“Chance to polish up my seductive charm,” I said.
“It’s shiny enough,” Susan said.
“You should know,” I said.
“I do.”
“I promise to use it,” I said, “only for professional purposes.”
“Oh good,” she said.
“Who’s with you?” I said.
“Everybody.”
“Hawk?”
“Yes. He and Chollo and Vinnie are going to have dinner with me.”
“Where?”
“Here,” she said.
“You cooking?”
“Almost,” she said.
“Almost?”
“Well, I’m setting the table, and making everything look lovely.”
“So who’s cooking?”
“Chollo,” she said.
“Chollo?”
“Yes. He says he’s going to make us an authentic south-ofthe-border meal.”
“Out of what?” I said.
“I don’t know. He went shopping this afternoon while Hawk and Vinnie were, ah, on duty.”
“Shopping,” I said.
“Jesus,” I said. “He’s got you doing it.”
I could hear the amusement in her voice.
“He says that in his village the roots of the corn culture go deep.”
“He lives in Bel Air,” I said. “He thinks the corn culture is Wild Turkey on the rocks.”
“Right now he’s peeling avocados,” Susan said.
“Well,” I said. “There are things Chollo does that no one I’ve ever seen can do better.”
“Even Vinnie?”
“Even him,” I said.
“Have you seen him cook?”
“No.”
“I’ll report tomorrow on the results,” she said. “Are you going to share with Epstein the facts of Alderson’s other name?”
“Not right now,” I said.
“How did I know that?” Susan said.
“Because you went to Harvard?”
“Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe because I have an advanced degree in you.”
“Are you embarrassed to tell me you love me?” I said. “In front of your dinner companions?”
“I love you,” she said. “It is the strongest feeling I have ever had.”
“You’re sure they can’t hear me?” I said.
“Sure,” she said.
“I love you, too,” I said.
49.
Claire goldin was the sixth name that Lois had given me. Like the previous five, and probably the next ten, she had dated the former Bradley Turner during her college years. And in her case, for several years after. We met for coffee in Tower City. She had a noticeable body and blond highlights in her hair.
“I didn’t care that he was endlessly promiscuous,” she said and smiled at me. “So was I.”
