Stuart Woods: Insatiable Appetites

He hadn’t sent her the will, and he supposed that Mary Ann had. “I didn’t know you painted,” Stone said, trying to keep the conversation moving.

“I did as a girl, and I showed talent. I had time to develop that talent in Sicily, and now I want to make a career.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

“Thank you. Stone, I know that we cannot be lovers again, but I hope we can be friends.”

Stone looked doubtful. “I’m seeing someone who is important to me, and I don’t think she would be happy with our being friends.”

“Cordial old acquaintances, then.”

“Of course.”

She rose. “Have we anything else to say to each other?”

“I have only to wish you well — most sincerely.”

“Then I’d better return to our guests,” she said, and preceded him out of the study.

Stone followed her at a distance, breathing large sighs of relief.

When he got to the living room, Kate Lee had arrived, and Ann Keaton was with her. Ann smiled and took a step toward him, but he raised a finger, stopping her in her tracks. Later , he mouthed. She turned back to her previous conversation.

Mary Ann approached him. “Did you speak with Dolce?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t expecting her. How did she seem?”

He almost said “Normal,” but that was a stretch. “Composed,” he replied. “She said she had seen the will, and she’s going to move into this house and take Eduardo’s bedroom, then she’s going to renovate an old stone barn out back and use it for a studio for her painting.”

“She painted as a girl, and beautifully.”

“I think it’s good that she has something to keep her busy.”

“Thank God for that, I’d hate to have to keep her amused.”

“She said she had psychiatric treatment in the convent.”

“Papa told me that, though he didn’t tell me much.”

“Do you have any problem with her living in this house?”

“If I did, would it matter? Certainly, I don’t want to live here, and Ben is in California. How is it going with the estate?”

“Eduardo’s final personal tax return and the estate return have been filed. Progress toward probate seems smooth.”

“How much in estate taxes?” she asked.

“Fifty million, give or take. You, Ben, and Dolce will get more than ten million each, taxes paid. Think you can squeak by on that?”

She laughed, something she didn’t do often. “I guess we’ll have to,” she said.

Gradually, the crowd thinned, and Stone walked out of the house with Kate and Ann.

“See you at seven,” Kate said. “Oh, and bring Dino and Viv.”

“Viv’s away on business, as she often is, but I’m sure Dino would be delighted. May he bring his son, Ben, and his girl, if they’re free?”

“Of course.” She got into a waiting government SUV.

Stone pulled Ann aside. “I’m sorry we couldn’t talk earlier,” he said. “I’ll explain later.” She followed Kate into the car and was gone.

Stone had a word with Dino about the evening, then he got into the Bentley with Peter and Hattie and was driven home.

Stone arrived at the Carlyle on time and found Dino, Ben, and Tessa waiting in the lobby. He identified his party to the Secret Service agent on duty, and they were whisked up to the Lees’ penthouse apartment.

A maid opened the door, then Kate greeted them all warmly, remembering everybody’s name. A butler took their drinks order, and Ann came out of a bedroom and joined them.

Stone took her aside. “This afternoon I had just concluded a meeting with Dolce, Eduardo’s younger daughter, and I didn’t want her to see us talking.”

“Is this the crazy one?”

“Was and may still be, for all I know.”

“The one who tried to kill you?”

“Unsuccessfully.”

“Thank you for not pointing me out to her,” Ann said, laughing. “Wasn’t that a spectacular house?”

“It certainly is. I’ve been working there for a week, getting the estate ready for probate.”

“I want to hear all about Eduardo, when you have a chance.”

“Before I get into that, there’s something I have to talk with you and Kate about privately.”

“Give me a few minutes, and I’ll cut her out of the herd.”

They rejoined the others, got their drinks, and all was convivial.

A few minutes later, Stone saw Ann and Kate walk into a bedroom. Ann beckoned with her chin, and he followed. He found Kate stretched out on the bed and Ann sitting at the foot, on a bench.

“What’s up?” Ann asked.

Stone pulled up a chair. “Yesterday I got an anonymous phone call from a man who told me that he had intimate knowledge of a meeting in a private house in Georgetown attended by Henry Carson, the Speaker, and a couple of dozen Republicans from both Houses of Congress.”

“Any idea who your caller was?”

“Not the slightest. He wouldn’t say if he actually attended the meeting or even if he was a Republican, but he was shocked by what he heard.”

Kate raised her head from the bed. “What shocked him?”

“It seems the purpose of the meeting was to agree on a plan to block every bill you send to Congress and every policy initiative you put forward.”

Kate sat up and put her feet on the floor. “But they don’t know what those are.”

“Apparently, it doesn’t matter what they are.”

Kate shook her head. “I didn’t know Honk hated me.”

“The caller says they’re all angry about losing the presidency and furious about not having control of either House, so it may not have been personal.”

“What did the man want of you?” Ann asked.

“He wanted me to get the story to the press.”

“And did you?”

“I gave him Carla Fontana’s cell number and told him to call her. I also told him that his story wouldn’t be credible if he refused to identify himself.”

“And this was yesterday?” Kate asked.

“Yes. I advised him to buy two throwaway cell phones and send one to Carla, so it may take him a day or two to accomplish that.”

“Ann,” Kate said, “has Carla been sniffing around?”

“Yes,” Ann replied, “along with everybody else in the White House Press Corps.”

“If she calls you, take her call,” Kate said. “Anything else, Stone?”

“No.”

She stood up. “Then let me buy you another drink before dinner.” She took his arm and walked back into the living room. “By the way,” she whispered, “you did the right thing.”

They sat down to dinner at seven forty-five and were served foie gras, Dover sole, and crème brûlée. After dinner they were arrayed around the living room, having coffee and after-dinner drinks, when Ann’s cell phone apparently vibrated, because she removed it from a skirt pocket, looked at who the caller was, then left the room. Ten minutes later, she beckoned Stone and Kate to join her. They went to the bedroom again.

“That was Carla Fontana,” she said. “Stone, your anonymous caller has made contact and has told her the same story he told you.”

“Did she find out who he was?”

“She’s going to rendezvous with him sometime tomorrow, and he promises all will be revealed.”

“Will she be in touch with you?” Kate asked.

“She didn’t actually say so, but that was my impression.”

“Then we shall see what we shall see,” Kate said.

They all went back to the party.

Stone was half asleep when the security system began to beep. He glanced at the bedside telephone display and saw the message: “Front door open.” He entered his code, and the beeping stopped. He lay quietly, waiting.

She came into the room, and he heard the sound of a zipper, then of clothes falling to the floor. Ann landed on the bed as if from a great height. “And a very good evening to you!” she shouted.