“Oh, I know it very well, but I believe that a system, even a secret one—especially a secret one—needs to be periodically purged in order to retain its long-term health.”

“Even if so doing would damage people in high places who maintain friendly relations with the Agency?”

Ed shrugged.

“Even if the country is damaged by being deprived of the leadership of some of the best Americans alive?”

“Are you saying that these people should not be held accountable for their actions?”

“Certainly not. I believe the country is well served by knowing what their government has done—after sufficient time has passed for the damage to be put into perspective.”

“You mean, fifty years after those people are dead? What about the generations between now and then? Are they to remain ignorant of what was done on their behalf?”

“Lance,” Stone said, “can you be specific? Give us an example?”

“Why, of course, Stone. May I remind you, as an example, of two events that you are well acquainted with—when an outgoing President, on the morning of the inaugural day of his successor, in, quite literally, the final hours of his service, secretly pardoned two dangerous criminals, one who had assassinated high officials of our democracy, the other who was the most notorious traitor to this country since, perhaps, Benedict Arnold? How, if these things became known, would they affect the political longevity of his successor?”

“Will had very good reasons for his action, and we don’t know if Kate had any part in that,” Stone pointed out.

“Right on both points, but what does that matter?” Lance demanded. “Her political opposition would immediately assume, perhaps dishonestly, that she did, and so would many members of the public at large, and she would be pilloried. Can you, in good conscience, allow that to happen?”

“I am not in a position to make that judgment.”

Lance pointed a finger at Ed Rawls. “He is! And you have taken it upon yourself to be his advisor.”

“That is not my role in this matter,” Stone said firmly. “I have been asked by a person I respect to keep all that from happening by securing . . . whatever is in that package.”

“And is it secure?” Lance asked. He pointed at Stone’s safe. “I know a dozen people who could unlock that in five minutes, and then it would be insecure.”

“I expect you do,” Stone replied. “Is that your plan?”

“And there is something else I haven’t mentioned,” Lance said, ignoring his question. “Even if what you have is destroyed, as Ed’s house was destroyed, there is still something I have heard about for years—the legendary memory of Ed Rawls, who, if he lives up to his reputation, could spew every fact in his head into a tape recorder, and then we would be back where we started.”

There was a long silence, during which no one wished to speak.