“Bad ear again? I’m saying we’ve got some concerns, that’s all. And I want us to get off on a fresh editorial foot. I’m sure you can understand that. I wanted to make the point to you in person.”

“I appreciate that. But I’m not cutting off my ties to Vance. He’s got cancer, for Christ’s sake.”

“It’s a lot to process, I know. Okay, we’ll put a pin in it for now. Oh, by the way, what’s your take on Alexander Porfle? As an editor, I mean?”

“Porfle?” Klay said, steeling himself. “Extraordinary. Best editor I’ve ever had.”

She nodded. “Good. Last thing . . .” She opened Eady’s coat closet and removed the curved white stick with a knot at one end. Klay suppressed a smile. It was Eady’s walrus baculum. She slapped the penis bone in her palm.

“An ivory shillelagh is what I guessed at first.” She slid a hand along its curved shaft. “Turns out it’s a walrus penis bone.” She looked at him. “I can’t imagine a man leaving his dick behind by accident, can you, Tom?”

She dropped it into her wastebasket. “We’ll come back to Mr. Eady another time.”

There was a knock at her door.

“Come!”

Timothy wore a smile that wasn’t especially sunny. He tapped his Apple Watch.

“Timothy will go over what to expect this morning.”

“What to expect for what?” Klay asked.

“Terry Krieger, Tom,” Reif said. “We want you to meet him.” She clapped her hands. “Chop-chop. Let’s go!”

ONE BEAUTIFUL BATTLEFIELD

Sovereign Headquarters

Washington, DC

Here’s where you sit,” Timothy said, pointing to an upholstered seat in the front row of The Sovereign’s auditorium, the kind with bottoms that fold up when not in use. A piece of paper with Klay’s name written on it was taped to the seat’s underside.

“I see that,” Klay said. “What’s the agenda?”

“Nope.” Timothy shook his head. “We want you totally natural.” He wiped a spot from Klay’s gray T-shirt. “So, act totally natural. Do you have a suit jacket here . . . ? Of course you don’t. You can wait in the green room until we’re ready to begin—we’ve got snacks and water back there for you. When Sharon calls for you, walk out that door and take this seat.” Timothy checked his watch. “We have about a half hour. We’ll start letting people in in ten. On my way,” he said into his headset, and hurried for the auditorium’s rear door.