For the next two hours, they discussed plans for the campaign.
When they had finished, Adam said, “Stewart, there’s something personal I’d like to talk to you about.”
“I’m afraid I’m late for a client now, Adam.”
And Adam had the sudden feeling that Stewart Needham had known what was on Adam’s mind all the while.
Adam had a date to meet Jennifer for lunch at a dairy restaurant on the West Side. She was waiting for him in a rear booth.
Adam walked in, charged with energy, and from his expression Jennifer knew that something had happened.
“I have some news for you,” Adam told her. “I’ve been asked to run for the United States Senate.”
“Oh, Adam!” Jennifer was filled with a sudden excitement. “That’s wonderful! You’ll make such a great senator!”
“The competition’s going to be fierce. New York’s a tough state.”
“It doesn’t matter. No one can stop you.” And Jennifer knew it was true. Adam was intelligent and courageous, willing to fight the battles he believed in. As he had once fought her battle.
Jennifer took his hand and said warmly, “I’m so proud of you, darling.”
“Easy, I haven’t been elected yet. You’ve heard about cups, lips and slips.”
“That has nothing to do with my being proud of you. I love you so much, Adam.”
“I love you, too.”
Adam thought about telling Jennifer of the discussion he had almost had with Stewart Needham, but he decided not to. It could wait until he had straightened things out.
“When will you start campaigning?”
“They want me to announce that I’m running right away. I’ll have unanimous party backing.”
“That’s wonderful!”
There was something that was not wonderful tugging at the back of Jennifer’s mind. It was something she did not want to put into words, but she knew that sooner or later she was going to have to face it. She wanted Adam to win, but the Senate race would be a sword of Damocles hanging over her head. If Adam won, Jennifer would lose him. He would be running on a reform ticket and there would be no margin in his life for any scandal. He was a married man and if it was learned he had a mistress, it would be political suicide.
That night, for the first time since she had fallen in love with Adam, Jennifer had insomnia. She was awake until dawn battling the demons of the night.
Cynthia said, “There’s a call waiting for you. It’s the Martian again.”
Jennifer looked at her blankly.
“You know, the one with the story about the insane asylum.”
Jennifer had put the man completely out of her mind. He obviously was someone in need of psychiatric help.
“Tell him to—” She sighed. “Never mind. I’ll tell him myself.”
She picked up the telephone. “Jennifer Parker.”
The familiar voice said, “Did you check the information I gave you?”
“I haven’t had a chance.” She remembered she had thrown away the notes she had made. “I’d like to help you. Will you give me your name?”
“I can’t,” he whispered. “They’ll come after me, too. You just check it out. Helen Cooper. Long Island.”
“I can recommend a doctor who—” The line went dead.
Jennifer sat there a moment, thinking, and then asked Ken Bailey to come into the office.
“What’s up, Chief?”
“Nothing—I think. I’ve had a couple of crank calls from someone who won’t leave his name. Would you please see if you can find out anything about a woman named Helen Cooper. She’s supposed to have had a large estate on Long Island.”
“Where is she now?”
“Either in some insane asylum or on Mars.”
Two hours later, Ken Bailey walked in and surprised Jennifer by saying, “Your Martian has landed. There’s a Helen Cooper committed at The Heathers Asylum in Westchester.”
“Are you sure?” Ken Bailey looked hurt. “I didn’t mean that,” Jennifer said. Ken was the best investigator she had ever known. He never said anything unless he was positive of it, and he never got his facts wrong.
“What’s our interest in the lady?” Ken asked.
“Someone thinks she’s been framed into the asylum. I’d like you to check out her background. I want to know about her family.”