Feeling even more miserable, Jake said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be such a sap.”

“Let’s talk about Franklin’s campaign.”

“He said he hasn’t made up his mind to run yet.”

She gave him a sly smile. “Don’t believe that line. It’s just his way of getting people to urge him to run. He wants them committed. He wants them to back him all the way to Washington.”

“You think so?”

“I know so,” Amy said. “He’s been a lot more honest with his key volunteers than with his potential backers.”

“You’re one of his key volunteers.”

“Yes, I am. And you can be, too. He needs a good science advisor. Senator Leeds is a nincompoop about science.”

Jake laughed. “Not only about science. How he’s managed to stay in the Senate for all these years…” He shook his head.

“He gets himself reelected,” Amy said, quite seriously. “He has an organization that runs very smoothly. He gets support from the unions, from the construction industry, and from gaming. Even the car dealers back him, for god’s sake! Franklin’s going to need a better organization.”

“And lots of money.”

“Money’s no problem,” she said. “Franklin has family money, and the family’s friends are all very well heeled.”

“I guess,” Jake said.

“What he needs is ideas, issues he can campaign on. Issues that Leeds can’t co-opt.”

“That’s what I’m supposed to do,” Jake said. “Come up with a science issue.”

“Do you have anything in mind?”

“Not really,” he admitted. “Not yet. This is all new to me. I haven’t had a chance to think much about it.”

Leaning slightly toward him, Amy said, “Please think hard about it, Jake. He needs you. I know he does.”

The bright sunlight glaring down on the patio made Jake feel uncomfortable. Or was it the situation he was being maneuvered into? he wondered. “There are other scientists in the state. Probably better ones. I’m just an assistant professor of astronomy.”

“But you’re young, Jake. Young and good-looking. You’ll look good on television.”

“Me? On TV?”

“Of course. And if Franklin wins the election, you can go to Washington with us.”

“Us?”

“We’ll be working together on the campaign. If you join the staff I’ll be your liaison with Franklin. You and I will work together, Jake.”

He felt his eyebrows rise and heard himself say, “That’d be great!”

Amy Wexler smiled warmly at him. “Yes, I think it would be great.”

And Jake heard Tomlinson’s words: You’ll enjoy politics, Jake. Great way to meet women.

Electrical Engineering Department

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

The sign on the double doors said DO NOT ENTER WHEN RED LIGHT IS FLASHING. And the red light was indeed flashing.