Stone pressed the hold button. “Mystery call for you, Kate. Do you want to take it?”

“Who would know you were here?” Ann said.

“Let’s find out,” Kate replied. She took the phone and pressed the button. “Kate Lee. Good morning—or afternoon, as it may be.” She listened for a moment. “All right, I agree—not even Will.” She listened some more. “How sure are you about this? Thank you for calling.” She hung up.

No one said anything for a long moment.

“Who was it?” Ann asked finally.

“I’m sorry, I can’t say,” Kate said. She drank the last of her coffee. “Will you excuse me, please? I think I want to go and lie down for a little while. And, Ann, please cancel the rest of today’s schedule.”

Ann’s face fell. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t think it will matter,” Kate said and got to her feet.

They stood with her.

“Thank you so much for lunch, Stone,” she said, then she walked toward the presidential cottage, and the two Secret Service agents standing a few yards away fell in a few paces behind her.

“What do you suppose that was all about?” Stone asked.

“I have absolutely no idea,” Ann replied. “Did you see her face? It had to be bad news if she canceled her schedule. She had half a dozen appointments with delegates this afternoon.”

“She certainly didn’t seem elated.”

“Somehow,” Ann said, “I have the feeling that the bottom has just dropped out of her world.”

Chapter 22

The convention opened at two P.M. and would finish in the early evening to allow for various scheduled events around town, including the fund-raiser in The Arrington’s amphitheater. The last two hours of the day were devoted to nominating speeches, one for each candidate. Stone didn’t bother to take his group to the hall; they could watch the speeches on TV, if they chose to, and have plenty of time to dress for the evening.

Stone spent the early part of the afternoon reading, and close to five o’clock Ann found him in his study.

“You through early?” Stone asked.

“Yes, with Kate’s schedule canceled I had little to do. I thought I would watch the nominating speeches with you.”

“Sounds exciting.” Stone switched on the TV. “Who’s nominating Kate?”

“Bob Marcus, the junior senator from Georgia. He’ll be last.”

They watched as a Virginia congressman nominated Mark Willingham. From what Stone knew of Willingham, he hardly recognized the man described in the nomination speech.

A Colorado senator nominated Pete Otero, and much was made of the importance of the Hispanic vote in the general election.

“Is Kate watching?” Stone asked.

“I’m not sure, she was sleeping earlier, which is unlike her, but there’s a TV in the bedroom. Marty’s is next, and Governor Collins is nominating him.”