They sat down and waited while he rummaged in the kitchen, then came out pushing a cart that held three grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, a bottle of red wine, and a bottle of bourbon. “Help yourself,” he said. “Wine or whiskey?”

“I guess a glass of wine,” Stone said.

“Me too,” Holly echoed.

Ed poured them all a glass, switched on the TV and Fox News came up, but he immediately changed to MSNBC, looking embarrassed. He watched the headlines in silence until they had finished eating, then he wheeled the cart back into the kitchen, refreshed their glasses, and sat down.

“Okay,” he said, “what do you want?”

Stone and Holly exchanged a glance.

“Are you on some kind of medication, Ed?” Stone asked.

“None of your business, but no.”

“Then why are you so fucking hostile?”

“You think this is hostile? This is my sunny disposition face.” He pointed at his chin.

Holly burst out laughing, and Ed managed a small smile.

“I guess you think I’m paranoid, or something.”

“Or something,” Stone replied. “Is somebody out to get you?”

“I think that’s a reasonable assumption, given the circumstances.”

“What are the circumstances?”

“Two pros with weapons arrived here a couple of weeks ago.”

“And you’re still here. Where did they go?”

“Into Penobscot Bay,” Ed replied. “Though the tides probably took ’em out into the Atlantic.”

Stone sighed. “Who sent them to see you?”

“I didn’t have time to ask.”

“Domestic or foreign?” Holly asked.

“One of ’em sounded like a Texan,” Ed replied. “The other one never had the opportunity to speak.”

“Political or criminal?”

“Most of the politicians I’ve known have been criminals.”

“You owe your liberty to a politician,” Stone said.

“One of two or three I’ve come across who are decent human beings.”

“Are you including Joe Adams in that crowd?” Stone asked.

“Yes, I am. And Kate, too. I’ve never blamed her for turning me in. I deserved it. That’s why I helped her—and Will, too.” He looked curious for a moment. “Why do you bring up Joe Adams?”

“I spoke with him a few days ago,” Stone said.

“Did he speak to you? I mean, did he make any sense?”

“He made more sense than I expected him to.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“When did you last see Joe?”

Ed looked at him sharply. “That’s a loaded question.”

“Then unload it for me.”

“A while back,” he said.

“How did that come about?”

“He and Sue spend their summers in Maine, you know.”

“I didn’t know,” Stone said. “Where?”

“On Mount Desert Island, ’bout an hour’s drive from here, if you make the ferry.”

“Did they invite you, or did you just show up?”

“I made an appointment.”

“What did you and Joe talk about?”

“This and that. It was a short conversation.”

“Did you leave something with Joe?”

“Maybe.”