Stone Barrington landed the Citation CJ3 Plus smoothly at Manassas Airport, in Virginia. As he taxied to the FBO he noticed a large black SUV parked on the ramp. To his eye it looked government and armored, and he wondered what VIP could be landing at the small, general aviation airport. His curiosity was soon satisfied: as he parked and cut his engines the vehicle began to move, and it stopped off his wingtip.
Stone ran through his shutdown checklist, then withdrew from the cockpit and opened the cabin door. A man in a blue suit with a shiny button in his lapel stood there.
“Mr. Barrington?”
“Yes,” Stone replied, still mystified.
“Secretary Barker asked us to meet you.”
Stone then noticed a second, similarly dressed man standing by the SUV and surveying the ramp, and he realized that Holly Barker had been sworn in as secretary of state. It was Election Day, and President Katharine Lee had, apparently, jumped the gun on her appointment, since she was the once and, if things went as they were supposed to, future President.
Stone handed the man a key. “Front luggage compartment,” he said. “Take everything.”
—
The car stopped in front of the elegant double-width town house in Georgetown. Stone had not seen the place for some years, but he now owned it, having come to an arrangement with the Lees by which he had exchanged his Santa Fe house, plus an adjoining property and some cash, for this house, which former President Will Lee had owned with his late father since he was an aide to a United States senator.
The driver pressed a button on the sun visor and a garage door opened. The vehicle drove into the basement garage, and the security man opened the door for him. “The elevator is straight ahead,” he said. “We’ll get your luggage upstairs.”
Stone thanked him, got into the elevator, and pressed the G button. A moment later he emerged into the main floor central hallway, where there was a buzz of people and voices. Caterers were arranging the living room for a party, and Holly Barker stood in the center of the room, directing traffic. She saw Stone and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Here you are!” she sang out in a happy voice.
“Here I am, indeed,” he replied, joining her in the hug. As always, she felt just wonderful. “I thought you were expecting just a few friends,” he said.
“It got out of hand,” she replied. “We’re at fifty and counting. I’m learning that nobody declines an invitation from a high cabinet member. The caterers are felling another ox.”
“So, you’re already a cabinet member?”
“I was sworn in this morning.”
“My congratulations,” he said, kissing her.
“Come on upstairs, I’ll show you your room.”
Stone followed her into the elevator and took advantage of their momentary privacy to kiss her and pull her closer with his hand on her ass. They broke before the door opened.
She led him into what was, obviously, the master bedroom, which had two dressing rooms and two baths. “By tomorrow, all of Washington will know we’re sharing a bed,” she said. “I talked it over with Kate, and we agreed that it was better not to bother with a nod to convention, just to go ahead and let the world get used to the idea of a single woman with a sex life as a cabinet secretary—no fuss, no bother.”
“I’m fine with that,” Stone said. “It will do wonders for my reputation.”
“Your bags are in that dressing room.” She pointed. “You get unpacked, and by the way, we’ve upgraded to black tie. I knew you would bring a dinner jacket.”
“You know me too well. What time do we make an appearance downstairs?”
“Seven o’clock,” she replied. “I’ve rented three big-screen TVs, and that’s when the action begins. Would you like a drink now?”
“I’d like a nap now, if that’s all right. I was out with Dino and Viv until late last night. They were sorry they couldn’t come, but the mayor stole them for his party.”
“Apparently, my social magnet doesn’t reach as far as New York,” she said.
“It does, it just can’t compete with the mayor’s social magnet.”
“I’ll wake you at six,” she said, pushing him onto the bed and pulling off his shoes. She threw a light blanket over him and kissed him on the forehead.
Stone sank into the soft bed and closed his eyes.
At six, Holly, already half-dressed, woke him, and he shaved and showered and got into his dinner suit. At five minutes before seven, they got on the elevator.
“You are gorgeous,” he said, looking her up and down.
“I’m afraid I’ve infringed on your generosity for a whole new wardrobe,” she said. “The new job requires a lot more dressing up than national security advisor to the President. Your credit card is smoking.”
“That’s what it’s for,” Stone replied. “Keep the credit card and use it as you will.”
The door opened, and they spilled into the hallway. There were already many voices coming from the living room.
The first person Stone recognized was Senator Saltonstall of New York. They shook hands warmly. “Stone, may I introduce my daughter Celeste, and her beau, Peter Rule?”
It was the first time Stone had met Kate Lee’s son by her first marriage. He was a handsome young man of around thirty, and Ms. Saltonstall was a genuine beauty. “I’m delighted you’re here,” Stone said to Peter. Your mother has told me about you.”
“Uh-oh,” Peter said. “I hope she hasn’t blown our secret.”
“She has not,” Stone replied, “but I think you just did.”
“He has a big mouth,” Celeste said, kissing him on the cheek, thereby displaying her left hand, revealing about eight carats of glittering, emerald-cut stone.
“And you have a big diamond,” Stone said, “so it must not be too much of a secret.”
“Dad wants to announce it tonight,” Celeste said, “before we adjourn to the White House for the latter part of the evening. Mom and Will have to touch a few bases, including campaign headquarters.”
Stone knew from his mother that Peter was planning a run for New York’s other senatorial seat at the midterm. Stone leaned forward and whispered into Celeste’s ear, “You’d better get something smaller for campaigning.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” she said, “but you’re right.”
—
Holly pulled him away and began introducing him to all the others, a few of whom he’d met before. Then the TV sets were fired up, everybody got some dinner from the buffet, and the evening began.
Everyone was cheerful and happy, looking forward to Kate’s second term.