The Sky Is Falling

"I'm sure he is. His grades in math prove that. We're going to try to give him an incentive to excel in all his other subjects."

"The fact that he has only one arm is very traumatic for him," Dana said. "I hope to be able to solve that."

Mrs. Trott nodded understandingly. "Of course."

When Kemal was through with his tour of the school and he and Dana were walking back to the car, Dana said, "I know you're going to like it here."

Kemal was silent.

"It's a beautiful school, isn't it?"

Kemal said, "It sucks."

Dana stopped. "Why?"

Kemal's voice was choked. "They have tennis courts and a football field and I can't - " His eyes filled with tears.

Dana wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry, darling." And she thought to herself, I've got to do something about this.

The dinner party at the Hudsons' on Saturday night was a glamorous, black-tie affair. The beautiful rooms were filled with the movers and shakers of the nation's capital, including the Secretary of Defense, several members of Congress, the head of the Federal Reserve, and the ambassador from Germany.

Roger and Pamela were standing at the door when Dana and Jeff arrived. Dana introduced Jeff.

"I enjoy your sports column and broadcasts," Roger Hudson said.

"Thank you."

Pamela said, "Let me introduce you to some of our guests."

Many of the faces were familiar, and the greetings were cordial. It seemed that most of the guests were fans of either Dana or Jeff or both of them.

When they were alone for a moment, Dana said, "My God. The guest list here reads likeWho's Who. "

Jeff took her hand. "You'rethe biggest celebrity here, darling."

"No way," Dana said. "I'm just - "

At that moment, Dana saw General Victor Booster and Jack Stone heading toward them.

"Good evening, General," Dana said.

Booster looked at her and said rudely, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Dana flushed.

"This is a social evening," the general snapped. "I didn't know the media was invited."

Jeff looked at General Booster, furious. "Hold it!" he said. "We have as much right - "

Victor Booster ignored him. He leaned close to Dana. "Remember what I promised you if you go looking for trouble." He walked away.

Jeff looked after him disbelievingly. "Jesus. What was that all about?"

Jack Stone stood there, red-faced. "I'm - I'm terribly sorry. The general gets that way sometimes. He isn't always tactful."

"We noticed," Jeff said icily.

The dinner itself was fantastic. In front of each couple was a beautifully handwritten menu:

Russian blini with beluga caviar and light vodka cream cheese

Ambassador pheasant broth with white truffle essence and green asparagus

Bismarck foie gras with Boston lettuce, peppercorns, and Xeres vinegar dressing

Maine lobster thermidor glazed with Mornay champagne sauce

Fillet of beef Wellington with roasted potato Orloff and sauteed vegetables

Warm chocolate souffle with orange zest liqueur and chocolate morsels, served with nougatine sauce

It was a Lucullan banquet.

To Dana's surprise, she found that she had been seated next to Roger Hudson. Pamela's doing, she thought.

"Pamela mentioned that Kemal is enrolled in the Lincoln Preparatory School."

Dana smiled. "Yes. Elliot Cromwell arranged it. He's a remarkable man."

Roger Hudson nodded. "So I've heard."

He hesitated a moment. "This may mean nothing, but it seems that shortly before Taylor Winthrop became our ambassador to Russia, he told close friends that he had definitely retired from public life."

Dana frowned. "And then he accepted the ambassadorship to Russia?"

"Yes."

Strange.

On the way home, Jeff asked Dana, "What did you do to make such a fan of General Booster?"

"He doesn't want me investigating the deaths in the Winthrop family."

"Why not?"

"He doesn't explain. He just barks."

Jeff said slowly, "His bite is worse than his bark, Dana. He's a bad enemy to have."

She looked at Jeff curiously. "Why?"

"He's head of the FRA, the Federal Research Agency."

"I know. They develop technology to help underdeveloped countries learn modern production and - "

Jeff said dryly, "And there really is a Santa Claus."

Dana looked at him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

"The agency is a cover-up. The real function of the FRA is to spy on foreign intelligence agencies and intercept their communications. It's ironic. "Frater" means brother in Latin - only this is Big Brother, and Big Brother sure as hell is watching everybody. They're more secretive than even the NSA."

Dana said thoughtfully, "Taylor Winthrop was once the head of the FRA. That's interesting."

"I would advise you to stay as far away as you can from General Booster."

"I intend to."

"I know you have a sitter problem tonight, honey, so if you have to get home - "

Dana nestled against him. "No way. The sitter can wait. I can't. Let's go to your place."

Jeff grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."

Jeff lived in a small apartment in a four-story building on Madison Street. Jeff led Dana into the bedroom.

"I'll be glad when we move into a bigger apartment," Jeff said. "Kemal has to have his own room. Why don't we - ?"

"Why don't we stop talking?" Dana suggested.