Accustomed as he was to scrambling up slopes in the Rockies, Henry Charon didn’t even draw a deep breath as he climbed to the top of the narrow ridgeline and paused to examine his surroundings.
Just before dusk he found it. He was exploring along the foot of an outcropping from the formation that formed the rock of the ridge. A gap in the rock led into a small eltered cave, more of an overhang, really. A large boulder red most of the opening. In the gloom he could see several pop cans and cigarette butts. The dirt of the floor was packed hard, no doubt from the feet of teenagers or derelicts. Many footprints and shoe marks. This place would do nicely, if he ever needed it.
He examined the place carefully, paying particular attention to the cracks and crevices that rose off to one side. He pulled some loose rock from one. Yes, he could put a gun and some other supplies in there and pile the rock back in, just in case.
Henry Charon left the cave and paused outside to examine the setting again. He was sure he could find it again. After a last look around in all directions, Henry Charon set off down the hillside.
About a half hour later Thanos Liarakos arrived at his home in Edgemoor and parked the Jag in the garage.
His wife, Elizabeth, was in the kitchen putting the finishing tilde touches on the canapds. The guests were supposed to arrive at seven. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as he poured himself a drink. “How’d it go today?”
“You wouldn’t believe it. The man is certifiably insane. At the press conference he claimed he was the devil.”
She looked at him to see if he was kidding. “An insanity defense?”
“I suggested it, and he didn’t say anything one way or the other, until I mentioned the psychiatrists and psychologists, then he just said no. That’s it, one word. ‘ationo.” End of discussion.”
“Your mother called this afternoon.” Elizabeth had her back to him and was spreading cream cheese on the celery.
“Umph.” Elizabeth’s birthday had been last week. She had just turned thirty-nine. As he stared at her trim waistline and the way her buttocks shaped her dress, Liamkos decided she could pass for ten years younger.
“She just heard on the news that you’re representing Aldana.”
“OH.”
“And she was unhappy.”
“She had a fit. Wanted to know how you could defend scum like that. ‘All those years … my little boy … no honor.” It wasn’t a pleasant conversation.”
Liarakos turned his attention to the backyard. They had almost an acre here. The hired man had raked the leaves three times this fall but at least a bushel had collected on the top of the pool cover and in the hot tub. He would have to clean up the leaves again when he had time.
“I told her,” Elizabeth was saying, “that every man is entitled to a defense, but you know her.”
“Yeah.”
“I tried to be nice to her, Thanos, I really did. But I am so sick of hearing her whine and bitch. Honest to God, I have completely had it with her ethics lectures.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t you explain it to her one more time?” She turned to face him. “It’s not fair that I have to be the.one who keeps explaining the Constitution and the American legal system to her. When she starts that how-can-myThanos-do-this crap, I just cringe. She doesn’t listen, she won’t listen.”
“I’ll talk to her again.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, promise.” She turned back to the celery. “Where are the girls?” he asked.
“Upstairs. They’re going to be doing homework while the guests are here. And I bought them a new CD today. They’re listening to that for the eleventh time.”
Liarakos wandered into the living room. Elizabeth had the crystal out, the wine open, and the cheeses and crackers already arranged on the white damask tablecloth. At least she understood what he did professionally. She had been a new associate, a Harvard Law grad, when they started dating. Six months later they spent
Just before dusk he found it. He was exploring along the foot of an outcropping from the formation that formed the rock of the ridge. A gap in the rock led into a small eltered cave, more of an overhang, really. A large boulder red most of the opening. In the gloom he could see several pop cans and cigarette butts. The dirt of the floor was packed hard, no doubt from the feet of teenagers or derelicts. Many footprints and shoe marks. This place would do nicely, if he ever needed it.
He examined the place carefully, paying particular attention to the cracks and crevices that rose off to one side. He pulled some loose rock from one. Yes, he could put a gun and some other supplies in there and pile the rock back in, just in case.
Henry Charon left the cave and paused outside to examine the setting again. He was sure he could find it again. After a last look around in all directions, Henry Charon set off down the hillside.
About a half hour later Thanos Liarakos arrived at his home in Edgemoor and parked the Jag in the garage.
His wife, Elizabeth, was in the kitchen putting the finishing tilde touches on the canapds. The guests were supposed to arrive at seven. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as he poured himself a drink. “How’d it go today?”
“You wouldn’t believe it. The man is certifiably insane. At the press conference he claimed he was the devil.”
She looked at him to see if he was kidding. “An insanity defense?”
“I suggested it, and he didn’t say anything one way or the other, until I mentioned the psychiatrists and psychologists, then he just said no. That’s it, one word. ‘ationo.” End of discussion.”
“Your mother called this afternoon.” Elizabeth had her back to him and was spreading cream cheese on the celery.
“Umph.” Elizabeth’s birthday had been last week. She had just turned thirty-nine. As he stared at her trim waistline and the way her buttocks shaped her dress, Liamkos decided she could pass for ten years younger.
“She just heard on the news that you’re representing Aldana.”
“OH.”
“And she was unhappy.”
“She had a fit. Wanted to know how you could defend scum like that. ‘All those years … my little boy … no honor.” It wasn’t a pleasant conversation.”
Liarakos turned his attention to the backyard. They had almost an acre here. The hired man had raked the leaves three times this fall but at least a bushel had collected on the top of the pool cover and in the hot tub. He would have to clean up the leaves again when he had time.
“I told her,” Elizabeth was saying, “that every man is entitled to a defense, but you know her.”
“Yeah.”
“I tried to be nice to her, Thanos, I really did. But I am so sick of hearing her whine and bitch. Honest to God, I have completely had it with her ethics lectures.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t you explain it to her one more time?” She turned to face him. “It’s not fair that I have to be the.one who keeps explaining the Constitution and the American legal system to her. When she starts that how-can-myThanos-do-this crap, I just cringe. She doesn’t listen, she won’t listen.”
“I’ll talk to her again.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, promise.” She turned back to the celery. “Where are the girls?” he asked.
“Upstairs. They’re going to be doing homework while the guests are here. And I bought them a new CD today. They’re listening to that for the eleventh time.”
Liarakos wandered into the living room. Elizabeth had the crystal out, the wine open, and the cheeses and crackers already arranged on the white damask tablecloth. At least she understood what he did professionally. She had been a new associate, a Harvard Law grad, when they started dating. Six months later they spent
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