D.C. Dead (Stone Barrington 22)

“Perhaps I’ll feel better about this after I’ve had time to digest it,” Lee said.

The butler came into the room. “Mr. President, Mrs. Lee, dinner is served.”

They went into the dining room and Kate Lee directed them to their seats. Her husband tasted the wine, and dinner began.

“Stone,” Kate Lee said, “I suppose you and Dino will be returning to New York soon.”

“Tomorrow morning,” Stone said.

“I expect you’ll be glad to get home,” the president said.

“I’ll tell you truthfully, Mr. President, the practice of law has never looked more attractive than it does now.”

“As does New York City police work,” Dino added, “as opposed to the D.C. brand.”

“I can understand that,” Lee said.

“Our visit here has been an education,” Stone said.

“Kate and I are grateful that you took the time to come down ho come dere. We thought your investigation would ease our minds, but I’m afraid it’s just given us more to grieve over.”

“I’m sorry for that, Mr. President.”

“Don’t be. We’ve learned to take things as they come. One of the first things that struck me after I took office was how little I could affect what happens. Presidential power is often an illusion. Kate, on the other hand, sees the effect of her work more immediately than I do. She runs an operation—it succeeds or fails. In order to get that kind of closure, I have to veto a bill.”

The sound of a ringing telephone came from the living room.

“I don’t like it when that phone rings in the evenings,” Lee said. “It’s never good news.”

The butler came into the dining room. “Assistant Director Bach,” he said, “your office is calling. They say it’s urgent.”

Shelley rose. “Excuse me, Mr. President, Mrs. Lee,” she said, then left the room.

“Stone,” the president said, “what is your work in New York like these days?”

“Well, my two largest clients for a while were Strategic Services, the security company, and my wife’s affairs.”

“We were very sorry to hear of her death,” the president said.

“Thank you, sir. I also spend a good deal of time supervising the legal work for an insurance group, Steele, that came to us recently.”

“I understand you get called upon by Lance Cabot from time to time,” Kate said.

“I’m afraid so,” Stone said wryly. “Sometimes I’m sorry I signed that contract with your agency.”

Kate laughed. “I suppose you’ve learned that our work isn’t great fun.”

“Perhaps not,” Stone said, “but it’s always interesting.”

“Dino,” the president said, “what keeps you occupied these days?”

“Well, Mr. President, even though New York City crime is down in almost every area, we still have enough murders, rapes, and robberies to keep my detectives in the Nineteenth Precinct busy.”

Shelley Bach returned to the dining room. “Mr.

President, Mrs. Lee,” she said, “I’ve just had word that Fair Sutherlin has been murdered.”

There was a loud clink as the president dropped his fork onto his plate. “Where? How?” he asked.