“Those people” were in the mosaic of color made out by the tents of Camp Lincoln—and past that, the green acres of Tripto Labs’ flagship farm. Donny had seen it up close. But from this vantage, you could see that it took up more space than the airport.

“Your clients, I take it,” said Lecker.

“Most of those cases were dropped after the uprising,” said Donny, taking his chair. “But what happened there and on the farms is what has me here in Dallas.”

“You mean the AMR case?”

“That’s the one,” said Donny.

“You know we used to work with that company,” said Lecker. “They were our security contractor.”

“I know all about that,” said Donny. “And there are some Tripto execs with dirty hands too. But if you’re on the board I guess we shouldn’t talk about that. Not without your own lawyer present.”

“You never struck me as the sort who lets the ethics rules get in your way.”

“Said the guy getting rich off refugee labor.”

“The international relief orgs manage the labor now,” said Lecker. “And we pay a fair wage.”

“And the uppity ‘workers’ have stopped disappearing in the cornfields.”

“Accidents do happen. But you’re right, there were excesses in the effort to save the country. Which is why we ended up on the same side in the end.”

“Better late than never,” said Donny.

Lecker laughed. “You have your father’s odd sense of humor too.” He had peeled the orange, and offered half to Donny.

“I’m sure he kept his executioners chuckling right up until they flipped the switch,” said Donny.

“Well, he stuck to his principles, which is more than I can say for many of those who capitulated to the administration as its leadership became unmoored from the principles we put them in there to uphold, and forgot its loyalties to its original supporters. I’m glad to have known him.”

Donny savored the first slice of the orange. It tasted good.

“He was an asshole,” said Donny. “But nobody deserves to die for that. Or for being born rich.”

“Some of your clients disagree.”

“True, but they’ll listen to me. I can get them to free Heather, with your backing.”

“So Lou told me. And the answer is of course we all want her freed from those lunatics.”

“You can help make that happen, Dr. Lecker. Just give me some realistic parameters to work out a deal.”

“Are you asking me for money, Donny?”

“No. The people holding your ward are asking for money. And you and I both know they have a legitimate case. Even if you don’t concede that they have jurisdiction.”

“I don’t concede anything,” said Dr. Lecker. “Especially not to those communists.”

Donny noticed the scorch sanded into the wood of the table at which they sat. Redwood, singed with the badge of the unique method of timber harvesting Heather’s family business had developed.