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Stone tried to get a moment alone with Felicity, but she’d been constantly surrounded by other guests, and it was clear she would not be available anytime soon.

Lance, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found.

“Do you think he left?” Tamlyn asked.

“Probably grilling his people to find out why nobody told him about Felicity’s plans ahead of time,” Dino said.

“I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of that call,” Stone said.

“I wouldn’t, either,” Lance said from behind them.

Stone, Tamlyn, and Dino turned around.

“Do you always sneak up on people like that?” Tamlyn asked.

“It’s one of his many annoying habits,” Stone said.

“In all fairness, that is kind of his job,” Dino said.

“If I may speak in my own defense,” Lance said, “I didn’t sneak up on you. You were just looking in the wrong direction.”

“Can we assume you’ve made inquiries about our host?” Stone asked.

Lance glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on them, then whispered, “She’s played it very close to the vest.”

Stone grinned.

“So your team didn’t know about it.”

“If you will excuse me,” Lance said, “I need to make the rounds.”

Stone leaned toward Tamlyn.

“That’s code for ‘see what everyone else knows.’?”

“I figured that one out myself,” she said.

“That reminds me,” Lance said.

He pulled out a business card and offered it to Tamlyn.

“If you’re ever looking for alternate employment, do give me a call.”

“Thanks, but I’m very happy where I am.”

“Of course you are. But it’s always good to have options, is it not?”

“If you don’t take it, he won’t go away,” Stone said.

She took the card.

“Thank you, Director. I’ll keep you in mind if my situation changes.”

“That’s all I ask,” Lance said.

“Until next time.”

He left.

As Tamlyn looked at the card, Stone said, “I have a suggestion, if you’d like to hear it.”

“Please,” she said.

“Drop that in the first rubbish bin you see. Better yet, burn it.”

“You sound as if you speak from experience.”

“He does,” Dino said.

“You worked for the Agency?”

“I spent some time at the Farm—the CIA’s training facility. But I was never an agent. Though, in the interest of full disclosure, both Dino and I are Agency consultants.”

“Currently?”

Stone nodded.

“What does it mean to be a consultant for the CIA?”

“Mostly it means getting calls from Lance at inconvenient times to provide information that could have waited until later to obtain,” Dino said.

“Dino’s just bitter because the last time Lance contacted him he was on a weekend getaway with Viv in the Bahamas.”

“Couldn’t you have just not answered?” Tamlyn asked.

“I didn’t answer. Which is why he had one of the resort staff bring a phone to me at the pool.”

Holding up Lance’s business card, Tamlyn said, “Does anyone have a match?”

After mingling with the other guests for a while, Stone caught Tamlyn stifling a yawn.

“It’s been a long day,” he said.

“Why don’t we head back?”

“If you’re not ready to go, I’ll be okay,” she said.

“I was using you as an excuse. I’m more than ready.”

“If we’re taking a vote,” Dino said, “I’ll make it unanimous.”

They found Felicity holding court with the home secretary and several other members of parliament.

After Stone caught her gaze, she said something to the group, then came over.

“Don’t tell me you’re leaving already,” she said.

“Sadly, we need to call it a night.”

“That’s too bad, but I’m so glad you came.”

When she gave Stone a hug, he whispered, “I’d love to discuss your retirement when you have time.”

“We’ll talk later. I promise.”

She hugged Dino next, then Tamlyn, and said as they parted, “You are most welcome to visit anytime, with or without Stone.”

“Uh, thank you.”

Stone put an arm around Tamlyn and said, “I think we should go before you scare my date too much.”

“Scaring was not what I was trying to do.”

“I’m well aware of what you were trying to do,” Stone said.

“Good night, Felicity.”

“Good night, all. And truly, thank you for coming.”

Lance intercepted them just before they exited the house.

“There you are.”

“Come to wish us goodbye?” Stone asked.

“That’s so unlike you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I wanted to catch a ride back to Windward Hall.”

“Back?”

“Oh, that’s right. You were already on your way here when I arrived. I had your staff set me up in my regular room. I knew you wouldn’t mind.”

“How nice of them.”

“Shall we?” Lance said, then started walking ahead of them toward the waiting electric cart.

“I take it he’s stayed with you before,” Tamlyn said.

“On occasion,” Stone admitted.

“Without asking?”

“Lance tends to assume it’s okay,” Dino said.

“That seems to be working for him.”

They joined Lance in the cart and started on their short journey home.

A buzzing noise woke Stone from his sleep.

It took him a moment to realize it was his phone on the nightstand.

He carefully untangled himself from Tamlyn and grabbed his cell.

The ID read Jack Coulter .

Stone glanced at the time.

It was 2:20 a.

m.

He accepted the call and whispered, “Give me a second, Jack.”

He slipped out of bed and shut himself in his bathroom.

“Sorry about that,” he said into the phone.

“Is everything okay?”

“No,” Jack said.

“I need to get back to New York right away,”

“What happened?”

“Hillary and Sara have been in an accident. They’re both in the hospital.”

“Where are you now?”

“At the Ritz in London. The first flight I can get a seat on doesn’t leave until after eight a.m.”

“Have the hotel arrange for a car to bring you here right away. We can be in the air as soon as you arrive.”

“I was hoping you’d say that. Thank you.”

“Before you hang up, which hospital are they in?”

“Mount Sinai.”

“That’s the best place they could be. You just worry about getting here. I’ll deal with the rest for now.”

After Stone hung up, he called Faith.

“Hello?” she answered groggily.

“It’s Stone. I’m sorry for the last-minute notice, but we need to return to New York as soon as we can. Are you flight-ready?”

“Well, I’m not dressed for it at the moment, but it was an early night for me, so I am good to go.”

“Are you at the Arrington?”

Stone always arranged for her to have a room there when she flew him to England, but sometimes she’d travel elsewhere on her days off.

“I am. What time would you like to leave?”

“When Jack gets here from London. He should be leaving there right about now, so two hours at most.”

“I’ll have the plane ready.”

“Thanks, Faith.”

Stone called Joan next.

It was still evening in New York, so she was wide awake.

He told her what had happened and asked her to send someone to the hospital to make sure all of Hillary’s and Sara’s needs were being met.

His final call was to Major Bugg.

“Good morning, Mr. Barrington,” the major said, sounding wide awake.

“How may I help you?”

“I’m afraid we’re leaving sooner than planned. Mr. Coulter is on his way back. When he arrives, we’ll need to be driven to the plane.”

“I’ll have a Range Rover waiting.”

“Thank you, Major. Can you also send someone to Mr. Bacchetti’s room to wake him?”

“I’ll see to it myself. Shall I cancel Miss Thompson’s ride to London?”

“I’m not sure. Let me check and let you know.”

“Very good.”

Stone hung up and returned to the bedroom, where he found Tamlyn sitting up with the lights on.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Jack’s wife and niece have been in a car accident.”

“Oh, no. Are they badly hurt?”

“Unsure. I have someone going to the hospital to find out more.”

“Poor Jack.”

“He’s on his way here, and we’re flying back as soon as he arrives. You are more than welcome to join us.”

“I wish I could, but I’m not even sure I would have been done in time to fly out with you on Monday.”

“In that case, you stay here as long as you need, though I’m sure it would be more convenient for you to stay at my home in London.”

“Now that’s an offer I’ll take you up on. Thank you.”

He gave her a kiss.

“I’ll take a quick shower, then pack and get out of here so you can go back to sleep.”

She grabbed him before he could get away, kissed him, then said, “Does it have to be a quick shower?”