She grinned into her cell. “Well, hello to you, too, Milo,” and she told him about the Cabot Hotel, the ballroom with a gazillion red, white, and blue balloons, open bar, everything first class down to the bite-sized tacos . . .

When she finished, Milo said, “Harrington’s campaign manager, Cory Hughes, costs big bucks, but I think he’s a good choice, smart, an excellent debater. He could even bring my mother-in-law around, so watch out for him.

“Now, you don’t have a lot of hours to spend researching the Harrington family, so I asked our intern Kali to put together a landing page for you with some of what you’ll need to know and some photos.” He gave her the link. “I’ve met the Harrington family so I can add some things Kali wouldn’t know. First off, there’s Harrington senior, Theodore Talbot Harrington. Theo’s quite a character, decided years ago he was too ugly, too short, and too honest to be a politician, and besides, he sweats too much under lights. But I’m sure he’s very pleased to be backing his son. He’s been one of the powers behind the throne in Boston politics for over thirty years now. A politician wants a big lift, thinks the right way, and maybe Theo will put some bucks in his coffer and good words with other movers and shakers.”

Mia scrolled to his picture. Ugly was right. He was squat, heavy, even his arms seemed too short. He wasn’t smiling, but she saw intelligence in his dark eyes. She imagined he was a formidable opponent. Mia said, “He looks ruthless.”

“Yeah, both in politics and in business.”

“I hope he has a great personality.”

Milo grunted. “Not particularly, but he’s got the gift of the gods—the gift for making money. He still rules as chairman and CEO of the First Street Corporation in Boston with all its real estate and manufacturing assets.

“Now, take a look at his wife, Brianne Gregory Harrington, Alex’s mother. Lucky for Alex, she gave him his handsome face and his height. She’s a social powerhouse in her own right, on the boards of a number of charities, sponsors up-and-coming artists. She’s a poster girl for good breeding and old money.”

Mia admired her wonderful bone structure, and her smile, charming but aloof. And her great posture. There was a picture of the three of them together, with Theodore Harrington looking like a poorly carved quarry stone between two statues of fine marble. “She looks like a princess. I wonder why she married Theo? For his money?”