by Stuart Woods
“How often does that happen?” Stone asked.
“Rarely. There have not been more than two such cases in any year.”
“How long has the club existed?”
“Since 1789,” Salton replied, “more than a century in this building, which was purpose-built from a rough plan drawn by Thomas Jefferson, who was a member, along with Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Now, come, and I’ll give you a tour of the house.”
5
SALTON LED the way to the stairs. “We’ll walk down,” he said. “By the way, there’s a lovely roof garden above us, but it won’t open until spring.” They didn’t pause at the fourth floor. “There are some rooms here, which are sometimes used by out-of-town members—or members who have found their domestic arrangements temporarily inhospitable.”
“Are there women members?”
“About twenty percent of us,” Salton said, “and the number is growing. Kate Lee is among them, elected many years ago, as is our future first gentleman.”
They came to the dining room, which, at that hour, was thinly populated. Stone spotted a couple of familiar faces there, lingering over coffee.
Another floor down and they entered the most beautiful library Stone had ever seen, paneled in American walnut with white accents and two stories of bound volumes. “We have a very fine collection of American history,” Salton said, “including some volumes from Jefferson’s library.” They continued past the first floor and emerged into a garage, albeit a very elegant one.
“I didn’t notice the garage door when I entered,” Stone said.
“The garage extends into the building next door, where our administrative staff are located and which provides the entry for cars. We find it convenient, because driving in means that members won’t be seen to come and go so often. We wouldn’t like to encourage curiosity.” They approached a slightly stretched Lincoln town car, where a chauffeur stood with the rear door open. “Come,” Salton said, “I’ll give you a lift home.”
They got into the car, and Stone found it had a non-standard interior of tan Nappa leather and burled walnut.
“I can’t be seen in a Bentley or a Mercedes,” Salton explained, “so I bought an old town car and had it renovated. There are so many in the city, no one notices.”
They drove up a ramp to street level, and Stone noticed that there were two garage doors: one closed behind them before the other opened to the street. Now, that was discreet, he thought.
“The building is open twenty-four hours a day,” Salton said, handing him a gold key. “This will get you in between midnight and six AM, should you feel the need for a quiet drink or just to remove yourself from the world for a few hours.” He reached into a compartment, withdrew a handsome envelope, and handed it to Stone. “This will tell you something of our history and perhaps mention a few of those unwritten rules. If you wish to bring a guest, call the front desk and book a dining room on the fifth floor. It’s a privilege best used rarely.”
The Lincoln drew up at Stone’s front door. “Would you like to come in for another cup of coffee?” Stone asked.
“I’d love to another time, but I’m expected downtown for a meeting,” Salton said. He handed Stone a card. “Here are my private numbers in both New York and Washington, along with my Georgetown address. Drinks at six on Inauguration Day, dinner early. If you decide you won’t attend the ball, there’ll be entertainment at the house.”
“Thank you, Senator,” Stone said, shaking his hand.
“From now on it’s Ev,” Salton replied. “We’re very happy to have you among our number.”
“I look forward to it,” Stone said. He got out of the car, and it drove away. He entered the house through his office door.
“Good afternoon,” his secretary, Joan, said as he walked past her office. “Would you like your messages, or would you prefer a nap?”
Stone took the pink slips from her hand. “I’m wide awake, thank you.” He handed Joan the senator’s card. “Put all these numbers into the system, please.” The system would populate his iPad and his iPhone, as well.
“Oh, was he your lunch date?”
“He was.”
“He’s such a handsome man,” she said. “And so well spoken.”
“He’s all of that and more,” Stone said, and went into his office. Dino’s call was first. He dialed the private number.
“Hello, new boy,” he said.
“You son of a bitch,” Stone said. “You never said a word about it.”
“That’s because I know how to keep my mouth shut,” Dino replied, “when it’s desirable to do so. You should work on that.”
“How long have you been a member?”
“I guess that’s not classified: since shortly before I made commissioner. By the way, I was having lunch with Mike Freeman next door, while you and Ev were talking. He’s very pleased to be among us.”
“So am I,” Stone said.
“It’s a good place to lunch when you’re alone,” Dino said. “There’s a big table where the stags sit. You’ll meet some interesting people.”
“That’s good to know. Ev didn’t mention it.”
“There’s too much to mention in one lunch. Did you like the guy?”
“Very much. He seemed very like what I thought he’d be. He invited us all to dinner inaugural night.”
“I know.”
“Tell me, Dino, have you been much put upon for favors from other members?”
“Hardly ever,” Dino said. “That’s frowned upon, unless a member has invited you to call upon him. I try not to offer that courtesy to many people. Listen, I gotta run—speaking date.”
“Talk to you later.”
His next call was to Holly Barker.
“Well, hi there,” she said. “Are we still on for the inaugural?”
