Stuart Woods: Bel-Air dead

“I ordered for you,” Dino said, waving him to the seat on the other side of the table. “Man, you were out last night. Sleep well?”

“I think so; I don’t remember,” Stone said, taking a seat.

Manolo and Carmen were coming across the garden with trays. They set them before Stone and Dino and simultaneously took the covers away.

“Eggs Benedict!” Stone said. “My favorite.”

“I knew that,” Dino said.

“Oh, Manolo, Carmen: Rick and Glenna Barron are coming to dinner tonight at seven with another guest. I think you know the things they like.”

“Oh, yes, Mr. Stone,” Manolo said. “We will be ready for them.” The couple returned to the kitchen.

“Who are Rick and Glenna Barron?” Dino asked.

“Rick is the chairman and CEO of Centurion Studios,” Stone replied. “I think he’s mostly confined himself to management for a while, now, but he still produces a picture now and then. His wife is Glenna Gleason.”

“The old-time movie star? I love her!”

“Not as old as Rick, I think, but getting up there. I met them at Vance’s burial a few years back. I’m supposed to plot with Rick about how to save the studio, but now Arrington has pulled this reversal, and I don’t know what to do.”

“What, exactly, is the deal about?” Dino asked.

“I think Rick is going to explain that to us tonight,” Stone replied.

“And then you explain that Arrington is voting against him?”

“God, I hope not. I’ve got to talk seriously to Arrington.”

An hour later, Stone called Arrington at her Virginia horsecountry home.

“Hello?” She sounded sleepy.

“Did I wake you?”

“Not really, I sort of slept in this morning. I’m sorry I got you when you were so tired last night.”

“I’ve recovered now, and I want you to explain to me why you need the money from the sale of your studio stock.”

“Oh, Stone, this is going to sound crazy to you, but I learned yesterday that I have an opportunity to buy a neighboring horse farm and business.”

“What kind of business?”

“Breeding and racing thoroughbreds,” she replied. “Perhaps you’ve heard of it; it’s called Virginia Champion Farms.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of it; it’s just about the biggest racing farm in the country, isn’t it?”

“The biggest outside Kentucky, anyway. The owner, Rex Champion, who’s a friend of mine, is getting on in years and is ready to sell. Horse farms are down in price right now, along with everything else, and this is a wonderful opportunity.”

“How much?”

“I got him down to fifty million dollars.”

Stone was struck dumb.

“Hello? Are you still there?”

“I’m still here; I’m just stunned.”

“My financial adviser says it’s worth sixty million, and that’s what he was asking, but I got him down to fifty. I can’t sell stocks right now, what with the market being the way it is, and my biggest asset is Centurion. This buyer has come along at just the right time.”

“And that’s all you can sell to raise the fifty million?”

“I’m afraid so. Oh, I’m sentimental about the studio, Stone, but I’ve always wanted to be in racing.”

“I thought your only interest in horses was hunting and dressage.”

“Those things cost money; racing horses makes money.”

“Arrington, you’re not a businesswoman, and that’s a big business.”

“The beauty of it is that I get the whole thing intact, with a staff, a board of directors, and all the real estate and stock. In a better year, it would cost seventy-five million!”

“Arrington, let me look into all this. I’m having dinner with Rick Barron tonight, and I want to hear what he has to say, and I can look into Virginia Champion for you, too.”

“Oh, all right, but I’m not going to change my mind about this, Stone. Remember, you’re working for me, not yourself.”

“I’ll speak with you in a day or two,” Stone said, and hung up.

Stone got dressed and called Bill Eggers. Eggers was the managing director of the law firm to which Stone was of counsel-meaning he handled the cases the firm did not wish to be seen to handle. This association gave him advice and backup when he needed it, and he needed it now.

Eggers came on the line. “Morning, Stone; what can I do you for?”

“You can do me some advice, Bill, and some other help.”

“What have you got yourself into now?”

“Two very large business deals,” Stone replied.

“That’s a little out of your line, isn’t it?”

“Bill, why do you think I’m calling you?”

“Oh, all right; what do you need?”

“I need these two deals looked at objectively,” Stone said. “The first is the possible sale of Centurion Studios to some real estate developer. I know you have the contacts out here to put an ear to the ground. I want to know what’s being said about the deal.”

“I can do that; what’s the other one?”

“Arrington Calder wants to buy Virginia Champion Farms for fifty million dollars. You know the company?”

“I do, and I know Rex Champion. He’s a gentleman, but with a sharp edge.”

“I want to know what the farms are worth in today’s dollars-land, horses, other assets-and I want to know about the quality of the current management, and see the profit-and-loss statements for the past ten years or so.”

“To find out all that I’m going to have to send a business appraiser outfit down there to rake the books and talk to the people. We can’t do this surreptitiously.”

“Of course not.”

“And Arrington is going to pay for the assessment?”

“She will.”

“I need a direct statement from her about that, not your opinion of what she’ll do. This is going to cost in the low six figures and take a couple of weeks.”

“I’ll get her permission today.”

“I’ll make the call as soon as I hear from you. In the meantime, I’ll make some calls about the Centurion deal. Are you in L.A.?”

“Yes, I’m here to vote Arrington’s shares in Centurion.”

“Okay. See you.” Eggers hung up.

Stone called Arrington. “We have to send somebody to Virginia Champion to look the company over.”

“Why? I trust Rex Champion.”

“This is just due diligence, Arrington; it has to be done to protect you, and it’s going to cost in the low six figures. Champion will understand; call him and tell him these people will be there tomorrow.”

“Oh, all right, but this is embarrassing.”

“It’s business; Champion will understand that, and you have to learn not to be embarrassed about proper business requests.”

Arrington hung up, and Stone called Eggers back to report the conversation. He was done for now, until he saw Rick Barron, anyway.

Stone and Dino were in the living room of the main house when Manolo ushered in Rick and Glenna Barron. They rose to greet their guests, and Stone introduced them to Dino.

“Our other guest will be along shortly,” Rick said, as they shook hands. His handshake was dry and firm, and his movements were not those of a very old man. Glenna, amazingly, looked a healthy sixty. Everyone ordered drinks.

“When did you arrive, Stone?” Rick asked as they sat down.

“Yesterday afternoon, late. I flew us out.”

“Oh, in what?”

“A Cessna Citation Mustang, recently acquired.”

“Beautiful little airplane,” Rick said.

“I know that you flew off carriers in World War II,” Stone said.

“Yes, but I flew a lot more than that. My father owned a little FBO at Santa Monica Airport, and I flew charter flights for him for years. I still own the FBO. I’ve also been type rated in every jet Centurion has owned, including the current Citation Ten, though I haven’t been pilot-in-command for years. I still have my medical certificate, too.”