Free Fall

perched on a hillside, but I've got a deck, and a nice view of the canyon. A woman I know gave me a build-it- yourself bird-feeder kit for Christmas, so I built it, and hung it from the eve of my roof high enough to keep the birds safe from my cat. But the birds scratch the seed out of the feeder, then fly down to the deck to eat the seed. They know there's a cat, but still they go down to pick at the seed. When you think about it, people are often like this, too.

I rolled out of bed, pulled on a pair of shorts, then went downstairs and out onto the deck. The finches flew away in a gray, fluttery cloud.

I did twelve sun salutes from the hatha-yoga to loosen my muscles, then moved to the tai chi, and then to the tae kwon do, first the Tiger and Crane katas, and then the Dragon and Eagle. As I worked, the finches returned to eat and watch as if I were now elemental to their world and no longer a threat. I worked for the better part of an hour, driving through the katas faster and faster, breathing deep to well my energy, then unloading that energy with long explosive moves until my muscles burned and the sweat spotted the deck as if there had been a passing rain shower. I finished with another twelve sun salutes, and then I went in. Penance for the Falstaff. Or maybe just client avoidance.

My cat was staring at the finches. He's large and he's black and he carries his head sort of cocked to the side from when he was head-shot by a .22. He said, 'Naow?'

I shook my head. 'Not now. Got a call to make.'

He followed me into the kitchen and watched while I called my friend at B of A. You know you're serious when you call after an hour's worth of katas before you shower. Good thing we don't have smell-o-phones.

I said, 'You get anything out of the ordinary on Mark Thurman?' The detective makes a desperate last-ditch attempt at linking Mark Thurman to Criminal Activity.

'Doesn't look like it. Thurman's outstanding credit charges on both Visa and MasterCard appear typical. Also, he has not applied for higher credit limits nor additional credit cards through any facility in the state of California.' The desperate attempt fails.

'That's it, huh?'

'You sound disappointed.'

'What's disappointment to a hard guy like me?'

'Tell me about it. Are these good seats for Sting, or are we going to camp in the back of the house like last time?'

'Did I mention that you're not aging well?'

She hung up. So did I. These dames.

I took a deep breath, let it out, and then I called Jennifer Sheridan at Marty Beale's office. She answered on the second ring. 'Watkins, Okum, & Beale. Mr. Beale's office.'

'This is Elvis Cole. I have uncovered some things, and we should speak.' The cat came over and head-bumped me.

'Well. All right.' She didn't sound happy about it, like maybe she could hear something in my voice. 'Can you tell me now?'

'It's better if we meet for lunch. Kate Mantilini's is very nice.'

More of the pause. 'Is it expensive?'

'I'll pay, Ms. Sheridan.'

'Well, I only have the hour.' Nervous.

'I could pick up a couple of cheeseburgers and we could sit on the curb.'

'Maybe the restaurant would be all right. It's only a few blocks from here, isn't it?'

'Three blocks. I'll make a reservation. I will pick you up in front of your building or we can meet at the restaurant.'

'Oh, I don't mind walking.'

'Fine.'

I put the receiver down and the cat looked up at me. He said it again. 'Naow?'

I picked him up and held him close. He was warm against me and his fur was soft and I could feel his heart beat. It was good to hold him. He often doesn't like it, but sometimes he does, and I have found, over the years, that when I most need to hold him, he most often allows it. I like him for that. I think it's mutual.

I scrambled two eggs, put them in his bowl, then went upstairs to shower and dress. At seven minutes after twelve, I walked into Kate Mantilini's and found Jennifer Sheridan already seated. The waiters were smiling at her and an older woman at the next table was talking to her and all the lights of the restaurant seemed focused on her. Some people just have lives like that, I guess. She was wearing a bright blue pant suit with a large ruffled tie and black pumps with little bows on them, and she looked even younger than the first time I'd seen her. Maybe she wasn't twenty-three. Maybe she was seventeen and the people around us would think I was her father. If she looked seventeen and I looked thirty-eight, that would work out. Bummer.

She said, 'I hope this won't take long.'

'It won't.'

I motioned to the waiter and told him that we were in a hurry and would like to order. He said fine and produced a little pad. I ordered the nicoise salad with sesame dressing and an Evian water. Jennifer Sheridan had a hamburger and french fries and a diet Coke. The waiter smiled at me when she ordered. Probably thought I was a lecher. When the waiter had gone, Jennifer Sheridan said, 'What have you found out, Mr. Cole?' The mister.

'What I have to tell you will not be pleasant, and I want you to prepare yourself for it. If you'd rather leave the