“The Ed Rawls book and the DVD. I’d like to ask you some questions about it.”

“It’s nothing to do with me. Call Ed Rawls. Goodbye.”

He hung up, and Joan buzzed again. “Somebody from MSNBC,” she said, “a producer on the Chris Matthews show.”

“Tell him I’m busy, to call Ed Rawls.” Before he could hang up, she said, “Somebody from Fox News on line two.”

“I don’t want to speak to anybody about the books,” he said. “Refer them all to Rawls.” He hung up and wondered how the hell he had been connected to the mailing. He buzzed Joan.

“Yes?”

“You didn’t put my name on those envelopes, did you?”

“Nope, just the address, in case we got returns.”

Stone groaned. “Okay, then, you handle the calls. There are going to be two hundred of them.”

“But how would they know the books are from you?”

“You ever hear of a reverse directory, Joan? You look up an address, and it tells you who lives there.”

“Oh, my God, I’m so embarrassed.”

“You can convey your embarrassment to the two hundred callers.”

She buzzed back a few minutes later to say Dino was on line two. Stone pressed the button. “Hello.”

“You must be getting a lot of calls,” Dino said. “I hear your address is on every envelope.”

“Yeah, Joan screwed up, something she doesn’t often do. She’d never heard of a reverse directory.”

“What are you doing about the calls?”

“Referring everybody to Ed Rawls.”

“And where is Rawls?”

“On his way to Maine, driving a rental. He didn’t want the calls.”

“Will they track him down there?”

“I don’t think so,” Stone said. “His phone was destroyed with his house, and he’s using a burner. He’s staying at my place until his new one is finished.”

“Is the Parker family okay?”

“They’re fine. They’re at my place in England.”

“So everybody’s battened down for the big moment, huh?”

“Everybody but Nelson Knott and Christian St. Clair. They’ll be getting the first calls soon.”

“Yes, that could ruin their day. Have you heard anything from Lance Cabot?”

“Not since yesterday. Will Lee called this morning, and we had a brief chat. He seemed calm.”

“Heard anything from Holly?”

“Nope. I think she’s back at work by now and probably doesn’t have the time to call.”

“Why don’t you get her to quit the job and marry you? Viv thinks you’re made for each other.”

“Tried that, didn’t work. She’s married to the White House, and I’ll tell you a secret—Lance is a candidate for Kate’s running mate this time.”

“What’s wrong with what’s-his-name, the VP?”

“He’s unwell, something serious, I think.”

“Has Holly got a shot at Lance’s job, if he runs with Kate?”

“I believe she has.”