“This is the White House operator. I have the president for you. Can you speak to her?”

Stone’s heart sank. “Yes, thank you.” He covered the phone and said, “It’s Kate.”

Dino burst out laughing.

“Hello, Stone?”

“Yes, Madam President?”

“I just loved your video.”

Stone’s heart leaped. “I didn’t even know it was a video, until Holly called.”

“That’s right, she would already have seen it.”

That meant that Holly hadn’t spoken to Kate. He was relieved about that.

“How can I help?” Kate asked.

“Madam President, I am so sorry to have brought you into this. I—”

“Nonsense. You’ve done me so many favors, and I’ve done you so few. Please tell me how I can help.”

“Well, we’re getting good cooperation from Massimo Bertelli, who’s head of the Italian DIA, but if you could call the prime minister, there’s a whole array of Italian police departments that could be brought to bear, if he’s serious about fighting the Mafia.”

“What a good idea! What time is it over there?”

“It’s a little after ten.”

“I’ll schedule a call to the PM for first thing tomorrow. Anything else?”

“If you could find a way to let Lance know that you’re not angry with me, he might speak to me again someday.”

“Done. I’ll call him right now.”

“Thank you so much for your help.”

“What are friends for? See you.” She hung up.

“What did she say?” Dino asked.

“She’s going to call the PM in the morning. I may have a life again.”

“So you’re out of the shit.”

“Maybe.”

“You’ve got more than nine lives, pal.”

“Friends are better than nine lives.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You certainly may.”

—

Lance Cabot had fallen asleep with a mission report lying open on his chest when the phone rang. “Yes?”

“This is the White House operator. Can you speak with the president?”

This was going to be about the Stone Barrington thing, he knew it. “Of course.”

“Hello, Lance?”

“Yes, Madam President?”

“Have you seen the video of Stone Barrington and the Italian mafioso Casselli?”

“Yes, ma’am, and I’d like to explain about that.”

“Isn’t it wonderful!”

Lance sucked in a breath and searched for words. “Stone is full of surprises, isn’t he?” That avoided both criticism and endorsement.

“He really tore into him, didn’t he? I talked with Stone a few minutes ago, and he needs our help. I’m going to call the Italian prime minister tomorrow morning and ask him to put his entire police force on Mafia alert and to make every effort to support Massimo Bertelli at the DIA.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Madam President.”