"Yeah, I agreed, reluctantly. But this woman is a different situation."
It was my turn. "I submit that's it's impossible to keep a secret like that from an intimate relationship unless the partner is incredibly stupid. Julie doesn't fit that description."
"She sure isn't the biggest spoon in the soup line," Quinn muttered.
"Granted," I answered, "but she isn't stupid."
"So what are you saying?" Betsy asked. "Howie can't have a girlfriend? What do you propose to do about it; make him take a vow of celibacy?"
"It's not our call," Martha answered, though by her tone, I suspected she understood where I was coming from.
I opined further. "We need to talk to him."
"Interrogate him, you mean," Martha said, not hiding her feelings. "We all agreed it was healthy to try and maintain a life outside this business. We deserve a little privacy, especially Howie; he's under the most pressure."
"That woman could blow this entire enterprise higher than a kite in a wind storm," Quinn said. "Privacy aside, we deserve some answers from Howie. It's all our lives he's putting at risk."
The conversation was getting out of hand. "Look. Howie isn't stupid and I know he'd never consciously sabotage what we have here. He's totally committed to what we're doing. Granted, he's been secretive about Julie but the fact he brought her here to meet us shows he's opening up. Let's give him the opportunity to speak his piece. He deserves that much."
"I'm not sure he brought her," said my wife. "It looked more like she brought him. Let's just pray it's a passing romance." None of us believed it was.
Howie returned after the allotted hour tour. "Let's get started," he said without preamble. Totally absent was any mention of Julie O'Malley.
Quinn and Howie retreated downstairs to prepare for our first session of the day, with everyone pretending it was a normal Monday. Martha sat at her desk, busy with files and paper work, a scowl on her face. Betsy dove into her computer. I was sure she was searching for information on Julie O'Malley, in spite of Martha's objections as she gave furtive glances toward her coworker's office. I busied myself with the minimal duties of Econ Scrutiny's work. Only baby Claire who slept soundly in her file cabinet crib was truly content.
"Oh!" Betsy exclaimed. I awaited a revelation about our recent guest but not so. "Daniel Brennan wants you to call him," she announced instead.
Brennan picked up his phone on the first ring. "Do you want the good news or the bad news," he pronounced.
"The bad news, I guess. It can keep company with what we just learned at this end."