Leeds was a strikingly handsome man, Jake saw. Photographs didn’t do him justice. He reminded Jake of a classic statue from ancient Rome: dignified, poised, radiating power and authority. Thick silver hair perfectly styled. Chiseled features, strong jaw. He wasn’t as tall as Sinclair, and his figure seemed stocky, almost bloated, as if he were wearing a bulletproof vest under his expensive dark blue suit. He kept nodding and the professor kept talking and Leeds kept scanning the crowd.

“I’m sorry I dragged you out here for nothing,” Glynis said, her voice almost hoarse.

Jake took a swallow of whiskey. “Well, why don’t we get out of this madhouse and go have dinner.”

She glanced toward Younger, who had moved slightly away from the bar. “Tim’s already asked me to dinner.”

“Tim?”

She nodded. “You could join us. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

Jake thought that if he had made a date with her he’d sure as hell mind having another guy butt in. “Naw, that’s all right. You go along with Tim. Have fun.”

Glynis gave him an odd look. “You’re sure?”

“Sure.”

She edged away, found Younger, and the two of them made their way toward the door. Jake stood there, sipping his whiskey, watching Sinclair and Leeds. A younger man came up and joined the professor and the senator. Slightly taller than the professor and a lot thinner, he still looked enough like Sinclair to be his son.

Jake gulped down the rest of his drink. What the hell, he said to himself. As long as I’m here …

He placed the plastic glass back on the bar and pushed through the crowd toward Sinclair. The professor didn’t see him coming, he was still intently jabbering into Leeds’s ear while the younger man stood uneasily at the senator’s other side.

“Hello, Professor,” Jake said heartily.

Sinclair turned and recognized Jake. A look of alarm flashed across his beefy face.

“And you must be Senator Leeds,” Jake said, forcing a smile.

“That I am,” said the senator, extending his hand.

Sinclair said nothing, so Jake introduced himself to the senator. “Jake Ross, astronomy department.”

“Pleased to meet you, Jake.” But Leeds’s eyes were already looking beyond Jake, probing the crowd.

Turning to the younger man, Jake said, “Jake Ross.”

“Arlan Sinclair the Third,” he replied.

So the professor’s a junior, Jake thought as he shook hands with the Third. “Are you with the university?” Jake asked.

Professor Sinclair replied before his son could, “Arly works in Senator Leeds’s office, here in the city.”

All Jake could think of to say was, “Oh.”

Professor Sinclair’s Office

PROFESSOR SINCLAIR’S OFFICE

The next morning there was a phone message from Glynis waiting for Jake when he entered his office. He plopped into his springy little chair and pecked out her number.

“He wants to see you,” Glynis said, without preamble.