Cut and Thrust

7

Stone woke early, before Ann, who slept on. When he came out of the shower she was up and dressing.

“I’ve got one hell of a day today,” she said. “Kate has nine appointments, and I have to be with her at every one.”

“Peter and Ben are having a housewarming tonight — I hope you’ll be able to go. It starts early, six o’clock.” He wrote down the address for her. “It’s a left turn off Sunset, the other side of I-405.”

“If we can keep to our schedule, Kate will be finished at four-thirty, but don’t count on it. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

“Sounds good. Listen, is Kate really not concerned about the death threat?”

“Every time something like that happens, she brushes it off,” Ann said, “but in her heart of hearts, who knows?”

“Not even her husband, apparently. He says she’s cavalier about threats.”

Ann laughed. “That’s a good description. I’m going to let the Secret Service worry about it.”

“Right, let them get between Kate and a bullet.”

“I’m like Kate, I don’t want to think about it.”

“I’ll see you tonight sometime,” Stone said, and she was gone.

Stone was having lunch by the pool when Peter called. “The governor has accepted our invitation,” he said, “but he’ll probably have to leave early. He has a lot on his plate, what with all the Democrats in town.”

“I won’t take much of his time.”

“I’ll try to see that you get a few minutes alone.”

“Thanks, Peter. I’ll see you tonight.”

Stone left the Arrington in one of their Porsche Cayenne SUVs with a driver, instead of in a Bentley, and they drove out Sunset Boulevard to Amalfi Drive and turned left. Stone told the driver to be back at eight o’clock, then he rang the buzzer at the front gate and was let in.

He walked into some of the most beautiful gardens he had ever seen. It always astonished Stone how things would grow in the desert soil as long as there was enough water, and clearly, there was enough water for this.

He walked up a path to a good-sized shingled house, and he could see another one very much like it next door. That would be Ben’s, he reckoned. He was met at the door by Billy Burnett, who seemed to be exercising his security role.

“Good evening, Stone,” Billy said, shaking his hand.

“How are you, Billy?”

“Very well, thank you. I didn’t get a chance last night to thank you personally for your role in getting me the pardon,” Billy said. “It’s already made a big difference in my life. For the first time in many years, I can own a house.”

“Where did you buy?”

“One street over from here. My property is much smaller, of course, but it backs up on Peter’s property, and he’s installed a gate for easy access.”

“I feel better knowing you’re nearby,” Stone said. “For future reference, I’ve been warned that the Russians in Paris have not forgotten about me. Yuri Majorov had a brother, Yevgeny, who seems to have taken over his position in that organization.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“There’s been no specific threat, just a heads-up from Lance Cabot. I’ll certainly be in touch if I hear anything else.”

“Thank you. A part of me is accustomed to always being on guard,” Billy said. A waiter appeared with a glass of Knob Creek.

Peter walked in with Hattie and greeted him just as the doorbell rang again. Billy went to answer it and came back with the governor of California, Richard Collins. A plainclothes officer hovered on the edge of the room.

Collins greeted everyone warmly, and a waiter brought him a drink on a silver tray. “I’m nearly the first here,” he said to Stone. “Good to see you again. It’s been a long time since San Francisco. My condolences on the death of your wife.”

“Thank you, Governor. Would you like to sit down for a minute before the others arrive?”

“Use my study,” Peter said, then led the way to a smaller room lined with bookcases. The two men took chairs in front of a fireplace, where a small blaze had been kindled.

“From everything I’m reading,” Stone said, “your first term is going extremely well.”

“Amazing the things you can get done when you have a majority in both houses,” Collins said. “And Jerry Brown had the goodness to clean up the budget problem before I got in.”

“I wanted to get your views on how the nominating process is going,” Stone said.

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it, what Kate Lee is doing? I had my doubts at first, but I’m beginning to think she just might pull it off.”

“Well, Martin Stanton has been a big help.”

Collins laughed heartily. “Yes, Marty can be his own worst enemy. He’s my friend, though, and I owe him my support for as long as he’s in the race.”

“Of course you do, and I know that Kate understands that. She’ll feel differently on a second ballot, though.”

“If there’s a second ballot, then we’re in a whole new ball game,” Collins said. “And believe me, Marty knows that. It’s a shame that someone with so much talent for politics and governing can risk it all for a roll in the hay. He was a terrific state legislator and governor.”

“And a very good vice president,” Stone said. “It has occurred to some folks that those talents might serve him well in the United States Senate.”

Collins’s eyes narrowed, and he smiled. “Oh, I think Marty would be good in any office in the land.”

“Especially one with four years left in the term,” Stone pointed out. “And I’m sure it would ease his mind to know that a soft landing is available, should the balloting at the convention not go his way.”

“I’m going to take my time making that appointment,” Collins said, “even though there are all sorts of people already scratching at my office door.”

“I think you should certainly take your time... making that announcement,” Stone said. “After all, timing is everything.”

“Did you know, Stone, that Eleanor Stockman was taken off her respirator this afternoon about three o’clock?”

“No, I hadn’t heard that. I haven’t had the TV on today.”

“And she died about an hour ago,” Collins said. “The announcement is being made about now.” He looked at his watch. “Just in time for the six o’clock news.” The vibrating of a cell phone could be heard on the governor’s person. He took out an iPhone and looked at it. “The deluge has already begun,” he said. “I’m glad it’s not Kate on the phone.” He held down two buttons at once and switched it off.

“I don’t expect you’ll hear from her on the subject,” Stone said.

“But it certainly makes our conversation pertinent, doesn’t it?”

“I suppose it does,” Stone said.

“Can you guess who that was on the phone?” the governor asked.

“It would be impertinent of me to try,” Stone replied.

The governor laughed and polished off his drink. “Well, I suppose I’d better get in there and say hello to some folks.” He stood up. “I’m told that Charlene Joiner will be here tonight,” he said. “I believe you’re acquainted with her, aren’t you, Stone?”

“Who isn’t?” Stone asked.

The governor laughed again. “She’s quite a lady,” he said.

“Marvelous actress.”

“Do you think I should get to know her better?”

“I think it would be wise to take Will Lee as your example on the subject of Charlene.”

The governor smiled broadly. “Someone who was allegedly present a few years ago at Van Nuys Airport, when she tried to get to him on Air Force One, swears he heard the president tell the Secret Service that if she came on board to shoot her.”

They both had a good laugh, then joined the others.