As people around her began sitting down, Jennifer found herself conspicuous by standing. Jennifer slid into a seat, determined to slip away at the first opportunity.

The chairman said, “We are honored this morning to have as our guest speaker a nominee for the presidency of the United States. He is a member of the New York Bar Association and one of the most distinguished members of the United States Senate. It is with great pride that I introduce Senator Adam Warner.”

Jennifer watched as Adam rose, accepting the warm applause. He stepped to the microphone and looked out across the room. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen.”

Adam’s voice was rich and resonant, and he had an air of authority that was mesmerizing. The silence in the room was total.

“There are many reasons why we are gathered here today.” He paused. “Some of us like to swim and some of us like to snorkel…” There was a swell of appreciative laughter. “But the main reason we are here is to exchange ideas and knowledge and discuss new concepts. Today, lawyers are under greater attack than at any time in my memory. Even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been sharply critical of our profession.”

Jennifer loved the way he used our, making him one with the rest of them. She let his words wash over her, content just to look at him, to watch the way he moved, to hear his voice. At one point he stopped to run his fingers through his hair, and it gave Jennifer a sharp pang. It was a gesture of Joshua’s. Adam’s son was only a few miles away and Adam would never know.

Adam’s voice grew stronger, more forceful. “Some of you in this room are criminal lawyers. I must admit I have always considered that to be the most exciting branch of our profession. Criminal lawyers often deal in life and death. It is a very honorable profession and one of which we can all be proud. However”—his voice grew hard—“there are some of them”—and now Jennifer noticed that Adam was disassociating himself by his choice of the pronoun—“who are a disgrace to the oath they have taken. The American system of jurisprudence is based on the inalienable right of every citizen to have a fair trial. But when the law is made a mockery of, when lawyers spend their time and energy, imagination and skill, finding ways to defy that law, finding ways to subvert justice, then I think it is time something must be done.” Every eye in the room was fastened on Adam as he stood there, eyes blazing. “I am speaking, ladies and gentlemen, out of personal experience and a deep anger for some of the things I see happening. I am currently heading a Senate committee conducting an investigation of organized crime in the United States. My committee has found itself thwarted and frustrated time after time by men who hold themselves to be more powerful than the highest enforcement agencies of our nation. I have seen judges suborned, the families of witnesses threatened, key witnesses disappear. Organized crime in our country is like a deadly python that is squeezing our economy, swallowing up our courts, threatening our very lives. The great majority of lawyers are honorable men and women doing honorable jobs, but I want to give warning to that small minority who think their law is above our law: You’re making a grave mistake and you’re going to pay for that mistake. Thank you.”

Adam sat down to a tumultuous burst of applause that became a standing ovation. Jennifer found herself on her feet applauding with the others, but her thoughts were on Adam’s last words. It was as though he had been speaking directly to her. Jennifer turned and headed toward the exit, pushing her way through the crowd.

As Jennifer approached the door she was hailed by a Mexican lawyer with whom she had worked a year earlier.

He kissed her hand gallantly and said, “What an honor to have you in our country again, Jennifer. I insist you have dinner with me this evening.”

Jennifer and Joshua had planned to go to The Maria Elena that night to watch the native dancers. “I’m sorry, Luis. I have an engagement.”

His large, liquid eyes showed his disappointment. “Tomorrow then?”

Before Jennifer could answer, an assistant district attorney from New York was at her side.

“Hello, there,” he said. “What are you doing slumming with the common folk? How about having dinner with me tonight? There’s a Mexican disco called Nepentha, where they have a glass floor lit from underneath and a mirror overhead.”

“It sounds fascinating, thanks, but I’m busy tonight.”

A few moments later Jennifer found herself surrounded by lawyers she had worked for and against all over the country. She was a celebrity and they all wanted to talk to her. It was half an hour before Jennifer could break free. She hurried toward the lobby, and as she moved to the exit, Adam was walking toward her, surrounded by the press and secret service men. Jennifer tried to retreat, but it was too late. Adam had seen her.

“Jennifer!”

For an instant she thought of pretending she had not heard him, but she could not embarrass him in front of the others. She would say hello quickly and be on her way.

She watched as Adam moved toward her, saying to the press, “I have no more statements to make now, ladies and gentlemen.”

A moment later Adam was touching her hand, looking into her eyes, and it was as though they had never been apart. They stood there in the lobby, surrounded by people, and yet they might have been completely alone. Jennifer had no idea how long they stood there looking at each other.

Finally, Adam said, “I—I think we’d better have a drink.”

“It would be wiser if we didn’t.” She had to get out of this place.

Adam shook his head. “Overruled.”

He took her arm and led her into the crowded bar. They found a table at the rear of the room.

“I’ve called you and I’ve written to you,” Adam said. “You never called me back and my letters were returned.”

He was watching her, his eyes filled with questions. “There isn’t a day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought about you. Why did you disappear?”

“It’s part of my magic act,” Jennifer said lightly.

A waiter came to take their order. Adam turned to Jennifer. “What would you like?”

“Nothing. I really have to leave, Adam.”

“You can’t go now. This is a celebration. The anniversary of the revolution.”

“Theirs or ours?”

“What’s the difference?” He turned to the waiter. “Two margaritas.”

“No. I—” All right, she thought, one drink. “Make mine a double,” Jennifer said recklessly.

The waiter nodded and left.

“I read about you all the time,” Jennifer said. “I’m very proud of you, Adam.”

“Thank you.” Adam hesitated. “I’ve been reading about you, too.”

She responded to the tone in his voice. “But you’re not proud of me.”

“You seem to have a lot of Syndicate clients.”

Jennifer found her defenses going up. “I thought your lecture was over.”

“This isn’t a lecture, Jennifer. I’m concerned about you. My committee is after Mike Moretti, and we’re going to get him.”

Jennifer looked around the bar filled with lawyers. “For God’s sake, Adam, we shouldn’t be having this discussion, especially in here.”

“Where, then?”

“Nowhere. Michael Moretti is my client. I can’t discuss him with you.”

“I want to talk to you. Where?”

She shook her head. “I told you I—”

“I have to talk about us.”

“There is no us.” Jennifer started to rise.

Adam put his hand on her arm. “Please, don’t go. I can’t let you go. Not yet.”

Reluctantly, Jennifer sat down.

Adam’s eyes were fastened on her face. “Do you ever think of me?”

Jennifer looked up at him and did not know whether to laugh or cry. Did she ever think of him! He lived in her house. She kissed him good morning every day, made his breakfast, went sailing with him, loved him. “Yes,” Jennifer said finally, “I think of you.”