“I’ll pass along whatever I hear. If he appeals, I’m sure his hearing will be well-attended by the entertainment press and TV shows.”

“I’ll set my DVR.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to saving the country from whatever the threat is today. Bye-bye.” Holly hung up.

—

Boris Tirov awakened at nine and buzzed downstairs for his secretary.

“Yes, Mr. Tirov,” the young man said.

“Telephone my agent and my publicist and tell them to be at Kim Kopchinsky’s office at ten forty-five AM today, without fail, and to be on time. I will take them to lunch afterward. Then call Kim’s secretary and tell her we’ll be arriving at that hour instead of eleven o’clock and to invite him to lunch, as well. Then book me a table for four in the garden at Spago Beverly Hills at half past noon.”

“Yes, sir. You have calls from the Hollywood Reporter and People magazine requesting interviews. What shall I tell them?”

“Tell them to call me back after lunch, and I’ll have a statement for them. Also, suggest that they tune in to a press conference by the Russian ambassador at two PM, Eastern, today.”

“Yes, sir.”

—

Howard Fine was at his desk when his secretary buzzed. “Yes?”

“Howard, there’s a man with an accent on the phone who says he’s calling from the Kremlin. Is that a new restaurant?”

“No, my dear, it’s a large building in Moscow.”

“Idaho?”

“Russia.”

“Oh!”

“Put him through.” He waited for the buzz, then picked up the phone. “This is Howard Fine.”

“Mr. Fine, I bring you greetings from President Viktor Petrov, of the Russian Federation.”

“Please extend my greetings to the president.”

“President Petrov wishes to extend, through you, an invitation to Miss Nathalie Dumont for dinner on Thursday of this week at seven o’clock PM at his official residence in the Kremlin. Will Miss Dumont accept?”

“Miss Dumont will be delighted to accept,” Fine replied. “I expect she would like to know how to dress.”

“It will be black tie,” the man replied. “I believe Miss Dumont is residing at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski, across Red Square from the Kremlin.”

“That is correct.”

“The president’s car will collect Miss Dumont at the main entrance of the hotel at a quarter to seven Thursday evening.”

“She will be on time,” Fine said.

“Excellent. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Fine buzzed his secretary. “Get me Nathalie Dumont.”

“Yes, sir.”

A moment later, she buzzed him. “Ms. Dumont on line one.”

“Nathalie?”

“Hello, Howard,” she replied, sounding bored.

“I have the most fabulous news!”

“The news is always fabulous from you, Howard.”

“Then try this on for size. On Thursday evening in Moscow, you will be dining at the Kremlin, at the personal invitation of the president of the Russian Federation.”

“Who?”

“Viktor Petrov, for Christ’s sake!”

“Howard, if this is just some of your bullshit—”