“Evan, listen good. This is Nick Addis. I am about to make your life. Pulitzer. Money. Fame. A movie with god-knows-who playing you. This is it: The Blue Ridge deal is just part of it. There’s more. It runs into the assassination. Check out who owned the land first. See if her nickname was Happy … . Yes, that Happy … . Anyway, there are documents. And they’re all yours … . No, this isn’t some fucking joke … . Yes, this is an exclusive but only for one day. You don’t get the story out in tomorrow’s edition, and it’s everyone’s: CNN, the networks, the wires, you name it … . You better put it all out, no games with your publisher—or you’re going to look like an ass afterward … . Yeah, yeah, the Blue Ridge deal and the assassination … . Don’t have time to go over it. I will vouch for the accuracy of the documents … . But there’s one other thing: Julia Lancette, the woman I was with last night, was trying to find out the truth, and that’s why she was killed. She never really got it all. But she tried … .”

Water covering her lips.

“She did. Came close, came … Quote me on that if you want, but I can’t get into it now … . And here’s some advice: Don’t call anyone for comment—not the White House, not Margaret, not anyone—until your story’s set and you’re in a safe place … . Yes, a safe place … . How the hell should I know where one is? I’m just telling you to be careful … . Why you? I’m not sure. You want a simple explanation: You have the background. But do me one favor—don’t ask again.”

He gave Hynes-Pierce the address of Rudd’s office.

“I’ll try to meet you there. But start without me. In return, I want you to answer one question, okay? … Later on, but you’ll have to answer it, okay? … Trust me, for this, it’s not too much to ask … . You’ll see. You will. Good-bye.”

He hit the “end” button. Addis turned toward the door. How long did he have? No one had barged in yet. He found the phone number he had scribbled on his calendar.

“Mrs. Lancette, this is Nick Addis … . I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner … . There’s a few things I think you should know … .”

When he finished, he asked for the funeral information. He then turned off the cell phone and placed it on the desk. He noticed a sealed manila envelope with no markings on it. He opened the envelope. Inside was a set of the documents that Tracy Griffith had faxed to him. He examined the inside of the envelope and found a folded-up note. It was written in red Magic Marker on plain white paper.