“I’m awake and the TV is on.”

“Did you know about this?”

“I’m sworn to secrecy. I couldn’t even tell Will. Uh-oh, I hear Will running up the stairs. Talk to you later!” She hung up.

“Did you hear that?” Ann said.

“I did,” Stone replied.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Ann said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“I think I see the fine hand of Dick Collins in this,” Stone said. “I’ll bet he took Stanton aside and demolished his hopes. I wonder how he did that.”

“I can guess,” Ann said. “I think he must have told Marty that a bunch of the California delegates were going to jump ship on the first ballot—and he may just have told him that his offer of the Senate seat was about to expire. Marty wouldn’t have had the guts to brazen it out through the first ballot and negotiate later.”

“Shouldn’t you go and see Kate?” Stone asked.

“No, she’s with Will. I don’t want to bust in on that. I’d better start making some calls, though. Do you mind if I do it here?”

“Go right ahead,” Stone said.

Ann’s cell phone rang. “Hello? Oh, Governor Otero, how are you? I’m sure she’d like to speak to you, but she and the president are sequestered at the moment. May I have her call you back a little later in the afternoon? Thank you for your patience.” She hung up. “I think that makes it official,” she said. “Pete Otero wants the number two spot and he’s going to be willing to trade his delegates for it.”

“Kate has already said he would be her first choice,” Stone said.

“I think we’re seeing history being made,” Ann said, then started making calls.

Chapter 23

Ann finished her calls and hung up.

“Now what?” Stone asked.

“Now I go see Kate. Come with me.”

“All right.” Stone got up and followed her out of the house and across the back lawn and the road to the presidential cottage.

Ann looked around the ground floor and returned. “She’s still upstairs with Will,” she said. “Let’s wait in the library.” She led the way.

Stone took a seat on a sofa while Ann fielded calls on her cell phone, mostly from the press. “I didn’t know about it until it happened,” she said to one reporter. “No plans for a press conference now. You’ll be notified.” She hung up. “That was a typical conversation,” she said, switching off her phone before it rang again. They could hear the phones ringing in the office next door. Ann went in there, then came back. “Molly’s got it under control,” she said.

“Why don’t you have a seat and take a breath,” Stone said, patting the sofa next to him. “Would you like a drink?”