"Senator Stockman went into the hospital after collapsing at her home last week, and was diagnosed with an operable brain tumor. She had the surgery and was said to be recovering well, but in the early hours of this morning she arrested and had to be revived and intubated. She has been on a respirator for several hours now, and a spokesman says that she is in critical condition."

"That's so sad," Ann said. "I saw her in New York a couple of weeks ago, and she looked tired, but healthy. She was scheduled to speak at the convention."

"It sounds very serious," Stone said. "Who will they get to replace her?"

"My guess is Governor Richard Collins might appoint himself to the seat. He's one of our bright younger stars, and it would be a good opportunity for him to become better known nationally."

"He was the mayor of San Francisco, wasn't he?"

"That's right."

"Would he make a good vice presidential running mate for Kate?"

"Too soon. He's only thirty-eight, and he hasn't finished his first term. Pedro 'Pete' Otero of New Mexico has had two terms as governor, and-don't tell anybody this-he's the favorite for VP in our camp, if he doesn't beat us for the nomination!" She looked at her watch. "I've got to get into a shower and run over to the presidential cottage," she said, getting up and trotting toward her bathroom.

Stone finished the papers and was just getting up when she left. He showered, shaved, and dressed and got downstairs in time to see Mike Freeman and Dino about to leave.

"We're off to a security meeting with the convention managers," Mike said. "Chief Rivera of the LAPD has asked Dino to come along and kibitz."

"Good for you to get to know your future peers around the country," Stone said.

"Don't start," Dino said.

"We'll be back in time for a drink before dinner," Mike said. "Oh, I didn't make another date for dinner."

"How did Charlene take your breaking your date?"

"Like an arrow in the chest, I think."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she just showed up," Stone said.

"You really think she'd do that?"

"She won't if I alert the Secret Service."

"Do that, and I'll never get laid again," Mike said.

"Don't worry, Charlene will have you back in the sack in no time," Stone said.

The kids arrived a little early for the dinner party, and they sat out by the pool, waiting for the other guests.

"Tell me about these houses you've bought," Stone said to Peter. "You've been pretty quiet about it."

"Ben and I bought two adjacent properties in Brentwood," Peter said. "We've taken down the fencing between them and combined the landscaping, so that it seems like one larger property with two houses. We have nearly four acres, altogether. Hattie and Tessa have done the decorating, and we're ready for what amounts to a double housewarming tomorrow evening."

"I can't wait to see the place," Stone said.

"Neither can I," Dino said. "Are you sure you can afford this, Ben?"

"Dad, I'm a successful movie producer," Ben replied. "You'd be surprised at what I can afford."

Billy and Betsy Burnett arrived, Billy introduced Betsy to the grown-ups. It suddenly occurred to Stone that having the former Teddy Fay at a dinner with the first lady and the president who had secretly pardoned him could make for some discomfort. He was about to take Billy aside and talk with him about it when the presidential party arrived.

Introductions were made, and Stone watched Kate carefully. Will Lee had never seen Teddy Fay, but Kate would have when she was at the CIA. The moment passed without incident, and Stone breathed a little easier.

Stone found himself sitting between Senator Sam Meriwether and Kate Lee.

"You heard about Senator Eleanor Stockman's illness?" Kate asked.

"Yes, this morning on TV."

"I spoke with her son a few minutes ago. Eleanor is showing no sign of brain activity, and the family are discussing now whether-or rather when-to take her off the respirator."

"That's very sad," Stone said. "I had to face something like that with my mother. She died before we could bring ourselves to turn off the machine."

Kate nodded. "So many families have to face that."

Sam Meriwether spoke up. "This means we're going to have to face another event," he said. "When Eleanor dies, her Senate seat comes available, and Governor Dick Collins will appoint someone to replace her. She was reelected two years ago, so there's a four-year term before the appointee would have to face reelection."

"You see where this is going, Stone?" Kate asked.

Stone took a sip of his drink. "Might Martin Stanton be a candidate to fill her seat?"

"That's astute of you," she said. "We have to make some suppositions here, and without as much information as we'd like before doing so."

"You think Stanton would accept if it's offered?" Stone asked.

"No, I don't-at least, not before the convention."

"What if his support begins to crumble in the California delegation?"

"That would certainly point him in the right direction, but we don't see that happening, at this point."

"The thing is," Meriwether said, "if Marty knows there's a safe Senate seat waiting for him if he isn't nominated, he may not fight quite so hard to get the nomination."

"Is there someone you'd like me to speak to?" Stone asked, cognizant of his conversation with Kate on the flight out.

"Do you know Dick Collins?" Kate asked.

"I met him at a cocktail party in San Francisco five or six years ago when he was still mayor. I don't know if he'll remember, but we had a nice conversation for a few minutes."

"He'll remember," Kate said. "He has a phenomenal memory for names and faces."

Peter was sitting nearby. "Excuse me, Dad, but did I hear you mention Governor Collins?"

"Yes, you did."

"Ben and I gave him a tour of Centurion Studios a couple of days ago. We invited him to the housewarming. He said he'd get back to us. He hasn't yet."

"You have a better network than you know, Stone," Kate said. "Peter, don't ask him again. Don't worry, he'll get back to you, he never forgets anything. If he shows up, Stone, then there's an opportunity."

