She had seen the rooms that most visitors were not allowed in: the White House Library with its almost three thousand books, the China Room and the Diplomatic Reception Room, and the family quarters and the seven guest bedrooms on the second floor.
She and Adam would live in that house, become a part of its history. Mary Beth shuddered at the thought of how close Adam had come to throwing away their chances because of that Parker woman. Well, that was all over, thank God.
She watched Adam now as he sat at his desk, looking drawn and haggard.
“Can I fix you a cup of coffee, darling?”
Adam started to say no, then changed his mind. “That would be nice.”
“It will just take a jiffy.”
The moment Mary Beth left the room, Adam picked up the telephone again and began to dial. It was evening and he knew Jennifer’s office was closed, but there should be someone at the answering service. After what seemed an interminable period of time, the operator answered.
“This is urgent,” Adam said. “I’ve been trying to reach Jennifer Parker for several days. This is Mr. Adams.”
“One moment, please.” The voice came back on the line. “I’m sorry, Mr. Adams. I have no word on where Miss Parker is. Do you want to leave a message?”
“No.” Adam slammed down the receiver, filled with frustration, knowing that even if he did leave a message for Jennifer to call him, there was no way she could return that call.
He sat in his den, looking out at the night, thinking about the dozens of arrest warrants that would soon be drawn up. One of them would be for murder.
It would have Jennifer’s name on it.
It was five days before Michael Moretti returned to the mountain cabin where Jennifer was staying. She had spent those days resting, eating, taking long walks around the paths. When she heard Michael’s car drive up, Jennifer went out to greet him.
Michael looked her over and said, “You look a lot better.”
“I feel better. Thank you.”
They walked along the path leading to the lake.
Michael said, “I have something for you to do.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to leave for Singapore tomorrow.”
“Singapore?”
“An airline steward was picked up at the airport there, carrying a load of coke. His name is Stefan Bjork. He’s in jail. I want you to bail him out before he starts talking.”
“All right.”
“Get back as fast as you can. I’ll miss you.”
He drew her close and kissed her very softly on her lips, then whispered, “I love you, Jennifer.”
And she knew that he had never uttered those words to anyone before.
But it was too late. It was finished. Something had died in her forever, and she was left with only the guilt and the loneliness. She had made up her mind to tell Michael that she was leaving. There would be no Adam and no Michael. She had to go away somewhere, alone, and start over. She had a debt to pay. She would do this last thing for Michael and tell him her plans when she returned.
She left for Singapore the next morning.
53
Nick Vito, Tony Santo, Salvatore Fiore and Joseph Colella were having lunch at Tony’s Place. They sat at a front booth, and every time the door opened they automatically glanced up to check out the newcomers. Michael Moretti was in the back room, and while there was no current conflict among the Families, it was always better to play it safe.
“What happened to Jimmy?” the giant Joseph Colella was asking.
“Astutatu-morte,” Nick Vito told him. “The dumb son of a bitch fell for the sister of a detective. The broad was stacked, I’ll give her that. She and her dick brother talked Jimmy into a flip. Jimmy arranged for a sit-down with Mike and he wore a wire hidden in his pants leg.”
“So what happened?” Fiore asked.
“What happened was Jimmy got so nervous he had to pee. When he opened up his fly, the fuckin’ wire came out.”
“Oh, shit!”