been banner ones for male companionship.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
There was a pause. Then,
“We got a break on Simonnet. She popped right up on the Interpol search. Born in Brussels, lived there until two years ago. Still pays taxes on a piece of property in the countryside. Loyal old gal, went to the same dentist her whole life. The guy’s been in practice since the Stone Age, keeps everything. They’re faxing the records. If it looks like a match, we’ll get the originals.”
“When was she born?”
I heard a paper flip.
“Nineteen-eighteen.”
“That fits. Family?”
“We’re checking.”
“Why did she leave Belgium?”
“Maybe she needed a change of scenery. Look, champ, if you decide
I sat awhile, thinking about why I’d said no. Pete and I had reached an accord. We still loved each other, but couldn’t live together. Separated, we were once again able to be friends. Our relationship hadn’t been as good in years. Pete was dating, I was free to do the same. Oh, God. Dating. The word raised images of acne and braces.
To be honest, I found Andrew Ryan extremely attractive. No zits or orthodontics. A definite plus. And technically we didn’t work together. But I also found him extremely annoying. And unpredictable. No. Ryan is trouble.
I was finishing my report on Malachy and Mathias when the phone rang again. I smiled. O.K., Ryan. You win.
The voice of a security guard told me I had a visitor in the downstairs lobby. I looked at my watch. Four- twenty. Who would be coming this late? I didn’t remember making any appointments.
I asked for the name. When he told me, my heart sank.
“Oh no.” I couldn’t help myself.
“
“
No problem? Who was I kidding?
I said it again in the elevator.
Oh no.
10
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”
“Well, you could look glad to see me, big sister.”
“I—of course I’m glad to see you, Harry. I’m just surprised.” I couldn’t have been more astounded if the guard had announced Teddy Roosevelt.
She snorted. “That’s about as heartfelt as grits.”
My sister sat in the lobby of the SQ building surrounded by shopping bags from Nieman Marcus and canvas packs of varying shapes and sizes. She wore red cowboy boots engraved with black and white loops and swirls and a matching leather jacket with fringe. When she stood I could see jeans tight enough to cut off blood flow. We all could.
Harry hugged me, fully aware of but completely unself-conscious about her effect on others. Especially the others with Y chromosomes.
“Whew, it is bad-ass cold out there! I’m iced enough to freeze tequila.” She hunched her shoulders and wrapped her arms around her rib cage.
“Yes.” I didn’t get the analogy.
“My flight was supposed to touch down at noon, but the pissant snow held us up. Oh well, here I am, big sister.”
She dropped her shoulders and held out her arms, causing the jacket fringe to shimmy. Harry looked so out of place it was surreal. Amarillo comes to the tundra.
“O.K. Great. What a surprise. Well. I— What brings you to Montreal?”
“I’ll tell you all about it. It’s awesome. When I heard about it I just couldn’t believe my ears. I mean, right here in Montreal and all.”
“What is ‘it,’ Harry?”
“The seminar I’d done. I told you about it, Tempe, when I called last weekend. I did it. I signed up for that training course in Houston and now I’m mainlinin’ this stuff. I have never been so pumped. I cruised the first level. I mean cruised it. Some people take years to realize their own reality and I just whupped that puppy in a few weeks. I mean I am learning some powerful therapeutic strategies, and I am taking hold of my life. So when they invited me to this level-two workshop, and right here where my big sister lives, well, I packed my bags and pointed
