"Believe me, I hope so, too," Tony replied. How much of a stretch this was was becoming increasingly more evident by the minute. He dropped the phone to his shoulder, a strange rustle over the line, while he took another drink before he persuaded, "I am surrounded by extraordinarily talented people, and you're the one I'm talking to right now. In the middle of the night. When I realize I've given you no reason to think I'm worth a minute of your time." So the desperation wasn't in his voice, but it should have been evident enough. He didn't want to beg, and he really didn't want to try to explain over the phone.