And now …

‘Around two weeks ago,’ Klara said, ‘we were told that we were having an important visitor come to the shelter that afternoon. We weren’t told who … just that, according to Helen, he was “a possible big-deal benefactor”. Six hours later in walked Kelleher with an assistant and a bodyguard. He was also with Rachel Rancini – the woman who was one of the founders of our shelter and had been on record many times saying that Patrick Kelleher was one of the biggest enemies of women’s rights in America. But there she was, showing the guy around, answering his questions, explaining very calmly how we were doing important work here. The weird thing was: Kelleher was taking it all in, showing real interest. I expected this total crazed Catholic monster who was probably terrified of women which is why he was doing his best to limit their reproductive rights. But he turned out to be smart and good with words. He was also super fit and was wearing the most immaculate gray suit I’d ever seen. Which made me even more suspicious of him. Especially as, when Rachel asked Helen to introduce all the staff there to him, he seemed to take an immediate interest in me …’

Oh great … I thought, wondering what was coming next. Klara read me instantly.

‘Fear not, Poppa. I haven’t become one of his concubines. Given his taste in much younger women I’m over the hill at twenty-four, but it was clear that he’d decided to single out one of the staff to talk with – and he chose me.’

No doubt because she is beautiful and smart.

‘What did he want to know?’