talk. I declined to see him, and a few minutes later the server rang the bell. Joan is out.”
“So it was all set up before he called?”
“Apparently. I’ll fax you the papers. Answer it for me, will you? You can be my attorney of record.”
“Sure. What do you want me to say?”
“That they had been married for only a few months, and they separated two years ago, so Ms. Hart’s affections had been alienated by her husband long before she met me, which was, as a point of fact, yesterday.”
“Did you know she was married?”
“No, I thought she was divorced, until Dugan showed up at a gathering at Strategic Services last evening, tried to make a scene and had to be escorted from the premises.”
“Escorted by whom?”
“By me.”
“That must have been fun to watch.”
“I did it as quietly as I could, in the circumstances.”
“No attempt on your part to humiliate him, thus reducing his wife’s affection and regard for him?”
“Well, just a little, but as I said before, her affection had been alienated long ago. She had already refused to speak to him.”
“Okay, I’ll file an answer today. Shall I make it withering?”
“Please do.”
“I saw Kate Lee on the Today show this morning. She was very good.”
“She always is. That’s what the gathering was last night: an opportunity to get an advance announcement for a private audience. I gather a lot of money was raised.”
“I’ll send a check,” Herbie said.
“You’re a good man, Herbert.”
“Don’t call me Herbert, it makes me sound like an accountant.”
“You remind me of an accountant less than anybody I know,” Stone said. “Talk to you later.” Stone hung up and faxed him the lawsuit.
Joan returned to the office. “Any calls?”
“Just one, from a jealous husband, followed closely by service of a lawsuit for alienation of affection.”
She tried to suppress a giggle. “Not your first, I expect.”
“My very first,” Stone said.
“Are you guilty?”
“Never ask an attorney that question. Certainly not.”
“Is this likely to come to trial?”
“No, but a trial might be fun, in this case.”
6
Stone was having a sandwich at his desk when Joan buzzed. “Mrs. Katherine Lee on line one.”
Stone picked up the phone. “Good afternoon, Kate!”
“My God, is it afternoon already?”
“You’re having a busy day, aren’t you?”
“I did all five morning shows, in person, in studio, and I’ve spent the rest of the morning doing remote interviews with stations in the dozen largest cities. This afternoon I’m doing Washington bureau interviews with every newspaper with a Washington correspondent. And 60 Minutes on Sunday evening, live.”
“Without Will?”
“Of course! Everything from now until the convention votes is without Will. He won’t even whisper advice in my ear when I’m at home.”
“Where’s home?”
“Good question. I’m headed to Georgia tomorrow morning, where I’m going to speak at Franklin Roosevelt’s Little White House, in Warm Springs. Every newspaper editor and TV station in the Southeast will cover it. Then I’m headed back to New York, to the Carlyle. I’ll try to avoid visiting the White House for the rest of the campaign. If Will wants to get laid, he’ll have to do it in New York!”
Stone laughed. “And how can I help in all this? And I’m not talking about sex.”
Kate laughed. “Don’t even say the word aloud in my presence, it would end up on Fox News before the day was out!”
“What can I do, Kate?”
“I want you to head up a campaign for votes and contributions directed at every lawyer in New York State.”
“That’s more than seventy thousand people,” Stone pointed out. “Maybe way more.”
“That’s why I want them on my side.”
“Of course, I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Good. I’m going to send over a staff member of mine, Ann Keaton, who will ask you some standard background questions that we have to ask everyone who joins the campaign. Will you be in your office for the remainder of the day?”
“Yes, I’ll be happy to see her.”
“I’ll put her on the phone.”
There was a click, then another click. “Mr. Barrington?”
“Yes.”
“This is Ann Keaton, personnel director of the Kate Lee campaign. May I visit you today to conduct a formal interview?”
“Yes, of course. What time?”
“Are you in New York now?”
“Yes, my home and office are in Turtle Bay.”
“I’m on the Upper East Side at the moment. Would half an hour from now be convenient?”
“Perfectly.” He gave her the street address and hung up.
Twenty minutes later a woman who looked like a college student was seated in his office, very attractive, wearing a business suit and horn-rimmed glasses. “Good afternoon, Mr.