“When we’re a little further out from your whole just-got-out-of-jail thing, I should probably tell you about my session today,” I mention.
“Oh yeah, how’d that go?” she asks, resting her head against my shoulder.
I close my eyes a moment and shake my head. “It was interesting,” I answer. “One thing at a time, though. What do you want to do?”
“They’re leaving the country,” she says. “I’m not going with them, so that probably means I should try to find my own lawyer. They didn’t say anything, but I get the feeling their guy isn’t really going to do his best work for me.”
“Okay,” I tell her.
“They’re just going to get into the same stuff when they’re in South America, though,” she says.
I can’t help but laugh a little.
Ash pulls away enough to look into my eyes, but she doesn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “It’s just a little strange to hear someone say that and know they’re not joking. It’s the sort of thing people talk about in mafia flicks.”
“I guess,” she says, resting her head back against my shoulder. “I just know they’re going to try something stupid while they’re down there and they’re not going to be able to play the system the way they can here. I’m starting to think the best thing to do for them is to rat them out.”
“Why did you agree to go out with me that first time?” I blurt.
“What?” she asks, pulling away again. “Where did that come from?”
“Nowhere,” I answer honestly. “I don’t know. It’s just something that’s been on my mind for a while. Even before I got to know you, it was pretty clear you weren’t the type that’s into fighting and when we first met I wasn’t exactly in a position to make a great impression. We don’t have to talk about this right now.” He repeats, “It’s just something that’s been on my mind.”
“At first I was just screwing with Jana,” Ash says. “Then you were kind of charming and I thought that was rather off-putting, if we’re being honest here. After that, I don’t know. It just seemed like there was more to you than the troglodyte you looked like.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’ll take it as a compliment,” I tell her.
“We’ve really got to get you a dictionary,” she says. With that, she lets her arms drop and we release the embrace. “I’ve got to make a phone call,” she says.
“Who are you calling?” I ask.
She already has her phone out, and she doesn’t look up at me when she says, “I’m calling the police. I don’t know if they’re actually planning on scapegoating me or not, but I’m not going to take the chance.”
“Okay,” I tell her. “Do what you think is right.”
She puts the phone to her ear and I get an idea.
I may not know anyone as high up on the legal food chain as Ash’s parents have, but I do know a guy. Okay, so he’s not really the kind of lawyer I’d hire if I knew anyone else, but he did help a few club owners get out of charges for holding our matches in their buildings.
That was back when we didn’t have to look so hard for a place to fight. Come to think of it, I’m not sure the guy’s still around, but the number’s still in my phone.
I press call.
“Yes, I have information about an investigation currently underway regarding Chuck Butcher and Gertrude Shecklemeyer,” Ash says into her phone.
I’m about to ask her who Gertrude Shecklemeyer is when my own call is answered.
“You’ve reached the offices of Blake T. Millhouse and Associates,” a man’s voice says. “Millhouse speaking; what kind of mess did you get into this time?”
“Mr. Millhouse,” I say. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Oh, sorry,” he says. “I get a lot of repeat business you know, so I guess I just assume… Anyway, how can I help you?”
I give him the basic idea and, by the time Ash is done with her phone call, he’s ready to talk to her.
“Who is it?” she asks as I hand her the phone.