“You bet your sweet ass we are. And you should wear that green dress you bought in Paris. It’s perfect for a ball.”
“How’d you guess?”
“Oh, and we have a dinner invitation before the ball: Senator and Mrs. Everett Salton, at their house in Georgetown.”
“That sounds very grand.”
“It should be.”
“I have some news, but I’m sitting on it until we’re in D.C.,” she said.
“You’re being secretive.”
“I’m secretive for a living, remember?”
“Well, there is that.”
“I’ll send Fred to pick you up: Home or office?”
“What time?”
“Ten AM?”
“Oh, home, I guess. How much luggage can I bring?”
“As much as you need, and not a bit more.”
“Oh, shoot, I wanted to bring a selection of things.”
“Select before you pack.”
“If I have to.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Stone hung up and made his other calls. Finally, he got to Pat Frank and dialed the number she had left.
“Hello?”
“It’s Stone.”
“How was your lunch?”
“Very interesting. First time I’ve had lunch with a senator. How was your move-in?”
“Not bad. I had the movers take everything out of the boxes and then take them away. I’m already half done with putting things away. When do you leave for Washington?” He had told her about the trip.
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Need a copilot?”
“I’ve got to fly the thing alone sometime—when better than when a thousand other private airplanes are simultaneously diving on the capital?”
“Try not to bump into any.”
“You betcha. I’ll be back in a few days. I’ll call you.”
“You’ll be only one of a hundred clients
by then.”
“Yeah, but I’ll still be the first, and deserving of special attention.”
“And special attention you will get.”
He hung up laughing.
6
STONE MADE his first landing as a single pilot in the M2 without incident, in spite of the inaugural traffic in the area. He flew the ILS at Manassas, Virginia, and taxied over to the FBO. The stretch limo he had reserved months ago awaited on the ramp; the driver introduced himself as Benny, and he quickly had their luggage in the trunk.
“Where to, Mr. Barrington?”
“The Hay-Adams Hotel, please.”
Traffic was heavy, and they had to wait in a line of cars to unload at the hotel’s front door. Stone got everybody out and left Benny to deal with the luggage. He was warmly welcomed at the front desk, and they were immediately taken up to their suite, which Stone and Dino had once used before Dino’s marriage. The spectacular view of the White House was still there.
They ordered from room service, and while they waited, Holly broke her news. “Kate is going to appoint me assistant to the president for national security affairs, which means I’ll sit on the National Security Council,” she said.
“Wow!” Stone shouted. “Good going, Holly!” He added champagne to their lunch order.
“Then you’re going to resign from the Agency?”
“I’ll take an unpaid leave of absence,” Holly said, “in case it turns out I’m not a good enough politician.”
“Does Lance know?” Dino asked.
“I told him yesterday. If he’d had to hear it on the news he wouldn’t have liked it.”
“When do you start?”
“One second after Kate takes the oath, so I won’t be flying back to New York with you. I’ve got to find an apartment here as soon as possible.”
Stone had a thought. “How about in Georgetown, on Pennsylvania Avenue?”
“Sounds good. Do you know somebody?”
“I do. Let me call him.” Stone took his cell phone into the bedroom and called Bruce Willard, who had briefly been his client. Bruce had an antique shop on Pennsylvania Avenue, and he lived in an apartment above the store. He had also recently inherited a house in Georgetown from his lover, so he would be moving soon.
“Hello, Stone,” Bruce said. “You in town for the inaugural?”
“I am, and I’ve brought a friend along who is going to be serving in an important job on the White House staff. She needs a place to live. Are you moving out of your apartment?”
“I moved a week ago, and I need a good tenant.”
“I recommend her highly. When can she see it?”
“I’ll be here all afternoon.”
“I’ll send her over in a couple of hours. Her name is Holly Barker.”
“I’ll look forward to meeting her.”
They hung up, and Stone went back to the living room. “You can see the place after lunch.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I’ve never seen it, but the owner has very good taste—he owns a high-end antique shop, and the apartment is over that. He inherited a Georgetown house from his friend, and he’s already moved out of the apartment. Benny will drive you over there.”
“Any idea how much the rent is?”
“None at all. Make sure he likes you.”
“I’ll try.”
—
HOLLY’S LIMO PULLED UP before the shop, and she took a moment to look it over before she went up the steps. The building was wide, and she took that to mean that the apartment would be, too. She walked into the shop and a handsome, middle-aged man greeted her and introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Bruce Willard. I expect you’re Holly Barker.”
“I am,” Holly said, looking around. “What a beautiful shop.”
“Thank you—we try. Would you like to see the apartment?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He took her into the hallway to the elevator and pressed a button. “There are two apartments. My shop manager lives on the second floor, and the third and fourth floors were my apartment until last week. The house I’m moving into is fully furnished, so I can leave whatever of my things you might like.”
