“Yes, there is,” said Tomlinson. “Professor Sinclair was a noted and respected scientist. He was the head of the university’s MHD program. His death and his wife’s are certainly linked to gambling and perhaps to drugs. The case has the fingerprints of organized crime all over it.”

His face reddening, Senator Leeds said, “My opponent is trying to turn a domestic tragedy into a political smear against me.”

“Who said you’re linked to this?” Tomlinson said, looking innocent, almost surprised. “I haven’t.” Turning to the seated moderator, he asked, “Have I mentioned the senator’s name in connection with this tragedy?”

Instead of answering the loaded question, the moderator said, “Perhaps we should move on to another question.” And she pointed to a man on the other side of the planetarium. “I believe you had your hand up, sir.”

A middle-aged man rose slowly to his feet, potbellied and bald. “I was gonna ask about those killings, too. Professor Sinclair didn’t seem like the kinda guy who’d shoot his own wife. And then kill hisself? No way.”

Jake looked toward Amy. She was smiling like a cat who’d just feasted on several canaries. Even Tomlinson’s father, sitting beside her, looked grimly satisfied. Behind them, Rogers looked puzzled, Younger inscrutable. But Glynis was glowing with triumph.

Once again, Tomlinson was the first to react. “If there are flaws with the report of the local police in this matter, then the state prosecutor’s office should examine the case.”

“I totally agree,” Senator Leeds said.

“However,” Tomlinson went on, “if there’s any chance that the prosecutor’s office is tainted by organized crime, then perhaps the federal Department of Justice should look into this.”

Leeds’s face grew darker than ever. For a moment the planetarium was absolutely still. It seemed to Jake that the entire crowd was holding its breath.

Then the senator said, slowly, “I have already asked the FBI to investigate the circumstances of Professor Sinclair’s death.”

The crowd gasped, then broke into applause. Senator Leeds dipped his chin in acknowledgment.

Once the applause died down, Tomlinson said to the senator, “I congratulate you on your action. It’s the right thing to do.”

Looking relieved, the moderator said, “Let’s move on to another topic, shall we?”

The remainder of the Q-and-A period went fairly quietly, mostly questions about how the candidates intended to help the state’s employment situation. Tomlinson hammered on new industrial growth, spearheaded by MHD. Leeds emphasized construction and education.

The debate ended at last. The moderator thanked the two candidates and the audience. The audience applauded appreciatively, then everyone got up from their chairs and started filing toward the planetarium’s exits. Several campaign workers clustered around Senator Leeds, while Amy and the elder Tomlinson, together with Rogers, Glynis, and Younger, took turns shaking Tomlinson’s hand.