Lance waved a hand in the air. “Not only are you a high-ranking Agency consultant, but this house is particularly suited for our needs.”
“Agree to disagree.”
There was another knock at the door.
“Who’s that?” Lance asked.
“I’m not even going to try to guess this time,” Dino said.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“Ed Rawls,” Stone says.
“Maybe you should get rid of him.”
The words were barely out of Lance’s mouth when lightning flashed and thunder crashed above the house.
“Youcan tell him to drive home in this weather,” Stone said. “I’m not going to do it.”
“Oh, all right. I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Stone answered the door, and this time itwasEd.
“Did you see the news about Felicity?” Ed asked.
“We were just discussing that.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Hold that thought.”
Stone led him inside.
Upon seeing Felicity, Ed stopped in his tracks. “You’re dead.”
“And you’re wet,” Felicity said.
Ed noticed Lance next. “Stone, your house is full of spooks.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Stone said. “Give me your jacket.”
Ed took it off and handed it to Stone, who hung it on the coatrack by the door to dry.
“You know, I almost stayed home because of the storm,” Ed said. “Now I’m beginning to wish I had. What’s going on here?”
Stone brought him up to speed.
“How many people know you’re alive?” Ed asked Felicity.
“Other than the people in this room, my assistant and my second-in-command at MI6,” she said. “Oh, and the prime minister, of course.”
“And I think that’s the way it should stay for now,” Lance said.
“Agreed,” Felicity said.
Lance eyed Stone, Dino, and Ed. “That means no mentioning it to anyone else.”
“For how long?” Stone asked.
