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Stone laughed and hung up. “She’s on her way. I’ll bring her here,” he said. “Sit tight.” He walked to the front door and arrived in time to see the car pull up outside. It had begun to drizzle, and the agent held an umbrella for her as she exited the car.
She ran up the steps, came inside, and gave Stone a kiss on the cheek. “What a handsome house,” she said, looking around the living room.
Stone hung up her raincoat. “Thank you. It was built by my great-aunt, my grandmother’s sister, and my father did all the woodwork and much of the furniture.”
“He was very, very good,” she said.
“Holly and Mike are in my study. Come this way.” He led her into the smaller room and, while she greeted Mike and Holly, poured her a bourbon.
She flopped down on the sofa and took a sip of her drink. “This is fun already,” she said. “Will and I don’t get that many opportunities to dine in someone else’s home, unless it’s a grand occasion.”
“You’re very welcome here,” Stone said. “I’m sorry the president couldn’t join us.”
“He’s speaking to the Security Council at the U.N. tomorrow morning, so he’s on the way up from Washington now,” Kate replied. “He won’t be able to make dinner, but he said he might stop in for a drink later.”
“That would be wonderful. Kate, before we go down for dinner, Mike would like to speak with you about something.”
“Of course,” she said, taking another sip of her bourbon.
“Mrs. Lee …”
“Kate, please, Mike.”
“Kate. It has occurred to me that you’re going to be retiring from government service in the not-too-distant future.”
“The Constitution insists that Will retire, and I pretty much have to go with him.”
“Well, perhaps we can find a way to keep you from being bored after you are a private citizen again.”
“Oh, good! I’ve been worried about that.”
“Stone and I would like it very much if you would consider joining the board of Strategic Services.”
“What an interesting idea,” she replied. “What would that entail?”
“We meet more often than some boards, on the first Monday of each month, except August, when everybody seems to be out of town. Since we work our board pretty hard, the pay is twenty-five thousand per meeting, but you’re certainly not required to make every one.”
“Just when I need the money?”
Mike laughed. “If you’re feeling flush, you can miss some meetings, but we’d like to see you there as often as possible.”
“Mike, you understand that, even after I leave the Agency, I’ll be under very tight strictures about what I can discuss.”
“We’re more interested in the experience you’ve acquired and in your judgment,” Mike said. “And, though we like gossip as much as anyone, we’re not interested in official secrets.”
“That makes your offer very attractive indeed,” Kate said. “I’ll have to discuss it with Will, of course, but he likes New York as much as I do.”
“I know you have a great deal on your plate between now and retirement, so I don’t expect an immediate answer.”
“Thank you. I’ll think about it when I can.”
The phone buzzed. “That’s Helene,” Stone said, “telling us to come to dinner.”
They dined and drank wine and talked and laughed, and not once did anyone bring up the Agency, the White House, or Jasmine Shazaz.
“I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun,” Kate said, as Stone poured her more wine. “It’s such a relief not to have to keep up appearances, for fear of what will be in the columns the next morning.”
“This is a leakproof environment,” Stone said, “and you’re welcome anytime.”
