I paced the long corridor outside the Senate chamber waiting for Senator Dalton. On my way here on Metro, Michael had called and asked if I could meet with the senator at 11:00. I was at the far end of the great hall in my pacing when Dalton emerged, coming out of the chamber or the Cloakroom, looking trim and well turned out as usual. “Senator,” I called, as I rushed toward her.
She turned as I made my way through a small group of men, half of whom had turned to look back at the former beauty queen, causing me to have to avoid their wayward paths. I was sure their minds were certainly as wayward.
“Good morning, Laura.” She extended her hand.
I took it. “Senator.”
“I apologize for my tardiness, I was waiting to see the leader. I wanted us to meet here because things are hectic in my office and we’d be interrupted every other minute.”
“This is fine,” I replied. She was always so gracious.
“Come,” she said, indicating the wide stairway. “We’ll go down over here.” She asked about Tyler and how balancing being a mother and resuming my career was working out.
“I couldn’t do it without Jerry, that’s for sure.”
She changed subjects, pointing out the gorgeous Brumidi handrails and art.
Down on the next level, she ushered me into a small anteroom. “We’ll go in here. The sergeant at arms was gracious to arrange it for our use. It’s secluded.”
She closed the door. “Let’s sit.” She indicated two leather, straight-back chairs in the sparsely furnished room, its walls made of stone. “As I mentioned, I met with the leader. I’m no longer held to my promise regarding Tutoxtamen.”
“Is that—”
“You may think that a little hasty, but I have my reasons. Senator Kelly certainly pointed out the pitfalls, but I need to be independent. I’ll take whatever comes. This is too important to let slide.”
“From what little I know about the FDA, they’ve issued Tutox the death penalty.”
“It would seem that way, however . . .”
“I saw hundreds of people demonstrating on the west lawn of the Capitol as I walked here from Union Station.”
She sighed. “There are probably hundreds more in Rockville lined up at 5600 Fishers Lane in front of FDA. They’ll make for nice pictures on the television newscasts, but as much as I wished otherwise, they won’t change anything.”
I decided my fertile imagination might muddy up the waters, so I waited.
“But there are things we can do.”
I caught the we, but again waited.
“After today, meetings between us will have to be more discreet. I prefer you work with Michael. You’ll find him very capable and more knowledgeable than I.”
“That’s fine,” I said, happy with now having an official foot in the door.
“There are some things happening with Rogers . . . namely with the son Sherman. A letter Michael had received a few months back was unfortunately never opened, because he had put it in his briefcase that the mugger had stolen.
“It, or a copy—Michael remembered it as being identically addressed— recently showed up with no attribution as to the writer. Michael has friends all over . . . an interesting network. In fact, a friend of a friend of his works for Rogers Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey. Anyway, the letter hinted there were some hush-hush things going on at the Rogers processing plant.”
“Did Michael’s friend say what sort—?”
“It had something to do with technicians. It may be nothing. We’re—”
“Would Michael be available to take a trip to New Jersey?”
Her face brightened. “Yes.”
Hmmm. Her quick answer and expression gave me the feeling she and Michael may have already talked about doing this.
“When did you learn of this hush-hush stuff?” I asked.
“This morning.”
“May Michael share it with me?”
“Absolutely,” she said eagerly. “I’d like for you two to work together. I will see what I can find out through my senatorial contacts, if I have any.”
“What about the two New Jersey senators?”
“No help there. The only senator I can talk with is Crawford.
Unfortunately, he is not from my state. He’s friendly, and I sincerely feel he has my best interests at heart.”
I wondered if he were a bachelor or wishing he were one.
“So we go it alone?” I asked.
Roanne smiled. “We do . . . for now.”