5 Chapter 5

“Why?”

“Because when we get together we act like two recalcitrant school boys, you know I’m right.”

Rowan thought a moment. “I’ll have to get back at you another time. I’m temporarily out of zingers.”

“God forbid.”

“Yeah, God forbid. I’ll get back to you and tell you how it goes.” Rowan got out Olivia’s number.

“Get the house cleaned before he comes.”

“You bastard,” Rowan said without heat.

“Nope, just know you too well, everything in its place under an inch of dust.” Rowan traced his name on the table. “Don’t fuck this up.”

“I’m hanging up now.” Rowan put down the phone and shook his head. That was always the problem, Marty knew him too well.

* * * *

Thursday

On Thursday, Chase waited for the inevitable phone call from his mother. Her driving lesson ended at two and it was two fifteen. He sat on the couch reading Sports Illustrated, with his cell on the coffee table waiting for it to ring. Aha, there is the phone now.