Chapter 32

Mother had shrugged. “She rides. At least they have that in common.”

“Don’t be difficult, Mother. You know what I meant. What are her feelings toward Uncle Tony?”

“She seems to care a great deal for him. Whether that’s as a spouse, a father for her child, or a meal ticket, remains to be seen.”

“Do you want me to look into her background?”

“That won’t be necessary, sweetheart.” She’d given a tight smile. “I have a…friend keeping an eye on how things go.” She still kept in touch with people she’d known when she’d deciphered Russian codes during the Venona Project. “If this woman breaks my brother’s heart, she’ll have me to answer to.”

And they called women the weaker sex.

I turned my attention back to the conversation.

“Your uncle always was a cool customer.”

“The California climate seems to suit him,” I remarked, being deliberately obtuse. The undersecretary laughed.