Free Compelling Evidence by Steve Martini Page B

acquaintance. "Talia," I say. "That's right, Talia. How's Talia doingt'
    "I haven't seen her. I don't know. I suppose she'll cope."

    "Yes, I
    suppose," says Nikki. I can't believe we're having this conversation.
    "What will happen with the firm now?" Nikki speaks while mops the countertop. "I don't know. I suppose it will go on." A, "The papers are treating the whole thing with a lot of TAT*i ‐It' Ben's death and all,"
    she says. "A lot of speculation 7, "Newspapers always speculate. That's their job:' I say. "It could be embarrassing for her."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Talia. The suicide, all the controversy, you know. It w‐ic pleasant."

    4 "I suppose."

    "Has she offered to give you any help?"

    ""What?"

    "Talia. Has she offered to help you get back in vjpil firm?"

    I am psychical ly coldcocked. But I do not slammer. the farce to its conclusion, almost as a reflex. "What llpir.‐t think I want to go back to the firm? Why would she viwil'"' involved?"

    Nikki turns from the sink and gives me a look, a MST dogshit?"
    expression. She knows about Talia and me. It' in the smirk that envelops her mouth. I am certain that : has crept across my face. it pains me that she may know only half rrqi; ",A I are no longer an item. IBUT I can't bring myself to say it. i take no chances. I avoid confrontation on the point. I . I biting sarcasm. "Well, we'd better be hitting the road." I have suddenly lost I‐MAD my desire ‐‐ 5 Sarah off her feet and balance her on MY shoulder‐ "Be careful of her." last‐minute
    "What?" I
    turn to look at Nikki, waiting for some motherly admonition. She has dropped the sponge into the sink and now stands staring directly at me.
    "watch yourself. She's not to be trusted!

    I mahze that Nikki ‐morning sojourns to the park with MY daughter do My Saturday ‐ the ladder and down the slide I one of many luxuries now gone, 1.4, lv@ SUPPOI L W or six trips up and rmflutes on the swings, fiv and then It S LV I usher Sarah out Of the playground and close the Cyclone gate to keep the other little inmates from escaping. As I turn, I see her. "Damn it."

    Sarah's wandered off the concrete and is up to her ankles in ;pawned by a leaking sprinkler head. mud, an adventure S I 1@t. I Our . r, Her legs and lower torso am a thousand points of mud, courtesy of the hydraulics of two stamping little feet. '@‐I told you once, Madriani, a long time ago, a little sow, light, a little less heat. You'll live longer."

    It's a voice from the past, lost in the tangle of a tow t I crane my neck. There, behind the plant, I see a ghos sea 14 a bench; he has a familiar smile, but the face is pale d "'1; Marginally recognizable, Sam Jennings, the man ww hire a dozen years ago to be a prosecutor in this county, s me, a twinkle in his eye. He rises from the bench. "Good to see you again, Paul. Yours?" He nods toward
    "Yes. Her condition by now
    is hopeless. She has smeared the oiv" on her upper legs with her hands.
    "How old?" he asks. "And a half," Sarah chimes in, holding up three fingers. Jennings laughs. He stoops low to look her in the eyes. "I ‐c:@
    had little girls just about your age."

    Sarah is all round eyes. "What happened to diemt' "They grew up."

    I've missed this man greatly since leaving his fold and a L@ Potter, Skarpellos. I have on more than one occasion since "@ ouster from the firm considered calling him, but have 16"MTF better of delivering my problems to the doorstep of a sick When he called to ask me to attend Danley's execution in place, I knew how ill he really was. Sun isn't the kind to people to do something he's unwilling to do himself His skin has the pallor of paraffin. Radiation and the vvv of chemistry have taken their toll. I tower over this man vj=@ once my equal in physical stature. He is stooped and like straw following a rainstorm. A condition, I suspect ‐i4ortr*' not so much by the cancer that invades his body as 7 clinical horrors that pass for a cure. It is, by all i@@ a losing