“She certainly does, and me in particular. Seriously, there are so many cards on the President’s table, so many hands being played all at once, that she, like any president, needs somebody to remember it all and help out with the decisions. It never ceases to amaze me how many Republican businessmen there are who think they can waltz into the White House, rearrange the foreign policy furniture, and expect everything to keep running smoothly. It’s more than a full-time job, it’s a way of life, and you can’t just turn it off for a round of golf. Things go right on happening, and you’d better be on top of them the way Kate—and I—are.”

“The nation is fortunate in your service.”

“The nation better believe it. Now, enough about how I’m running the world. What are you doing with yourself?”

“Lately, I’ve been much involved with a new client—a young man who won six hundred million dollars in the lottery and is spending it as fast as he can.”

“Too fast?”

“Not yet, and he spends it on worthwhile things like houses and estates.”

“Rather like another young man I know, so he must be something of a sage.”

“I hope he will grow into one, once the fog of great wealth burns off and lets the sun shine on him.”

“Is great wealth such a burden?”

“You bet your sweet ass it is. Dealing with it is a full-time job.”

“And yet you always seem to have so much free time, running off to England and to the West Coast and to Maine.”

“My genius lies in choosing the right people to deal with it and staying out of their way, until I want some money to spend on another house.”

“Are you going to buy any more houses?”

“Pray God, no. I’ve a property glut as it is, although I did sell the Connecticut house.”

“Such a nice house, too. I’ll miss it.”

“I hardly ever went there.”

“You hardly ever go to Maine, either.”

“That’s too true, but a fellow needs a place on the water.”

“Though I haven’t seen it yet, I’ve heard the English estate is on the water.”

“True, but that’s water over there, not over here. No, ma’am, I’m not buying any more houses.”

Joan buzzed him, and he picked up the phone. “Yes?”

“Ed Eagle for you on line one.”

Stone pressed the button. “Ed, how are you?”

“Better than you would believe. You’re very well, too.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because something wonderful is about to happen to you.”

“I’m delighted to hear it! Am I allowed to know what?”

“Gala is moving back to L.A. full-time and is selling her Santa Fe house, and she’d like to sell it to you.”

Stone was caught completely off guard. “No, I can’t.”

“Of course you can.”