“The front door.”
“What about the front door?”
The visitor knocked again.
“Oh, that.”
Stone went to the door and opened it, then stared at the person standing on his porch, dumbfounded.
“May I come in?” Felicity asked. “Or do I have to stand in the rain all night?”
Stone looked at her, then over his shoulder at the TV, then back at her again.
“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” she said.
“I’m beginning to wonder if I have.”
“Nonsense. There are no such things.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“Really, Stone. Are you feeling all right?”
“I think that’s a question I should be asking you.”
“I’m fine, thank you.” She smiled. “So, about me coming in…?”
“Oh, sorry.” He stepped out of the way and motioned for her to enter.
Dino was still watching the TV as Stone and Felicity entered.
“The prime minister is going to make a statement in a few minutes,” Dino said without looking back. “I don’t think he’d do that if Felicity wasn’t in the car.”
“You may be surprised,” Felicity said.
Dino’s head whipped around, and his eyes narrowed. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
“Good to see you, too, Dino.”
“If you’re here, who was in your car?”
Felicity sighed. “A pair of excellent agents, I’m afraid.” She glanced at Stone. “Can I have one of those whiskeys you’re so fond of?”
“Of course.” Stone walked over to the bar.
“Make it a double,” Felicity said.
She took a seat and gratefully accepted the glass of Knob Creek that Stone handed her.
“I suppose you want to know what’s going on,” she said, once she’d taken a sip.
“If it’s not too much trouble,” Stone said. “After all, it’s not every day the assassinated head of MI6 shows up at my doorstep, fully intact.”
“The short of it is, someone is trying to kill me.”
“I think we deduced that already,” Dino said.
“Yes. I guess the whole world has at this point.” She set her glass down. “Earlier this year, we got wind of a possible operation against me. We didn’t know where the attempt was going to happen, nor did we know when. We just knew whoever was behind it wanted me dead. So, I decided to try and force their hand.”
