Severe Clear

46

Stone took his plate and went to sit by Dino. Viv was in deep conversation with Immi Gotham a few yards away.

“I’m sorry I haven’t seen much of you the past couple of days,” Stone said.

“Not your fault, pal. I’ve been pretty busy myself.”

“And I don’t blame you a bit,” Stone said. “Viv is a knockout.”

“Okay, so what the fuck is going on around here? What have you and Mike and that Secret Service dick been up to?”

“You got something against the Secret Service?”

“I’ve got something against all feds,” Dino replied. “Every time I’ve tried to work with them I’ve gotten fucked.”

“Well, there is that.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Dino pointed out.

“Would you believe me if I told you you wouldn’t want to know?”

“Half of what I know I didn’t want to know.”

“You probably noticed a lot of security around here-I mean, more than when we arrived.”

“Yeah, I noticed.”

“Well, they searched the whole property, and they found a bomb in a wine storage room adjacent to the main restaurant.”

“What kind of bomb?”

“Both simple and sophisticated, the expert said. A kilo or two of plastique.”

“Since we’re sitting here having dinner with the president, my guess is they disarmed it.”

“Right, but there may be two more. Not here, because the place has been ransacked, but somewhere. They may try to get them onto the grounds.”

“I hear they’re practically strip-searching every arrival.”

“That’s true, so if the bombs are not here, it’s a pretty sure thing that they’re not going to be.”

Dino nodded. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you look like you know something you don’t want anybody else to know.”

“Am I that transparent?”

“Come on, are you kidding me? Should I be running for a flight out of here?”

“I think the answer to your question is right over there,” Stone said, nodding in the direction of the president, “eating fried chicken with his fingers.”

“I always thought that was the best way,” Dino said. “I mean, if you’re gonna eat fried chicken. And if he feels safe, so I and mine should feel safe?”

“You see the young man talking to the president?”

“I think I recognize him. He’s related to you, isn’t he?”

“He is. And if I thought he weren’t safe, he would be on a plane back to New York, along with the rest of us.”

Peter Barrington sat on the sofa next to the president of the United States and ate his fried chicken with his fingers.

“You know,” Will Lee said, “I’ve got a son-stepson, really-who’s a little older than you. His name is Peter, too.”

“I heard that,” Peter replied. “I heard he slipped up and went to Harvard.”

Lee laughed and handed his plate to a passing waiter, then wiped his hands carefully. “Our Peter sent us a copy of your film, Autumn Kill. Kate and I thought it was terrific, and I couldn’t believe a student did it.”

“Thank you, sir,” Peter replied.

“How much of it was true?”

Peter shrugged. “Well, nobody has sued me yet, though I hear it caused quite a stir at my old school. It was based on rumors, really, kind of a legend that gets handed down from class to class. I filled in a lot of blanks, just made up stuff, but the reaction made me think I might have guessed right.” Peter wiped his fingers, and a waiter took his plate and the president’s napkin.

“You’re at Yale Drama, right?”

“That’s right. Ben Bacchetti and I are, anyway. Hattie, whom you met, is studying composition at the School of Music.”

“I hear she’s quite a pianist.”

“You’ll hear her tomorrow night. She’s going to open the concert and do a number with Ms. Gotham, too.”

“That will be quite a showcase for her,” Lee said. “Don’t let her go all Hollywood on you.”

Peter laughed. “We’re all going to go Hollywood next year. We’re going to have a production deal at Centurion Studios and make our own movies. Ben will produce, Hattie will score them, and I’ll write and direct. Oh, and I haven’t told Dad about it yet, so keep it under your hat, will you?”

“Don’t worry, I’m accustomed to keeping secrets,” Lee said.

“By the way, congratulations on your agreement with President Vargas. It’s already on MSNBC.”

“Thank you, Peter. It’s just one more box to check off before my term ends.”

“What are you going to do then?”

“I’m going to go back to Meriwether County, Georgia, and write my memoirs. I have to-the publishing deal is already done. And by the way, keep that under your hat until you hear about it on the news, which won’t be long.”

“I’ll look forward to reading it,” Peter said.

“And I’ll look forward to seeing more of your movies.”

Dino sidled over and caught Viv by herself for a moment. “How you doing?”

“Just great, thanks. You know, that Immi is quite a nice lady.”

“I noticed that for the last twenty years,” Dino said.

“What are you doing over here talking to me, when you could be talking to her?” Viv asked.

“I just wanted to tell you something.”

“I always like to know something.”

“Something might happen here that will come as a surprise.”

“Pleasant or unpleasant?”

“I’m pessimistic.”

“So what is it?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“You said you were going to tell me something. That was nothing.”

“I can’t tell you, because Stone wouldn’t tell me.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, but I know Stone well enough to know that if he could’ve, he would’ve.”

Viv sighed. “Sheesh, you guys!”