After hedging for half an hour and not wanting to seem clingy or give the impression she was in some sort of “fearful, worried girlfriend mode”—God, was she a girlfriend? A topic for another breakdown—Penelope texted Lucia.
Could we talk if you have a moment?
Give me ten.
Penelope blew out a tight breath and turned on the TV, flipping through channels, eventually settling on a documentary about snakes. On-screen, a boa coiled around its prey, silent and merciless. How apt. The only question: Who was the predator and who was the prey? Could she be both?
Nine minutes later, her phone rang.
“Hi. What’s up? You all right?”
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat. Lucia’s voice was a warm counterpoint to her previous caller and the subsequent research. “I’m guessing your Italian friend chose this weekend for your little incursion?”
“Yep, and again, we’ll hang out the weekend after at the latest. Maybe even during the coming week? I don’t know your schedule and if that would be OK, but—”
“It’s not about that.” Penelope couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh. OK. What is it, then?”
“I spoke to…the other Italian.”
“The other… Wait, you talked to…the arch nemesis?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you do that?” Lucia asked, concern coloring her voice.
“I wanted to discuss my father and his involvement with her.”
“I thought you were sure you’d get no answers. So why bother?”
“Logic and feelings aren’t always in agreement. Besides, sometimes you just have to try, and I had…nothing to lose.”
“Nothing to lose? Pen, she’s dangerous, and—”
“I know. That’s exactly why I’ve contacted you.”
“Did she threaten you?”
“No, but I think she knows.”
“Knows what?” Lucia asked.
“About your plan.”
“How? You didn’t tell her, right?”
Heat flashed through Penelope. “Are you seriously asking me that? Because if that’s what you think of me, then—”
“No, no. I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.” She sighed. “I just… How? We don’t use any of the old devices, and none of us would talk.”
“I don’t know. Does it matter?”
“Kinda. If we have a…busybody in our midst, we need to know.”
“You might need to let that go and just accept that… Baby Jesus’s mother is gone,” Penelope said flatly.
“Wait, what?”
