“Assuming the South African legal system is the same as ours.”

Marge made a face. “You’re right. I don’t know if they’re comparable.”

Decker said, “I don’t know if she’s even South African. She could be English or Australian or Rhodesian. Only it’s not Rhodesia anymore.”

“What’s it called now?”

“Uh…Rhodesia’s Zimbabwe, I think.”

“So she could be Zimbabwean,” Marge said. “Pete, I don’t know anything about the Zimbabwean legal system.”

They both laughed. Marge said, “The fact still remains that she could have been a former felon—juvenile or otherwise.”

“And you don’t think a giant like VerHauten would have found out about that?”

“Well then, how about this, Pete?” Marge said, testily. “How about you suggest some theories and I’ll shoot them down?”

“Fair enough. Okay. We have a beautiful, brilliant lady who worked for one of the biggest, wealthiest, most powerful monopolies in the world. If she had a skeleton, what would it be?”

Decker tapped his foot.

“A reformed hooker just wouldn’t have made it up the ladder that far. That only happens in Hollywood. And a felon wouldn’t have made it that big, either. Former felons don’t become high-powered, seven-figure-a-year corporate lawyers. They become screenwriters.”

Marge erupted into laughter. “No, former cops become screenwriters.”

“Or even novelists if they’re talented.” Decker smiled. “So what could put a woman like Milligan under?”

Marge said, “VerHauten is a bastion of conservatism. How about if she was illegitimate?”

Decker paused. “That’s not bad.”

“You like that?”

“It’s a start. She could have come from trash and she’s trying to hide her roots. But then again, I venture to say VerHauten would have done an extensive background check on her—who her family was, where she went to school, things like that. If she came from poor stock, they would have found out about it.”

The car was quiet.

Decker said, “You know, I’m thinking like a white, American male. Milligan’s a white, rich, South African female—”

“With an emphasis on the rich part. You see her suit? A Cesucci. Musta cost two grand if it was a penny.”

“I didn’t even notice.”

“See, the ordinary Joe Blow isn’t supposed to notice. Then it wouldn’t be classy. It’s strictly for the upper crust to notice.”

“So my roots are showing,” Decker said. “Margie, what would be a big no-no for a rich, white, educated, established, South African female.”

“Having an affair with a black.” She looked at Decker. He was grinning. She said, “Even if it was true, how would Yalom have found out about it? Yalom and not VerHauten.”

“Good question,” Decker admitted. “The only thing I can think of is…God, how do I say this without feeding stereotypes and prejudice.”

“Spit it out.”

“The Jewish diamond network.”

Marge laughed. “Too much talking to Tug.”