بخش 02 - فصل 10

10 When she returns with his copy of the letter, he folds it into his inner jacket pocket. “The original should go into a safe, if there’s one here.”

“There’s one at the Sugar Heights house–will that do?” It probably would, but Hodges doesn’t care for the idea. Too many prospective buyers tromping in and out. Which is probably stupid, but there it is. “Do you have a safe-deposit box?” “No, but I could rent one. I use Bank of America, just two

blocks over.” “I’d like that better,” Hodges says, going to the door. “Thank you for doing this,” she says, and holds out both of her hands. As if he has asked her to dance. “You don’t know what a relief it is.” He takes the offered hands, squeezes them lightly, then lets go, although he would

have been happy to hold them longer. “Two other things. First, your mother. How often do you visit her?” “Every other day or so. Sometimes I take her food from the Iranian restaurant she and Ollie liked–the Sunny Acres kitchen staff is happy to warm it up–and sometimes I bring her a DVD or two. She likes

the oldies, like with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I always bring her something, and she’s always happy to see me. On her good days she does see me. On her bad ones, she’s apt to call me Olivia. Or Charlotte. That’s my aunt. I also have an uncle.” “The next time she has a good day, you ought to call me so I can go see her.”

“All right. I’ll go with you. What’s the other thing?” “This lawyer you mentioned. Schron. Did he strike you as competent?” “Sharpest knife in the drawer, that was my impression.” “If I do find something out, maybe even put a name on the guy, we’re going to need someone like that. We’ll go see

him, we’ll turn over the letters –” “Letters? I only found the one.” Hodges thinks Ah, shit, then regroups. “The letter and the copy, I mean.” “Oh, right.” “If I find the guy, it’s the job of the police to arrest him and charge him. Schron’s job is to make sure we don’t get

arrested for going off the reservation and investigating on our own.” “That would be criminal law, isn’t it? I’m not sure he does that kind.” “Probably not, but if he’s good, he’ll know somebody who does. Someone who’s just as good as he is. Are we agreed on that? We have to be. I’m willing to poke around, but if

this turns into police business, we let the police take over.” “I’m fine with that,” Janey says. Then she stands on tiptoe, puts her hands on the shoulders of his too-tight coat, and plants a kiss on his cheek. “I think you’re a good guy, Bill. And the right guy for this.” He feels that kiss all the way down in the elevator. A

lovely little warm spot. He’s glad he took pains about shaving before leaving the house.