So, what’s going on?” Stone said as the Coast Guard cutter skimmed across the water.
“Where’s your cell phone?”
“In my pants.”
“Get it out of your pants.”
Stone dug in the bag of clothes he was carrying, pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket. “Now what?”
“You have to call Ann Keaton. She’s been trying to reach you all day. When you didn’t answer, she got frustrated and called me.”
“What does she want?”
“Damned if I know. She just wants you, and now isn’t soon enough. I tried to stall her and she read me the riot act, implied that if I didn’t locate you, the President would want to know why.”
“She’s trying to get me for the President?”
“She didn’t say that. She didn’t mention Kate except as a threat.”
“I guess I better call her.” Stone punched in the number on speed dial. “Ann, what the hell is going on?”
“Finally!” Ann said. “Can’t you leave your cell phone on?”
“It’s on and I’m calling. What is it?”
“Kate wants you at the state dinner.”
“What state dinner?”
“The one tonight, honoring the French president.”
“Tonight? Do you know what time it is?”
“Yes, I know what time it is,” Ann said impatiently. “I’ve been trying to reach you all afternoon.”
“The President wants me at a state dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? You’re the chief of staff.”
“That’s right. I’m the chief of staff, and I don’t know. I know everything, and I don’t know this.”
“All right, what do you know?”
“Dino will drop you at the heliport. You’re taking a helicopter to Washington. A car will meet you there and take you to the White House.”
“I don’t get to land on the lawn?”
“That’s just in the movies.”
“No, they actually do it.”
“Well, you don’t. You land at the heliport. A limo will be waiting.”
“I can’t go to a state dinner. I’m wearing a bathing suit.”
“No problem. Your car will stop at Henry Cassini’s to pick up your new tux. They’ve had your measurements for two hours, they swear they’ll be ready.”
“You know my measurements?”
“I know which pant leg you put on first.”
“I thought that was a state secret.”
“It is. We’ll have to disappear the tailor after he makes the tux.”
“Seriously, what’s this all about?”
“I wish I knew. I don’t like things I don’t know.”
“Me neither. Will I see you this evening?”
“I’m afraid not. I have to go out to dinner with the congressman Kate bumped to make room for you at the table. Listen, I have to go. Will you apologize to Dino for me? I may have said some things that could be considered disrespectful to the office of the commissioner.”
“Don’t worry,” Stone assured her, “I’ll handle it.” He clicked off the phone.
“So,” Dino said, “what did she want?”
“She wants to know who you slept with to get the job.”