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would last。
Smith Keen appeared with a cup of coffee and sat on the desk。 〃If the Times had it； would they hold off until tomorrow？〃
Gray shook his head。 〃No。 If they had more than the Times…Picayune； it would've run today。〃
〃Krauthammer wants to run what we've got。 He thinks we can name Mattiece。〃
〃I don't follow。〃
〃He's leaning on Feldman。 His angle is that we can run the whole story about Callahan and Verheek getting killed over this brief； which happens to name Mattiece who happens to be a friend of the President's； without directly accusing Mattiece。 He says we can be extremely cautious and make sure the story says Mattiece is named in the brief； but not named by us。 And since the brief is causing all this death； then it has been verified to some extent。〃
〃He wants to hide behind the brief。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃But it's all speculation until it's confirmed。 Krauthammer's losing it。 Assume for a second that Mr。 Mattiece is in no way involved with this。 pletely innocent。 We run the story with his name in it； and then what？ We look like fools； and we get sued for the next ten years。 I'm not writing the story。〃
〃He wants someone else to write it。〃
〃If this paper runs a pelican story not written by me； the girl is gone； okay。 I thought I explained that yesterday。〃
〃You did。 And Feldman heard you。 He's on your side； Gray； and I am too。 But if this thing's true； it'll blow up in a matter of days。 We all believe that。 You know how Krauthammer hates the Times； and he's afraid those bastards'll run it。〃
〃They can't run it； Smith。 They may have a few more facts than the Times…Picayune； but they can't name Mattiece。 Look； we'll verify before anyone。 And when it's nailed down； I'll write the story with everyone's name along with that cute little picture of Mattiece and his friend in the White House； and the fat lady will sing。〃
〃We？ You said it again。 You said； 'We'll verify it。'
〃My source and I； okay。〃 Gray opened a drawer and found the photo of Darby and the Diet Coke。 He handed it to Keen； who admired it。
〃Where is she？〃 he asked。
〃I'm not sure。 I think she's on her way here from New York。〃
〃Don't get her killed。〃
〃We're being very cautious。〃 Gray looked over both shoulders and leaned closer。 〃In fact； Smith； I think I'm being followed。 I just wanted you to know。〃
〃Who might they be？〃
〃It came from a source at the White House。 I'm not using my phones。〃
〃I'd better tell Feldman。〃
〃Okay。 I don't think it's dangerous； yet。〃
〃He needs to know。〃 Keen jumped to his feet and disappeared。
She called within minutes。 〃I'm here；〃 she said。 〃I don't know how many I've brought with me； but I'm here； and alive； for the moment。〃
Where are you？〃
〃Tabard Inn on N Street。 I saw an old friend on Sixth Avenue yesterday。 Remember Stump； who was grievously wounded on Bourbon Street？ Did I tell you that story？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； he's walking again。 A slight limp； but he was wandering around Manhattan yesterday。 I don't think he saw me。〃
〃Are you serious！ That's scary； Darby。〃
〃It's worse than scary。 I left six trails when I left last night； and if I see him in this city； limping along a sidewalk somewhere； I intend to surrender。 I'll walk up to him and turn myself in。〃
〃I don't know what to say。〃
〃Say as little as possible； because these people have radar。 I'll play private eye for three days； and I'm out of here。 If I live to see Wednesday morning； I'm on a plane to Aruba or Trinidad or some place with a beach。 When I die； I want to be on a beach。〃
〃When do we meet？〃
〃I'm thinking about that。 I want you to do two things。〃
〃I'm listening。〃
〃Where do you park your car？〃
〃Close to my apartment。〃
〃Leave it there； and go rent another one。 Nothing fancy； just a generic Ford or something。 Pretend someone's watching you through a rifle scope。 Go to the Marbury Hotel in Georgetown and get a room for three nights。 They'll take cashI've already checked。 Do it under another name。〃
Grantham took notes and shook his head。
〃Can you sneak out of your apartment after dark？〃 she asked。
〃I think so。〃
〃Do it； and take a cab to the Marbury。 Have them deliver the rental car to you there。 Take two cabs to the Tabard Inn； and walk into the restaurant at exactly nine tonight。〃
〃Okay。 Anything else？〃
〃Bring clothes。 Plan to be away from your apartment for at least three days。 And plan to stay away from the office。〃
〃Really； Darby； I think the office is safe。〃
〃I'm not in the mood to argue。 If you're going to be difficult； Gray； I'll simply disappear。 I'm convinced I'll live longer the sooner I get out of the country。〃
〃Yes； ma'am。〃
〃That's a good boy。〃
〃I assume there's a master plan rattling around somewhere in your brain。〃
〃Maybe。 We'll talk about it over dinner。〃
〃Is this sort of like a date？〃
〃Let's eat a bite and call it business。〃
〃Yes； ma'am。〃
〃I'm hanging up now。 Be cautious； Gray。 They're watching。〃 She was gone。
* * *
SHE WAS SITTING at table thirty…seven； in a dark corner of the tiny restaurant when he found her at exactly nine。 The first thing he noticed was the dress； and as he walked to the table he knew the legs were under it but he couldn't see them。 Maybe later when she stood。 He wore a coat and tie； and they were an attractive couple。
He sat close to her in the darkness so they could both watch the small crowd。 The Tabard Inn appeared old enough to have served food to Thomas Jefferson。 A rowdy crowd of Germans laughed and talked on the patio outside the restaurant。 The windows were open and the air was cool； and for one brief moment it was easy to forget why they were hiding。
〃Where'd you get the dress？〃
〃You like it？〃
〃It's very nice。〃
〃I shopped a little this afternoon。 Like most of my recent wardrobe； it's disposable。 I'll probably leave it in the room the next time I flee for my life。〃
The waiter was before them with menus。 They ordered drinks。 The restaurant was quiet and harmless。
〃How'd you get here？〃 he asked。
〃Around the world。〃
〃I'd like to know。〃
〃I took a train to Newark； a plane to Boston； a plane to Detroit； and a plane to Dulles。 I was up all night； and twice I forgot where I was。〃
〃How could they follow that？〃
〃They couldn't。 I paid with cash； something I'm running out of。〃
〃How much do you need？〃
〃I'd like to wire some from my bank in New Orleans。〃
〃We'll do it Monday。 I think you're safe； Darby。〃
〃I've thought that before。 In fact； I felt very safe when I was getting on the boat with Verheek； except it wasn't Verheek。 And I felt very safe in New York。 Then Stump waddled d