The phone on the hotel room desk rang just as Matthias was halfway through his morning shave. He put down the razor, used a towel to wipe off most of the lather, and went out into the other room to pick up the receiver.
“I have a long-distance call for you from Seattle,” the front-desk operator said. “A Mrs. Henrietta Jones.”
Matthias stifled a groan.
“Put her through,” he said.
His mother came on the line.
“Your father and I got your telegram this morning,” Henrietta said. “What in the world are you doing in Burning Cove? That’s where Hollywood people go to vacation. You are not a movie star. You’re an engineer. At least you’re supposed to be an engineer.”
“I’m working a case for Luther Pell,” Matthias said.
“I was afraid of that. How much longer are you going to drift around the country doing odd jobs for that nightclub owner?”
“It’s a living, Mom.”
“Working as an engineer is a living. The longer you associate with Luther Pell, the harder it’s going to be for you to get a respectable job. We both know that he has a certain reputation. I’m afraid that when you finally do join the family business, your own reputation will be such that your father won’t be able to let you deal with our clients. Some of our best customers are government officials. Others are respectable businesspeople. They won’t want to be seen meeting with someone who consorts with a nightclub owner who is reputed to have mob connections.”
“You know the truth, Mom.”
“What I know is that the longer you live a lie, the more it becomes real. Your uncle—”
“I’m not Uncle Jake and I’m not great-grandfather Cyrus. I’m not going to end up like them.”
“I’m worried about you. You’ve been . . . different since Margaret ended the engagement.”
“No, I’ve been busy. This has nothing to do with what happened a year ago. Mom, we both know that it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to work for Dad.”
For the first time there was a slight hesitation on the other end of the line.
“I do realize that there would be problems,” Henrietta admitted. “The two of you are too much alike. Independent and stubborn. But I’m sure something can be worked out. You’ve had enough of adventuring. It’s time to come home, son.”