Kline nodded thoughtfully. “We have an apartment close to the mansion. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s furnished. That way, you’re close if Lydia needs something at odd hours or unexpectedly.”
“No problem,” she said. “I don’t need much.”
“There may be holiday hours.”
“I don’t have family around.”
He would’ve known about Will and Avery, but since Dack had been the one to get them into hiding, Kline wouldn’t know where they were. She’d covered her tracks well, and even with careful digging, he wouldn’t have discovered much. As long as he never figured out that she was at the bank, she’d be good.
Kline went over her background again, and she stayed consistent in her answers. Then he contemplated her for a long time, the silence a widening gulf between them. She waited him out, comfortable. Jo knew exactly how to play his game. He continued to rest his hands on the back of the chair, and then he shifted suddenly, taking a step toward the door.
“Lydia would like to talk to you. She’ll have the final say.”
Jo nodded. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“If you’ll follow me,” Kline said.
As they left the office, she tamped down the excitement that pulsed through her nerves. There was still more to do.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Lydia Babineaux was seated at a small couch in a sitting room that looked to the backyard, where Jo saw a large pool and waterfall past a huge portico. She stood up when Kline walked in and introduced Jo.
“We finished our interview,” Kline pronounced. “I thought it’d be a good time for you to meet Jo.”
Lydia reached out with a small smile and shook Jo’s hand. The woman’s grip was light, her hand vertical—she didn’t perceive herself as dominant to Jo. She then gestured for Jo to take a seat on a couch perpendicular to hers. As Jo settled into the couch, Kline backed up, but he remained by the door, observant. It was obvious this routine had happened before, and both he and Lydia knew what to do.
“So,” Lydia said, her voice soft as a warm breeze. “Kline must’ve been impressed with you.”
“We had a nice chat,” Jo replied.
She waited for Lydia to carry the conversation. Instead, the woman just scrutinized Jo, and Jo did the same in return with her.
Lydia was an inch or two shorter than Jo’s five-nine, her blond hair stunning in the sunlight. But what struck Jo most was the woman’s eyes, a piercing but sad blue, with wrinkles pulling at the edges. This woman was carrying some kind of burden. Classical music played in the background, and Kline stood silent. Lydia’s gaze roved around the room before settling back on Jo.
“This is one of my favorite rooms in the house,” Lydia said. “It’s so peaceful here.”
Jo glanced around as well. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of sunshine, but the air-conditioning was on overdrive to keep the room pleasantly cool. The furniture was dark hardwood, with pottery and metal artwork on glass shelves behind Lydia. The cream-colored marble flooring was polished, and not a speck of dust was in sight.
“It’s a pleasant space,” Jo agreed.
Lydia stared into the yard, looked at Kline, and then focused on Jo.
“Tell me about yourself,” she said.
Jo launched into the same background that Kline had of her, not going into any further detail. Lydia nodded politely but didn’t interrupt. When Jo finished talking, the woman crossed her legs.
“Did you like your military service?” she asked.
“For the most part,” Jo said. “With every job, there are pros and cons.”
“The pros?”
“I helped my country,” Jo said simply. “And I liked traveling the world, going places the average person never does.”
“Were the physical demands challenging?”
“At times,” Jo said. “But I was an athlete in high school, and I enjoyed the challenges the Army presented.”
“Any issues being a woman in the Army?”
“At times, but I can handle myself.”
Lydia eyed her coolly. “I’ll bet you can.” Jo said nothing, and she went on. “And the cons?”
“Being away from my family.”
“Tell me about your family.”
“There’s my father, and my sister.”
“Is she older or younger?”
“She’s ten years younger than me,” Jo said.
“So she was just a teen when you went into the military?”
Jo nodded. “Yes. She grew up a lot while I was overseas.”
