HE TOOK A cab up to Central Park, got out at Seventy-Second and Fifth, and walked over to the boat lake. He looked around the restaurant and saw only one man alone at a table.

“He’s keeping it warm for us,” Will said from behind him.

They shook hands and walked over to the table. The Secret Service agent made himself scarce, but stayed within easy reach. Nobody seemed to notice a former President in their midst. Must be the casual clothes, Stone thought.

They ordered lunch and a bottle of chardonnay.

“So, how have the last couple of weeks gone?” Will asked.

“They’ve been very strange.”

“Did you enjoy your time with Ed Rawls?”

“Actually, he was a little more companionable than he has been in the past.”

“He’s back at his house in Virginia,” Will said, taking a sip of his wine.

“Did his wife leave it to him?”

“He never gave it to her, just lifetime occupancy, and her lease has expired. He was hunkered down for a week or so, but now he’s living there quite openly.”

“I don’t get it—he seemed fearful in Maine, especially after they burned down his house.”

“He’s already started rebuilding it.”

“What’s changed?”

“His attitude, I guess. As far as I can tell, nothing else has.”

“He’s still got the strong case?”

“I don’t see him ditching it, do you?”

“He had a cellar next to his Maine house with all his files in it, until he set off an incendiary device.”

“Well, that’s news,” Will said. “Maybe that made him feel more devil-may-care.”

“Do you think he’s in any real danger?”

“He doesn’t seem to thinks so, and I guess that’s all that matters.”

“What’s on 60 Minutes tonight?”

“A last-minute programming change—they’re going to spend the whole hour introducing Nelson Knott to all the people who normally sleep in the wee hours.”

“I thought his whole business plan was based on insomnia.”

“Until now. He’s making his evening debut, so to speak. I want to hear what he says when they ask him if he’s thinking of running for office.”

“Why else would they give him the hour?”

“I’ve heard a rumor that Christian St. Clair may be making a bid for CBS News. Maybe they don’t want to piss him off.” Will took another sip of his wine.

“Is this his first big move, then?”

“No, his first big move was a luncheon last week for ten high rollers at your club on the East Side.”

“How’d he do?”

“Word is, four of them have promised to start a PAC with a hundred million dollars each, and a couple of the others are leaning that way.”

“Times have changed, haven’t they, since twenty of us put up a million each to get Kate started?”

“Times have certainly changed.”

“Is Kate worried about Knott?”