"Does he know that you and I are acquainted?" Stone asked.

"Stone, after that stupid rumor the opposition started about you and me, the nation knows we're acquainted. And Dick knows we're staying next door to you at The Arrington."

"Peter," Stone said, "when the governor calls back, tell him I'm looking forward to seeing him again at your housewarming."

"Sure, Dad." Peter went to get another tonic water, his usual drink.

"If he doesn't make the party," Kate said, "we'll find another reason for you and the governor to rub elbows."

"He'll be here for our gala," Stone said. The Arrington was hosting a big fund-raiser, where the singer and actress Immi Gotham would be performing in the hotel's amphitheater for an invited audience of 1,500 of the top party contributors.

"I think Peter's housewarming would be better-more intimate," Kate said. "Too much backslapping going on at the gala, too much flesh to press."

"We'll leave the gala for a backup, then," Stone said. "I'll see that we sit in the same box-that will cut the crowd down enough for us to have a word."

"These things have a way of working out," Kate said, "if we work hard enough to make them happen."

They were seated at half a dozen tables by the pool, having served themselves from the buffet, when Stone looked up and saw two Secret Service agents where they had not been before. Then there was another pair, and another. Kate affected not to notice, but Will Lee crooked a finger at Mervin Beam, and he approached the table. They exchanged whispers, then Beam walked around the area with another agent.

"Everything all right?" Stone asked the president, who was sitting across the table from him.

"I think so," Will replied quietly. "If there are any further concerns, they'll move us inside." He quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Stone, you recall the drone strike we watched together at the Carlyle a few weeks ago?"

"How could I forget that?"

"We've confirmed since that our effort was successful with all six of the subjects."

"Congratulations. I hope you don't have to take any heat for that."

"You know, during World War Two, we and the British killed tens of thousands of civilians during bombing raids on strategic targets in Europe-and a hundred thousand in Tokyo in a single night-and though people thought civilian raids were regrettable, they understood the reason for them. Now, when a terrorist's wife or child become collateral damage, there's an uproar."

"When an active terrorist hides in the bosom of his family, he's responsible for putting them at risk, isn't he?" Stone asked.

"My view exactly," Will said. "Unstopped, those men would have been responsible for hundreds of deaths in Middle Eastern and European cities, and perhaps some in this country. While I'm still in office, I'll keep hunting them down."

- AS THE TABLE was being cleared, Beam approached the president again and whispered. Will spoke up. "You know, it's beginning to be a little chilly in this desert air, why don't we have dessert in the house?"

Stone herded the group inside, and they settled around the big living room while waiters served them dessert. Will came and sat next to Stone.

"You know, I took that e-mail to Beam more seriously than Kate did. I'm not sure what it was, but something in that message raised the hair on the back of my neck."

"I'll certainly trust your instincts, Will," Stone said. "Nothing wrong with being cautious."

"Kate can be a little too cavalier about these things," the president said.

The party broke up around ten, and the Lees' group walked back to the presidential cottage.

"We've got to go, too, Dad," Peter said when they had gone. "This is an early town, you know."

"I've heard that," Stone said.

Peter handed him a card. "This is the address. It's a couple of blocks off Sunset. Come at six."

"I'll look forward to it," Stone said.

The kids said their good nights and left, then Stone ordered after-dinner drinks for his guests. Billy and Betsy Burnett stayed on for a drink.

"What was that about?" Dino asked. "The thing with the Secret Service?"

"They got a death threat on Kate e-mailed to them last night," Stone said. "I expect it was something to do with that, but at least nobody had to draw a weapon."

"What we need," Dino said, "is a secret method for instantly determining the location that any e-mail is sent from."

"It's being worked on," Mike Freeman said, "but don't expect to read about it in the papers. The political climate isn't good right now for new intelligence initiatives."

"I'm happy for them to read my e-mails and track my phone calls," Stone said. "We live in a new and dangerous world, and it's not going to stop anytime soon."

"I wish I could disagree with you," Mike said.

"How did your security meeting go today?" Stone asked.

"The Democrats are going to have the most secure convention in history," Mike replied. "And Staples Center is going to be the most wired and camera-ready venue ever. Not to mention the shoe leather on the ground."

"Sounds good to me," Stone said.

"We're going to have a new shield system in operation," Mike said. "We press a button and a two-inch-thick bulletproof glass wall will rise from the floor to a height of ten feet and protects about the central third of the stage. If you see that coming up, you'll know there's a very real threat."

"Do the candidates know about that?" Stone asked.

"The Secret Service is certainly in on it-whether they'll share it with the candidates is up to them, but it will certainly go up when the nominee and the president speak."

"Very good."

"Where are your convention seats?" Mike asked Stone.

"I've got a skybox," Stone replied. "Remember? You helped me get it."

"So you have," Mike said. "From there, it will be like watching the world's largest flat-screen TV."

"And we can turn down the noise during the demonstrations on the floor. That's the part of conventions that has always bored me rigid."

"And the glass window in your box will be the same as for the platform shield," Mike said.

"That's very comforting," Stone replied. "You'll have to join us."

"I'll be in our control center," Mike said, "or patrolling the floor with a handheld radio."