STEVIE WAS HALF HOPING they would get voice mail on Don Meeker’s cell phone, although Kelleher had already said that if they did, they would have to call Dewey Blanton, the Dreams’ PR guy who had been so helpful to Stevie earlier in the week. Stevie knew he was right. There was no need, as it turned out. Meeker picked up on the second ring. “Donald Meeker,” he said. “Mr. Meeker,” Kelleher said, intentionally being formal, Stevie knew, because of the gravity of the situation. “This is Bobby Kelleher. I’m here with Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson.” He had put the call on speaker when dialing because he knew that, unlike with Goodell, courtesy would be pointless. “What the hell can you three possibly want?” Meeker said. “How did you get this number?” “You gave it to me the other night, sir,” Susan Carol said, jumping in. “I’ll have it changed about five minutes from now,” Meeker said. “All well and good,” Kelleher said. “But we’re calling you as a courtesy because Steve and Susan Carol have written a story that is going to appear in tomorrow’s Washington Herald, which will be on the streets in about three hours.
