Teddy’s press pass in the name of Mark Rosen got him into Congressman Carl Jenkins’s office. He knew it would. A relatively unknown congressman couldn’t afford to pass up an interview.
Congressman Jenkins met him at the door with a handshake and a smile. “Well now, Mr. Rosen. What can I do for you?”
Teddy’s smile was apologetic. “It’s about the assassination, of course. Everything’s about the assassination. I understand you were personal friends with Congressman Drexel.”
“We were great friends ever since we worked together on the immigration bill.”
Teddy was forced to feign interest in the immigration bill, even jotted a few random notes in his notebook. “So you were seated next to him at the state dinner the night before?”
Congressman Jenkins made a face. “I was supposed to be. At the last minute I had to give up my seat to some attorney from New York.”
“You missed the state dinner?”
“More than that, I missed the last chance to see my friend.”
“But you didn’t know it.”
“Of course.”
“Did they make it up to you? Give you a rain check for another state dinner?”
“Hardly. But the White House chief of staff took me out instead.”
“Isn’t that Ann Keaton?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’ve met her. A personable and attractive woman.”
The congressman winced.
Teddy controlled his face, but a guilty reaction to Ann Keaton was exactly what he was looking for. Was it possible this harmless-looking politician was responsible for passing on the tip about Stone Barrington? He certainly had all the information. A New York lawyer rung in at the last minute at the President’s request, who would be taking his place at that particular table.
Congressman Jenkins put up his hands and smiled. “Look, you’re not writing this, are you?”
Teddy frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You said it was about the assassination. Because I was a friend of Congressman Drexel. Where I had dinner has nothing to do with it.”
“But you missed the state dinner. As you say, your last chance to see your old friend. The fact that you didn’t is poignant. Human interest.”
“The fact is I missed the dinner. That may be poignant, but who I was out with is not. I’m a married man. I don’t want my wife reading a story about me gallivanting around with a pretty woman instead of having dinner with my friend. That is not a fair assessment of the situation.”
“I assure you, that’s not what I’m writing.”
Jenkins smiled. “Just between you and me, she has some boyfriend she’s smitten with. She talked about him all through dinner.” He put up his hand. “But don’t write that, either.”
“Never fear. Did he know you were out with her?”
“Yes, and he wasn’t too happy about it. Not that he was jealous, don’t get the wrong idea. This is all off the record, right?”
“Of course.”
“Apparently she had to break a date with him to go out with me.”
Teddy smiled. Congressman Jenkins had been unexpectedly helpful. He clearly wasn’t the leak, but he’d given Teddy a lead.