65 Chapter 65

Two minutes. Is that too much to ask?

* * * *

He’s been in the conference room before but it looks different now, imposing, without the white deli paper and hoagies spread out across the dark mahogany table in the center of the room. The only papers on the table today are a few legal-sized sheets and some folders stacked at one end. Lewis is seated in front of these documents. Trace and Mike sit along one side of the table and Adam’s about to sit with them when Paul touches the small of his back, guiding him to a chair beside Lewis. “Here,” he whispers.

Adam sits down gratefully. At least Paul touched him. At least he said something, even if it was just, “Here.”

Lewis hands him a sheet of paper. “What’s this?” Adam asks, suddenly distrustful. He looks up at Paul, who leans on the table between them.

“If you’d give me a chance to talk,” Lewis says with a sigh. “Paul—”

“Adam,” Paul tells him, “just listen, okay?”