The Betrayal Read Online Free PDF Page B

double bed, she scrabbled for the telephone and dialed her mother’s number. Giovanna Sabattini answered on the second ring.
    “What are you calling so early for, bambina? I thought I was the only one who got up before the sun?”
    Chloe smiled and settled herself back against the pillows. “Now, Mama, don’t be like that. I woke early and thought I’d call you. Is there anything wrong with that?”
    Her mother tsk tsked on the other end of the phone, but Chloe could tell she was pleased. Ever since Chloe had been promoted to senior investigator, calls to her mother had been squeezed into the tiny slivers of time she had between work matters. It had been weeks since they’d had a decent chat and even longer since she’d gone home for a family dinner.
    Guilt shot through her at the thought. It wasn’t as though her parents lived interstate. They were less than half an hour away, in Queanbeyan. She had no excuse. Other than the one that she kept repeating to her mother every time the conversation came up and which happened to be true: She was far too busy at work.
    “How are you, bambina?” her mother asked and Chloe felt warm inside knowing her mother really wanted to know.
    “I’m all right, Mama. Busy, you know.”
    “Work, work, work. That’s all you ever do. You won’t find a man that way, bambina.”
    Chloe sighed and braced herself for the usual, well-meaning tirade. Her mother didn’t disappoint.
    “When I was your age, I’d been married for nearly a decade. I had three children under eight and another one on the way.”
    Chloe had heard it all before and knew her protestations fell on deaf ears, but she made them anyway.
    “Mama, I’m only thirty. That’s hardly geriatric. And I have a career. A very successful career. Right now, I need to put my energies into that if I want it to continue to flourish.”
    “Oh, pooh to a career! How is a career going to keep you warm at night, bambina? Or give you babies? It’s time you started putting your energies into that ! And who’s going to give me more grandbabies?”
    Chloe rolled her eyes. “Mama, between Cathy, Carlo and Antonella, you already have ten grandbabies. How many more do you want?”
    “I want your granbabies, bambina. I don’t want you to get to be an old woman and look back and regret you don’t have any. And that’s what will happen, bambina. You mark my words! It’s time you found yourself a husband. Even better if he’s a nice strong Italian boy. A man who will do your family proud.”
    “Yes, Mama. You’re right. I’ll go right out now and find one. I can probably Google “Italian husband hunt” on the Internet. I don’t know why I haven’t done it already. Thank you, Mama. You’re always right.”
    Chloe’s answer was met with suspicious silence. She tried to hold back a giggle but failed.
    “Chloe Maria Sabattini! You are a naughty, naughty girl! You shouldn’t say such awful things to your mama. If I was over there now I would turn you over my knee. It’s exactly what you deserve!”
    Chloe laughed harder and swiped at the tears that formed in the corner of her eyes.
    “Oh, Mama! You’re exactly what I need. Thank you for brightening up my day!”
    “Humph!”
    “No, Mama, I mean it. I have a tough interview ahead of me and I’m grateful that you’ve managed to take my mind off it.”
    Her mother’s voice sobered. “Are you okay, bambina? Are you eating right?”
    Chloe thought of Agent Munro and the way he’d looked at her right before he’d stormed out. In a few short hours, she’d be interviewing the man who’d reported the incidents. A man who, according to the file, Agent Munro had previously called “friend.”
    * * *
    The AFP headquarters was situated in the Edmund Barton building on the edge of the Parliamentary Triangle. A short drive away on the Hill sat Parliament House, an impressive example of modern architecture where life-changing decisions were often made on a daily basis.
    The stark