The door opened into a foyer, and that into a beautiful living room. A spiral staircase rose to the floor above.
“The elevator goes to the fourth floor, too, which will make it easier to move in. Stone says you’re going to work at the White House. In what position?”
“I can’t say, until the president has announced it publicly,” Holly replied. “It happened only yesterday.”
“I’m ex-army,” Bruce said.
“So am I. I commanded an MP company and later was exec of a regiment.”
Bruce grinned at that and showed her the well-equipped kitchen and the study, then he took her upstairs, where there were two bedrooms with baths.
“It’s all wonderful,” Holly said. “Can a government employee afford it?”
Bruce mentioned a number.
“That’s very generous of you,” Holly said.
“I want the right person. How can I not fall for an ex–army officer with a White House job, who arrives in a limo?”
Holly offered her hand. “Done, then.”
“When would you like to move in?”
“I’ve already packed some boxes in my New York apartment. I’ll call the movers and tell them to start moving me. Stone and my other friends are going back to the city the day after tomorrow. I’d like to start sleeping here then, if that’s all right.”
“I’ll have the housekeeper clean it within an inch of its life,” Bruce said. “Oh, the rent includes cleaning, electricity, and gas.”
Holly couldn’t help it; she hugged him. “Promise not to let me buy too many things in your shop.”
“I’ll promise you no such thing, only good prices.” He took her downstairs and gave her the keys to the building and the apartment, and she wrote him a check for the first month’s rent. Bruce said her lease would start the first of the month, and he wouldn’t take a security deposit.
Holly burst into the suite at the Hay-Adams and threw herself at Stone. “It’s perfect! How did you do that?”
“You did it. I just referred you.”
“I’m moving in the day after tomorrow!”
“I’m delighted for you.”
“I can’t tell you how much trouble this is going to save me. I won’t have to sneak off work to hunt for an apartment.”
They dined in the hotel’s restaurant that evening. The place was choked with Democrats from all over the country, with a sprinkling of senators and congressmen thrown in for spice.
Then, the following afternoon, a sunny and cold one, they sat in good seats down front and watched as Kate Lee took the oath and made a very good inaugural address, keeping it brief. They went back to the White House and attended a very crowded reception in the East Room. Kate glowed and hugged everybody, and Will shook their hands. “Nobody will pay attention to me anymore,” he said to Stone, with mock sadness. “Will you come see me sometime?”
“I’ll take you flying in my new airplane,” Stone said.
“Is there room for a couple of Secret Service agents?”
“There is. I’ll even let you fly it.”
“Sold!” Will said. “I’m going to New York in a couple of days. Want to have dinner?”
“Sure. Would you like to fly up with us?”
“Would I ever!”
“We’ll leave at your convenience.”
“I’ll call you.”
Then they went back to the Hay-Adams to get dressed for Senator Salton’s dinner party.
7
EVERETT SALTON’S HOUSE was more imposing than Stone had imagined. Set back from the street on an acre or more, it had a curving driveway to the hou
se and back to the street, and there were a dozen cars ahead of them.
Finally, Benny deposited them at the front door and drove away, to a side street, to wait for Stone’s call. The door was opened by a butler before they could ring the bell, and Ev Salton and his wife greeted them in the foyer. “Good evening, Stone, and this must be Holly Barker.” Holly shook his hand, and he leaned in. “Congratulations on your appointment. You’ll do well, if everything I’ve heard about you is true.” He straightened. “Everybody, this is my wife, Alexandra, and welcome to our home.”
Alexandra Salton was nearly as tall as her husband, and she was dressed in a gorgeous, floor-length gown and wearing spectacular diamond jewelry. “I look forward to getting to know all of you,” she said to the group, then they were herded into a large drawing room, where there was a bar set up and several waiters circulating with drinks and canapés.
“The Saltons live well,” Holly said.
Dino spoke up. “Ev comes from very old, very large money.”
“And he spends it well,” Stone said. He had already spotted half a dozen senators he knew from the Sunday morning political shows, and a couple of them were at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Salton. One of them was a first-term, firebrand right-winger from Arizona, the sort who had no trouble speaking ill of his own party when he ran out of lies about Democrats. His name was Trent Barber, and he was said to have presidential aspirations, but then that was true of most of the senators Stone had met.
“You’re staring at Barber,” Dino said. “Don’t start any arguments here.”
“Me, argue?”
“I wonder how Senator Salton knew about my appointment?” Holly asked.
“He probably got it from the horse’s wife’s mouth,” Stone replied. “She didn’t swear herself to secrecy, did she?” He began to notice a few single men and women, appropriately dressed for the occasion, but each wearing the same lapel pin. “There’s somebody here with Secret Service protection,” he said to Dino.
“Wonder who that could be?” Dino said. “Senators don’t rate that.”