“Do you trusthim?”
“Of course I do!” He grabbed plates of food from the table and moved them over to the island. “I’ve known him for decades. I’d trust him with my life. What kind of question isthat?”
“Thing is, Drew, you’re a smart guy. A problem solver. You’re good at it, which is why you’re an excellent attorney… and a much better friend than I gave you credit for the first time we met in that hotelbar.”
Drew snorted, thinking back to their disastrous first meeting, and Cortgrinned.
“The only problem is, you’re busy trying to make things the way theyshouldbe for everyone you care about, and sometimes that makes it hard to hear when people tell you how things reallyare.”
Drew dropped a plate of muffins on the island with a clatter. “Pretty sure you’re trying to tell me I’m a controlfreak.”
“But in the nicest possibleway.”
“Huh.” Drew leaned his hands on the edge of the sink and watched as his fingertips went white. “Don’t feel so in control these days,Kendrick.”
“And maybe that’s a good thing,” Cort shocked him by saying. “Dude, make some time to meet with him. Soon. Like,tomorrow. Let him talk, and when he does? Listen. Believehim.”
Believe him. Trusthim.
Drew shook his head. “That sounds deceptivelyeasy.”
“No way. Listeningiseasy. But believing?” He grinned. “Some of us have harder heads than the rest of the world, McMann. Takes a little longer for shit to penetrate. But if I can get there, youcan.”
From outside, a car horn sounded, and Cort chuckled. “Jesus, first I’m giving advice, now I’m stuck withthatonefor theevening.”
“And you’re letting him drive.” Drew shook his head. “Is your health insurancegood?”
“I’m winning all the karma points today.” Cort clapped his hands together once. “Anyway, you be carefultonight.”
“I will,” Drew promised. “It’s honestly not going to be a late night, I can tell you already. I just felt like I needed to… Well.” He didn’t need to explain himself to Cort. The man he owed an explanation was currently in the driveway, impatiently tapping outShave and a Haircuton his carhorn.
“I’m going to West Kitchen,” Drew said quickly. “At seven-thirty. I’m meeting a man named Mark Charbonnier. And I’ll have my cell. Call if you needme.”
“See? Smart guy,” Cort said with a wink. He strolled out the door toward Sebastian, leaving Drew to contemplate a date with a man he didn’t want, and a reckoning with the man hedid.
