“Of course not—you should have a better idea than I.”
“Any idea which side of the Atlantic we’re talking about?”
“Nope, but how would anyone on the other side know what’s going on over here?”
“It would have to be someone highly placed,” Lance said.
“Ann Keaton said she got it from a reporter who got it from a source inside the Agency.”
“That is disturbing.”
“The reporter is treating it with caution, but the election is Tuesday. This would not be a good time for you to have to deny it.”
“Deny it? I don’t deny things, except before a congressional committee.”
“There are Republicans on congressional committees,” Stone said. “In fact Henry Carson is on the Senate Intelligence Committee.”
“You have a point. Let me see what I can learn.” Lance hung up without further ado.
Stone washed the dishes from breakfast and went in search of a book in his new library. He settled on an old biography of Huey Long, but he had trouble concentrating.
—
HOLLY BUSTLED into the house bearing four shopping bags and a wine carton slung over one shoulder. “Good thing I got your message,” she said. “We would have starved.”
“Have you talked to Lance today?”
“Yes, this morning, but he suddenly got busy after lunch and has been cloistered for the rest of the day.”
Stone told her his news.
“Well,” she said, “this could hardly have come at a worse time.”
“No kidding.”
“Lance badly wants Kate elected,” she said.
“I didn’t know he was sentimental about politics.”
“He’s sentimental about his job. He wants to keep it when the next administration comes in, and he’s not real close to Carson.”
“I feel helpless,” Stone said.
“You’ll have to rely on Lance.”
“Now I really feel helpless.”
“Did he express any ideas?”
“Not really.”
“Lance is at his best when he’s in personal jeopardy. He’ll come through.”
“Time is short.”
Holly looked at her watch. “You’re right. Dino and Viv will be here in twenty minutes, and I have to make it look as though I prepared all this food.” She ran for the kitchen while Stone tidied the living room.
Dino and Viv were on time.
59
Dino walked into the house and looked around the living room. “Holy shit!” he said. “How the hell did you find this?”
“You might say Lance found it for me, though he didn’t mean to.”
Dino accepted a scotch and Viv a martini. “Explain.”
“It was a CIA safe house, belonged to a former station chief here, and the Agency bought it.”