fruit and half a carafe of cafe noir.
They were sitting on a slate patio beneath a pergola laden with emerging clematis and wisteria. Hayden was in a white-and-blue-striped tennis outfit last worn by Jay Gatsby and Burton was in a state of exhaustion. Since he could never talk specifically about his work, the only polite thing to say was, “So, workin’ hard?”
“Indeed,” he said, telling us he’d been up all night preparing a bankruptcy filing that was big enough to affect global financial markets when it was announced later that day. “You won’t be surprised to know there are weighty tax implications surrounding the implosion of a large corporation— rather like a pack of jackals feeding on a staggering herbivore. Get it while you can.”
“I feel that way about the waffles,” I told him.
Amanda and I did our best to catch up with the breakfast routine while Burton and Hayden picked their teeth and debated the merits, or even the technical feasibility, of a fixed tax code versus our current system of intricate variability. A system Burton admitted was beautifully designed to enrich those capable of navigating and optimizing ambiguities and approximations. People like Burton himself.
“Or you could take my approach,” I said. “Maintain a tax status well south of the poverty line.”
“Ingenious,” said Hayden.
“Only if his friends keep feeding him breakfast,” said Amanda.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to speak with you straight away, Amanda,” said Burton. “I think I have the gist, but let’s hear the details. I hope you don’t mind if Hayden sits in. He’s quite the legal scholar.”
“I knew nothing about underground cellars or anything like that until those two guys from the DEC pulled out their maps,” said Amanda.
“I told her to say that so you didn’t have to ask,” I said.
“This is what they’re accusing you of?” he asked.
“Not directly. By implication.”
We told him everything we could think of about the DEC guys as well as Amanda’s successful phase-one environmental study.
“You were wise to conclude that meeting,” said Burton. “These sorts of administrative actions have very few built-in protections.”
“Kafka lives on,” said Hayden.
“I’m telling the truth,” said Amanda. “I swear to God.”
“We’ll draw up a letter to the commissioner expressing your eagerness to cooperate fully in the field investigation,” said Burton. “Not as good for the soul as swearing to God, but more legally persuasive.”
“Anything,” she said.
“At least it undermines any claim that you resisted their investigation,” said Hayden. “Should they charge you with anything.”
“Kafka would do the same thing,” I said.
“We shouldn’t delay further,” said Burton. “Hayden, if you would, bring Amanda to the office and write something up for her. Isabella can notarize it. She loves to get out the stamp,” he said to me.
“Really.”
“Anything you need to tell me?” Burton asked, once Hayden and Amanda were beyond earshot.
“There’s something fucked up going on.”
“Put that in layman’s terms.”
“I don’t know exactly,” I said.
“Is Amanda telling the truth?” he asked.
“Define truth.”
“So you’re not sure.”
“I’m not sure of anything,” I admitted.
“But you have theories.”
“None that make any sense.”
“The DEC doesn’t pursue these things without cause. Deterrence depends on credibility.”
“I want a closer look at that drawing.”
“Right now Amanda needs to cooperate as fully as possible,” said Burton.
“Can I borrow your cell phone?” I asked.
“Certainly. Phone service comes with breakfast.”
I fished Dan’s number out of my wallet. He didn’t answer at the motel so I called his cell.
“Mr. Acquillo, nice to hear from you.”
“I’m calling to tell you we’re eager to cooperate as fully as possible.”
“Good decision.”
“We just wanted to make that intention official.”
“We’ll be faxing a letter to the commissioner’s office to that effect,” said Burton.
“We’ll be faxing a letter to the commissioner’s office to that effect,” I told Dan.
“That is official.”
“We just don’t want any misunderstanding about Amanda’s willingness to give the DEC total access and cooperation.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Dan. “Tell your lawyer I said hello.”
I cupped the phone.
“He said to say hello.”
“So when can we get on the site?” Dan asked.
“As soon as you want if you have a pair of bolt cutters.”
“We’ll call if we need anything. I’ve got all the drawings.”
“More than we do, obviously. Do you mind if I get another look at that cellar elevation?” I asked him.
“Long as I’m there when you do it.”
“Fair enough. I think I know where to find you.”
“You betcha,” said Dan.
I signaled to Burton that I was ready to end the call and he nodded his okay.
“How was that for full cooperation?” I asked him.
“And you with so little experience.”
After that we caught up on my own legal matters. I told him of my visit with Jeff Milhouser, leaving out any mention of Amanda. I didn’t want to be talking about her when she got back with Hayden. She could smell a sudden change in conversation a mile away. I also told him about Rosaline Arnold and my sentimental trip to Southampton High.
“What do you expect that to achieve?” he asked me.
“I don’t know. But it was worth it just to see Rosaline again.”
I was about to tell him more, but seeing Amanda and Hayden walking down the path, I took my own advice and asked him about the NBA playoffs instead.
“Yes, that’s a yearly contest the New York Knicks seem committed to boycott.”
“Despite the gentle encouragement of their fan base.”
“We do our part. We’re talking about the Knicks,” he said to Hayden as he drew near.
“I’m only there for moral support,” said Hayden. “Unless the Sixers are in town. Then we get to watch a game with a little meat on it.”
“Hayden’s from Philadelphia,” said Burton, “where every sport is a variation on the theme of thuggery.”
“Home of Smokin’ Joe Frazier and the Italian Stallion,” said Hayden.
“One of whom was an actual person,” I said.
“Sam used to be an actual thug himself,” said Amanda as she settled back into her chair.
“Me and Smokin’ Joe prefer fighter.”
“Retired fighter sounds even better,” she said.
“I think for Sam ‘recovering’ is closer to it,” said Burton.
“Not me, Burt. I’m done with it for good. Doctor’s advice.”
“Smart doctor.”
“Big doctor.”
