"HELENE'S GOING UP to Pebble Beach to spend the weekend with BZ's mother," Carter said when he called from the desert. "Why don't you fly up and meet her there."
“I can't."
"Too busy, I suppose."
Maria said nothing.
"Or maybe you're afraid you might have a good time."
"I said I can't."
"Why can't you, just for the record."
"She's not my mother," Maria said.