“I’ve always had a paranoid streak,” she said. “I just won’t admit it.”

“But you just did.”

“Then take that as a compliment. You are now the only one who knows. Besides my father and mother, of course. And a few college friends. And Kate.”

“But besides all of them, I’m the only one who knows?”

“Right.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Is there any way I can help you figure this out?”

“No. You know even less than I do about what’s wrong.”

“When did you first get the feeling that something was wrong?”

“When Kate called me and asked me to call a press conference for tomorrow morning at nine.”

“On a Sunday morning?”

“Yes.”

“Something’s wrong,” he said.

“I knew it!” she shouted, leaping to her feet. “You’ve just confirmed it!”

“But I don’t know anything.”

“Welcome to the club! You see how it feels?”

“I’m beginning to,” he admitted. “I’m beginning to think that paranoia is contagious.”

“Maybe so. I’m starving. When is the pizza coming?”

“It won’t be long, they’re right around the corner.” The doorbell rang; Stone ran to the front door and came back with a pizza. He got a bottle of wine from the cooler in the bar, opened it, and came back with two glasses and some napkins.

Ann had already dug into the pizza and was halfway through her first slice. She made a grateful noise when he handed her a glass of wine, then took a huge gulp. “Better,” she said.

—

THE FOLLOWING MORNING Stone and Ann had an early breakfast. She kept looking at her watch.

“What time do you want to be there?” he asked.

“Eight-thirty,” Ann said. “There’s nothing for me to do until then. The press secretary is dealing with the lighting and sound system.”

“I want to come with you,” Stone said.

“Okay.”

“You think she’s pregnant?” he asked.

“No, but I don’t know anything anymore. If she is pregnant, then she’ll be leaving the race.”

“Really?”

“No, not really, that’s just my best guess.”

“Have you ever noticed that when the president or somebody important has a press conference, everybody in the media already knows what it’s about before it starts? I mean, they’re telling you on TV what it’s going to be about and what questions are going to be asked and what the answers will be.”

“I’ve noticed that,” Ann said. “It’s because people like me leak it to a few people to guarantee good coverage and, if it’s bad news, to soften the blow.”

“It’s a strange business,” Stone said.

“What’s strange is what’s happening today,” Ann said. “Nobody knows anything except Kate—and Will. Maybe.”

—