Dark Ambition Read Free Page A

held it back for Del till later. But I'm getting damned tired of doing what other people want."
    They rode in silence for several minutes. Then Jennifer said, "What's wrong?"
    "What makes you think something's wrong?"
    "C'mon, Ann, I've known you for twelve years. Since that darkened theater in New York, when you called to a frightened kid at an audition for Picnic, 'Will you step forward?'" Jennifer took a deep breath. "I know something's bothering you. Is it Robert?" She turned and drove north on Connecticut Avenue, away from downtown Washington, in the flow of the late-Saturday afternoon traffic.
    "Look, Jenny," Ann said. "You're young and you're drop-dead gorgeous. You've had your pick of men. I wasn't in a good bargaining position when Robert came along."
    Jennifer touched her honey blond hair, making certain it was pulled tightly back and locked in place. Then she laughed sardonically. "Yeah, I had my pick of men, okay, and I took Craig. I know that I was on the rebound from that two-timing Ben. I wanted to forget I ever met the crumb, but I still should have had more sense than landing in Craig's arms." Jennifer didn't conceal the anger that crept into her voice when she thought about Craig and their marriage that had lasted two years to the day, because he chose their anniversary to head west into the wilds of Colorado with a nubile nineteen-year-old with big boobs to write the great American novel. That was only eight months ago. Their divorce was final three months after he left. God, it seemed like years. At least there weren't any children. "I don't even have an excuse. For me, it's just poor judgment in picking men."
    "Sorry, Jenny, that was insensitive of me."
    "Ah, forget it. It's all ancient history by now."
    "With a little luck, I'll be able to say the same about me and Robert." She paused and then added the words, "One day."
    Anxious to change the subject, Jennifer said, "When you get home, maybe you should give Del a call and go over all of your notes from the rehearsal."
    Ann thought about it for a moment and said, "Yeah, you're right. He thinks he's an artist. I'd better smooth those ruffled feathers."
    She turned and stared out of the window, deep in thought the rest of the way home. Jennifer decided to leave her alone. On Linean Court, Jennifer eased to a stop behind the navy Crown Vic that belonged to the Office of Diplomatic Security.
    Nodding to Mac, standing next to the car, Ann said to Jennifer, "You want to come in for a drink?"
    "I think I'll pass. Grace Hargadon and I are going to the Kennedy Center tonight to see Verdi's Luisa Miller."
    "Just a quick one. You have time."
    The urgency in Ann's voice made Jennifer reconsider, but she really didn't have time. "Sorry, it's a seven-o'clock curtain, and we have reservations for an early dinner."
    Ann sighed in resignation. "Then why don't you come by tomorrow morning, say around ten? We'll have a light brunch before I go back to the theater for rehearsal."
    "Won't Robert be home?"
    "Even prisoners are allowed to have visitors."
    "No, I meant—"
    "I know what you meant. He'll be at Camp David with Philip. Just the two of them. Pretty heady stuff. I heard him talking on the phone to Philip last night. Robert says he's got something important to tell Philip that affects both of them, but as usual he wouldn't tell me. Says he doesn't want me leaking it to the press, which is bullshit, because I've never done that to him, despite everything he's done to me." Ann climbed out of the car. "See you tomorrow."
    Driving away, Jennifer thought about Ann's husband. What a prick! For a few minutes, she wound around the tree-lined streets with large, expensive homes. At the corner of Connecticut Avenue, Jennifer slowed at the stop sign. Suddenly, the car phone rang. "Jennifer here."
    "It's Robert," Ann screamed hysterically. "He's dead! Somebody shot him! You've got to help me!"
    The shock of the news paralyzed Jennifer for an instant, but she recovered fast.