“Where the hell have you been?” Sara asked.

“Stuck in traffic.” Jared sat down at the table. “Is everything okay?”

“No, everything’s not okay.”

Jared touched Sara’s arm. “Tell me what’s-”

“I just don’t understand why you agreed to take the case – especially when you know my job is riding on it. I mean, you’re the one with the big firm job, and all I have is this-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jared interrupted. “Slow down a second. What case are you talking about?”

“My burglary case. Why’d you agree to take the other side?”

“Take the other side? I don’t know what you’re-”

“The Kozlow case. I just got your counsel notice.”

“Wait a minute,” Jared said. “That’s your case? You have Tony Kozlow’s case?”

“I told you that last night.”

“You never told me his name. You just said it was a burglary.”

“Well, didn’t you think it was odd when you got your own burglary today?”

“He didn’t say it was a burglary – all he said was it was a minor felony. And that they’d send me the file later.”

“What about the notice-of-counsel memo?”

“All we had was the docket number of the case. Kathleen typed up the memo and faxed it over to the DA’s office. They match up the number and forward it to the prosecutor. I swear, honey, I’d never do that to you on purpose.”

“So you’ll drop the case.”

“What?” Jared asked.

“I’m serious. Are you going to drop the case?”

“Why should I drop it?” Jared moaned. “This is a new client. It’s a big deal for me.”

“Jared, for you, it’s a client. For me-”

“No – you’re right. This is your job. You were there first. I’ll step down.”

“You will?” Sara asked.

He paused. “Of course I will.” Growing more confident, he added, “For you.”

Sara put her hand on one of his. “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown. I know how much-”

“Sara, you don’t have to say anything.”

“Yes, I do. And I want you to know that I’m sorry for putting you in this position. It’s just that this whole new job thing is reminding me of the-”

“The law firm was an isolated incident, and you shouldn’t judge yourself by it. No one’s supposed to make partner in a New York firm. It’s not expected.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I’m trying my best to beat the odds. And to cheer up my wife.”

“Well, you’re doing a pretty good job,” Sara said. Circling the top of her water glass with a finger, she added, “Let me ask you this: If we did have to face off against each other, who do you think would win?”

“You would,” Jared said with a smug smile.

Sara laughed. “You’re so full of yourself, y’know that?”

“What’d I say?”

“You don’t have to say anything. I can read you like a-”

“Like a coloring book?”

“Don’t play games, Lynch. I’m warning you.”

“Then what do you want me to say? You asked me who would win. Do you want the truth or do you want to be lied to? I’ll do whatever makes you feel better.”

Sara laughed again. “Do you even realize how conceited you are sometimes?”

“Wait a minute. Are you calling me conceited?”

“No, I’m calling you deaf.” Raising her voice, she announced, “You are so conceited!”

Jared tried to avoid the stares of the restaurant customers. “You know I hate it when you do that.”

“That’s why you wouldn’t stand a chance. You’ve got too many buttons to push.”

“So that’s what you’d do? You’d bring the jury to a restaurant and yell like a maniac?”

“Whatever it takes. That’s my motto.”

“It’s a great motto, but it’s not going to get you far in court. Don’t forget, you’ve never even handled a criminal trial.”

“Sure, if you want to be formalistic. But we’re not talking about who knows more about the law. We’re talking about who would win the case. And if you’ve been paying attention, you’d know you wouldn’t have a chance against me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t?”

“No, you wouldn’t.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because while you may be Mr. Book-Smart Sophisticate, you have no idea how to fight.”

“And you do?”

“Boy, I’ve been whipping your ass for the past six years.”

Jared laughed out loud. “Is that another come-on?”

“I’m serious,” Sara said. “To win a fight, you have to know your opponent’s weaknesses. And I know all of yours”

“Name one.”

“You hate it when people say that everything’s been handed to you in life.”

Jared paused a moment. “Name another.”

“Oh, you’re so predictable.”

“Don’t pat yourself on the back so hard,” Jared said. “Now name another.”

“You don’t like seeing me hurt – which means you wouldn’t be effective in a fight against me.”

“Trust me, if I needed to, the kid gloves would come off.”

“You can’t stand it when everything isn’t perfect.”

“And you’re terrified of failure,” Jared countered. “Now let’s hear a real weakness.”

“You’re afraid of cats.”

“I’m not afraid of them. I just think they’re plotting against me.”

“When you were little, you read through an entire volume of encyclopedias.”

“Just the volumes J and Li to Lz. My initials.”

“You have a favorite columnist.”

“Most people do.”

Leaning into the table, Sara held up her pinkie and whispered, “Your penis – it’s teeny.”

“That is not funny,” Jared said, laughing. “Take it back.”

“Fine, fine, I take it back. But don’t tell me I don’t know how to push your buttons.”

“You definitely know how to push my buttons. But I can push yours just as well.”

“That’s why I don’t want to face you in court,” Sara said. “It’d be a bloodbath.”

“Well, lucky for both of us it’s not coming to that. I’m dropping the case as soon as I get back.”

“Glad to hear it,” Sara said. She reached across the table and took both of Jared’s hands in her own. “I just want you to know, I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“Sara, you don’t need me to look out for you. I only do it because I love the view.” He pulled her hands close and lightly kissed them. “I’d never do anything to hurt you,” he said. “Now let’s stop stressing about the case. For once, we’ve got the problem solved.”

When lunch was finished, Jared and Sara got up and stepped outside. The day was still pale gray and the clouds were again starting to hover. “More rain,” Sara said.

Jared nodded. “Do you want me to drop you off?”

“No, that’s the opposite direction for you. I can walk from here.”

He gave his wife a kiss good-bye and watched her head up the block. Sara had a slight bounce in her walk, and even though Jared loved to tease her about it, he also loved to watch her in motion. When she turned the corner, he stepped toward the cab that was stopped in front of the restaurant. As soon as he opened the door, he realized someone was already in the backseat. It was Kozlow.

“How’re you doing there, doc?” Kozlow asked. “Come on in.”

Jared hesitated a moment.

“Don’t worry,” Kozlow said. “It’s safe.”

Cautiously getting into the cab, Jared sat next to Kozlow. “What’s going on?” Jared asked. “What’re you doing here?”

“You’ll see.”

“What’re you talking about?” Jared asked as the driver pulled into traffic. “What do you-”

“Shut up already. We’ll be there soon enough.”

The cab pulled up to a landmark town house on East Fifty-eighth Street whose polished brass doorknobs and handrails sparkled even in the absence of sunlight. A uniformed attendant opened the door for Jared, who slowly stepped out of the cab. Kozlow didn’t follow. “You’re not coming?” Jared asked.

“Not my kind of place,” Kozlow said. “You’re on your own.” He slammed the door shut and the cab sped away.

“Mr. Lynch,” the attendant said. “This way, please.”

Jared hesitantly followed.

The attendant ushered Jared through a paneled hall with a magnificent antique mirror along one wall and down a broad, curving, carpeted stairway. Jared nervously ran his hand against the grain of his two o’clock shadow. Craning his neck in every direction, he tried his best to scout ahead. There were no other people in sight, but he was clearly in a club. At the foot of the stairs, a beautifully appointed bar stretched off to the left. Straight ahead was a large lounge decorated in an unusual mix of French antiques and African artifacts. Dark and intimidating, the room had wooden hand-painted tribal masks along the walls and clusters of wing chairs and Louis XV end tables. African music played softly from hidden speakers.