"You want police?"
"I appreciate your concern, but no, thank you."
"Okay," she said.
WHEN SHE WAS FINISHED she helped him sit up and checked the bandage. "No bleeding," she said. "I will give you extra bandages; you must change every day and put on peroxide."
"Thank you," he said.
The cell phone on her belt rang, and she answered it and listened for a moment. "Yes, thank you," she said, and closed the phone. "Did you see your friend Barbara?" she asked.
"No, we didn't cross paths."
"Too bad," she said. "She just cancel her ten-thirty appointment. Checked out."
"Shit!" Vittorio said.
"I think you are following her," Birgit said. "I think you are private eye."
"You've been seeing too much film noir," he replied, standing up and stretching gingerly.
"You are not getting gunshot wound from movies," she replied. "You want me to find out where Barbara Woodfield goes?"
"Can you do that?"
"Bell captain would know. He wants to fuck me pretty bad; he will tell me anything."
"Well, yes, I would like to know, but I wouldn't want you to fuck him on my behalf."
"Don't worry; I pick out who I fuck," she said, folding her table and packing her bag. "You would be good for this, I think."
"Well," he said, "you're not going to get an argument from me."
"Not now, though; when you recover from gunshot wound." She took out a card and wrote something on the back. "Cell number," she said, handing it to him. "I bet your name is not Victor Whatsit," she said.
"No."
"What is your name?"
"Vittorio."
"Just the one?"
"Just the one."
"I will go talk to bell captain. You checking out, too?"
"Just as soon as I can get dressed," he replied.
"I will come back soon," she said. "You wait."
"I'll wait," he said, heading for the shower.
VITTORIO was packing his bag when Birgit came back. "Any luck?"
"Much luck," she said. "Ms. Barbara asks him for nice, quiet apartment hotel in Beverly Hills somewhere. He books for her at Chateau Sunset." She handed him a slip of paper. "Here is address."
Vittorio took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. "You are a good guy," he said.
"You think I am a guy?" she laughed, taking his hand and placing it on her breast.
"A figure of speech," he said. "Do you ever travel?"
"When I feel like it," she replied. "You need your bandage changed, you call me, Vittorio."
He gave her his card with the cell number. "In case you can't wait," he said.
She laughed loudly. "Maybe you must change your own bandage!"
Vittorio grabbed his bags and headed for the front desk. He checked out, paid in cash and called for his car. When the car arrived the bellman put his bags in the trunk, and he drove away. Shortly, he pulled over, went to the trunk, got out his Walther.380 and slipped the holster onto his belt. He would not again approach Barbara Eagle Woodfield unarmed.
Shortly, he was headed for Los Angeles in his rented Jaguar.
Fifty-one
ED EAGLE WAS AT HIS DESK WHEN THE CALL CAME.
"Vittorio for you on line one."
Eagle pressed the button. "Ed Eagle."
"Mr. Eagle, I've found Barbara."
"Was she at La Reserve?"
"Yes, but she checked out this morning."
"Why didn't you get the signatures before that?"
"I visited her cottage last night and got shot for my trouble."
"Are you badly hurt, Vittorio?"
"No. I had some stitches, but it's superficial."
"Where is she now?"
"She's on her way to L.A. The concierge at La Reserve booked her into an apartment hotel called Chateau Sunset."
"I know the place; it's the kind of hotel where people who've been thrown out of their houses during divorces go to live termporarily. It's expensive, but not as much as the Beverly Hills or the Bel-Air."
"She's still got whatever traveler's checks she hasn't spent."
"I can't imagine that would last her long, if she's living in places like Chateau Sunset."
"I guess not. I'm on the road, about two hours behind her."
"I'm coming to L.A.," Eagle said.
"I don't think that will be necessary," Vittorio replied.
"I'm coming anyway. You confirm that she's checked in at Chateau Sunset, then find yourself a room. Meet me in the bar at the Bel-Air at seven o'clock."
"As you wish," Vittorio said. "What's your plan?"
"I don't have one yet, but I will by seven o'clock."
"I'll see you at the Bel-Air, then."
Eagle hung up. He might not have a plan yet, but he was sure of one thing: Barbara did.
VITTORIO CALLED A SUITE HOTEL, Le Parc, and booked himself in. It would be half the price of Chateau Sunset and a better place for Barbara, he reflected. He drove straight to the hotel, off Melrose in West Hollywood, and checked in, then he called Chateau Sunset.
"Chateau Sunset," the operator said.
"May I speak to Barbara Woodfield?" he asked.
"Just a moment… She hasn't checked in yet, but we're expecting her. Can I take a message?"
"This is the concierge at La Reserve, in La Jolla. Please tell her that we called just to see if everything was all right. There's no need for her to return the call."
"I'll see that she gets the message on check-in," the woman said.
Vittorio hung up, satisfied that Chateau Sunset was where she was headed. He changed the dressing on his wound, then lay down for a nap.
BARBARA EAGLE WOODFIELD checked in at Chateau Sunset a few minutes later.
"There's a message for you," the desk clerk said, gazing at his computer screen.
"A message?" she asked, alarmed. Nobody knew she was here.
"The concierge at La Reserve in La Jolla called to be sure everything is all right. No need for you to return the call."
Barbara heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you.".
A bellman wearing a pin-striped suit led her to a corner suite overlooking the pool in the courtyard behind the hotel, got her some ice and accepted her tip.
Barbara had a look around and approved. She unpacked and ran a bath, then called the concierge.
"Yes, Ms. Woodfield?"
"I'd like a massage in my room in an hour. Can you arrange that?"
"Of course. Would you prefer a male or female, and what technique?"
"Female, Swedish."
"It will be done, Ms. Woodfield."
Barbara hung up and walked into the bathroom, then stopped. She was feeling randy, and she wanted male company. She went back into the bedroom and got her address book from her purse, then called a number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, there. How are you?"
"Who's this?"
"Don't you recognize the voice?"
"Of course, I do. How are you, Barbara?"
"Very well, thank you."
"Last I heard, you were married and living in Santa Fe."
"Both of those are over. You free for dinner?"
"Sure. Where are you staying? I'll pick you up."
"I'll be out and about. Why don't we meet somewhere?"
"You name it."
"How about the bar at the Bel-Air, at seven-thirty? We could dine there, too."
"See you then."
"Oh, I'm a blonde, now."
"I can't wait to see that."
"Bye-bye."
EAGLE CALLED SUSANNAH.
"Hello?"
"Good morning. How are you?"
"I'm just dandy, thanks."
"I have to go to L.A. overnight, maybe two. Want to come with me?"