalty, I stayed away, too.”
    “It’s difficult for me to imagine someone who couldn’t get along with Susannah and Ed—they’re such pleasant people.”
    “Boris could evoke hostility in even the nicest people,” Gala said.
    “What was your married name?”
    “Tirov—he was Russian. He made a name for himself there as an actor, and later a director, then came to this country in his early thirties.”
    “Did he do a series of some sort of superhero pictures?”
    “Yes, he did, and in so doing simultaneously made a large fortune and gained a reputation as a hack, and an unpleasant one at that.”
    “How long were you married?”
    “Nearly eight years. I suppose I was a glutton for punishment. He was subject to violent rages and brutish behavior, but only when we were alone. Among others he mustered some charm.”
    “I don’t want you to relive all that on my account.”
    “Thank you, I’m doing a pretty good job of forgetting it.”
    “Then we won’t need to talk of it again.”
    “What about you? Have you ever been married?”
    “Yes, but more briefly than I would have liked. We’d been married for less than a year when she was murdered by a former lover.”
    “That’s awful!”
    “Yes, it was.”
    “I don’t suppose there were children.”
    “One, a boy, conceived twenty-odd years ago. He’s a film director in L.A.”
    “Oh, wait—Peter Barrington?”
    “That’s my boy.”
    “I love his work. I’d love to write something for him.”
    “He’s pretty much an auteur,” Stone said. “He and his partner, Ben Bacchetti, produce together.”
    “Ah, yes, the new CEO at