Andy nodded. 'It's called the 'privilege.' Your secrets are safe with me.'
'Good.'
The girl named Cassie said, 'Can we go see Paul?'
'Yes, you can. And he can see you.' He turned to Connie. 'My dad-'
'Got his liver.'
His father would wear the black elk boots. But who had died so Paul Prescott could live? Who had not been saved so he could be? Had Russell Reeves pulled some strings to move Paul Prescott to the top of the list? Had he bought a longer life for Andy's father? Andy didn't want to know the answers. All he knew was that he still had his father-and that Paul Prescott had finally gotten his big break.
'How'd you know?'
'Your mother.'
'You called her?'
Connie nodded. 'At her office.'
'She never told me.'
'She said she could keep a secret… and that you could, too.'
'How's your mother?'
She pointed inside Ramon's shop. Andy looked closely and saw that the customer was Colleen O'Hara. She was thumbing through Ramon's flash.
'She's living with us now. When we left here, Marty O'Connor sold her house, put her on a plane to Phoenix. I figured she couldn't wander off a seven-fifty-seven.'
'That's where you've been living, Phoenix?'
'Sedona.'
'Good art there.'
'I quit smoking there.'
Ramon poked his head out. 'Connie, your mother says she wants a heart on her butt-you okay with that?'
Connie shrugged. 'She's one of the tribe now.'
'Andy,' Cassie said, 'give me a ride.'
Her mother said, 'Put the helmet on,' then held the key out to Andy. He removed the Chronicle from his back waistband and tossed it into the trash can then handed the boot box to Connie. He took the key. He threw a leg over the Slammer and started the engine. He stood the bike straight, kicked the stand back, and revved the engine. He felt the big S amp;S Sidewinder rumbling beneath him. He looked over at Connie; her lips moved, but he couldn't hear her words over the engine.
'What?'
She stepped closer. 'I said, I like your hair long.'
'The Samson theory.'
And she kissed him. On the lips.
Cassie wrapped her arms around him and held on tightly. He shifted into gear and drove down the sidewalk and onto South Congress. He accelerated and felt the wind on his face, and he heard the girl scream with delight. And Andy Prescott thought, I might not be much of a lawyer, but I'm her lawyer. And her secrets will always be safe with me.
