Simple Genius (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 3)

“At you making up your own mind based on observation. Sound reasonable?”

“What do we talk about so I can start observing?”

“Personal histories are an accepted protocol. I’ll go first. Like I said, I’m divorced, no kids. I told you I was a problem solver and I am. I’m a lawyer, but don’t hold that against me. I’m down here doing some due diligence for a client embroiled in some nasty litigation. You?”

“Married and never a mom like I told you before. I used to have a career. Now I sit at home or I sometimes go out. That’s about it.”

“Without your husband? I mean what part of beautiful and intelligent doesn’t he get?”

She held up a warning finger. “You’re treading the creepy line.”

“Sorry. I’ll retreat to a respectful position. What do you do for fun?”

“I don’t do anything for fun. I think I’ve had my share of fun in life. Now it’s all downhill.”

“Come on, it’s not like you have one foot in the grave.”

“Don’t I?”

“You’re not ill or anything?”

“Not in the sense you’re thinking, no.”

He sat back and swirled the wine around in his glass. “Okay, you qualify at least in the top three of the most interesting women I’ve ever met. Just so you can put that in context, my ex never even made the top ten.”

“Which tells me you’re a poor judge of character.”

“I’ve gotten better.”

“My husband would make anyone’s top five list. He’s actually very interesting. At least what he does is very interesting.”

“And what’s that?”

She shook her head. “Loose lips sink ships, you know.”

Sean appeared to be puzzled for a moment. “Sink ships? Is he in the military? I know they have a big presence down here.”

“He’s with the government, but not that branch; although he used to be. Vietnam.”

“Vietnam! But you’re not that old.”

“He waited a long time to marry. Why he decided to go for it after all those years on his own, I can’t tell you.”

“What then? FBI? I’ve got some ex-Army buddies who joined up with the Bureau.”

“Have you ever heard of Camp Peary?”

Sean slowly shook his head. “But it sounds familiar. Is it a camp like for kids?”

She smiled. “In a way, but the kids are really big with toys to match.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Camp Peary is a training center for a government agency whose initials start with C and end with A. Does that spell it out for you, no pun intended?”

“CIA! Your husband works for the CIA?” he said in a furious whisper.

She looked at him with suspicion. “You’re sure you never heard of Camp Peary?”