Free Twisted River by Siobhan MacDonald Page B

wondering how she was—that’s all.”
    They had finished their run and were doing cooldown stretches. Kids on skateboards were whizzing past.
    â€œShe’s good.” Oscar hesitated. “Yeah, Hazel’s good.”
    â€œSomething up, buddy?”
    â€œNothing’s up exactly. Just every so often Hazel gets an idea in her head, you know how it is. Sometimes she just doesn’t know when to let go.”
    â€œMan, tell me about it. Nancy’s on about both of us joining a salsa class. Doing more stuff together. Although, I hear there are some pretty hot women at those classes. Maybe . . .” He grinned lewdly.
    â€œJesus, Becker, you really do think with your dick!”
    â€œThat’s harsh. A bit harsh, buddy,” Harry said, feigning offense. “But hey, tell me, Oscar. What’s eating Hazel?”
    â€œIt’s no big deal. She’s just a bit unsettled at the moment, that’s all. Happens every so often. She’s talking a lot about going back to Ireland.”
    â€œAh, the lure of the old country.” Harry sagely rubbed his chin. “But she doesn’t have anyone there anymore, right? Her folks have passed—there’s no one left?”
    â€œNot really, there may be an elderly aunt here or there, but no blood relatives. I guess that can happen when you’re adopted. Hazel has this bee in her bonnet, for sure. Maybe we should go . . . the kids have never been. And I guess they should know their roots, right? Hell! I’ve never been either. But I’ve never really had any reason to go.”
    â€œWhy don’t you guys come over on the weekend, Saturday night? We can talk about it then. Nancy is always asking after Hazel. We’ll have some pasta and I have some of that really good California white that you like. What do you say?”
    â€œSounds good to me, Harry. But let me check Hazel’s schedulefirst.” He wasn’t sure if Hazel would buy it. “Maybe we can get Helen to sit the kids,” he added, as if he were giving it serious consideration.
    â€œGood. Good.” Harry seemed happy with this. “How is Helen these days?”
    â€œOh, you know, larger than life.” The “large” part was true. “Still single.”
    â€œAaah!” said Harry. “I love the smell of sibling rivalry in the evening.”
    Oscar grimaced. He wasn’t going to rise to the bait this time. “She’s a good aunt to the kids.”
    â€œShe has a big heart,” added Harry, with a glint in his eye.
    â€œYeah,
big
being the operative word.”
    â€œSee you Thursday, then. And don’t forget to run the weekend by Hazel. You can let me know Thursday.”
    â€œWill do. Oh, by the way—this guy you’re defending, the one accused of rogue trading. You never said. You think he did it?”
    Oscar knew that Harry trusted him. They’d kept many secrets over the years.
    â€œHell, yeah, buddy! I’ve never defended an innocent man yet. Why else would he have hired me?”
    Â â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢Â 
    According to Oscar’s Rolex, it was ten to eight when he entered the lobby of their apartment building. It had taken him longer than he thought to collect his BMW from its service at the garage. He got it serviced at this time every year, in preparation for the winter. But most of the time it stayed in the underground parking lot. The subway system was efficient and, contrary to the story Hazel told the kids, largely safe.
    â€œEvening, Mr. Harvey.”
    Du Bois was behind his desk catching a game on his portable TV. Maybe it was Oscar’s imagination but he thought the doorman had been a little cool with him lately.
    â€œAnd a very good evening to you too, Du Bois.”
    â€œMe and Mrs. Du Bois really enjoyed the show.”
    â€œThe show . . . ?”
    What was the man talking about?
    â€œThe tickets you and Mrs.