Freeman looked cautiously over his shoulder. “I haven’t told them yet, so keep it to yourself, but it’s time I went into practice on my own. Criminal law has never been important at Crawford—for years I’ve known I should cut the ties—but there are so many perks in a big firm that I just coasted along. Now the firm is growing so fast and so far away from the work I think is important, it just seems to be time to go. I’ll notify you officially—notify all my clients—when I’m actually on my own.”

A few clumps of people stood around talking, not wishing to head into the melee below. Freeman kept looking at them to make sure he couldn’t be overheard and finally changed the subject abruptly.

“My daughter’s here someplace, along with her boyfriend. I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.”

“Yeah, I was wondering the same about the couple I came with. They’re not very tall—I’ll never find them if I head into the scrimmage.

“I wondered what brought Dick here. I’d have put refugees down near the bottom of the list of people he’d shell out for, kind of near women with AIDS. But if the firm is pushing Chicago Settlement I suppose he’s out in front leading the cheers.”

Freeman smiled. “I’m not going to comment on that one, Warshawski. He and I are still partners, after all.”

“He’s not the one bringing in the business you don’t like, is he?”

“Don’t sound so hopeful. Dick’s done a lot to revitalize Crawford, Mead.” He held up a hand. “I know you hate the kind of law he practices. I know you love driving a beater and sneering at his German sports cars—”

“I no longer drive a beater,” I said with dignity. “I have an ’89 Trans Am whose body still gleams despite my having to keep it on the street instead of in a six-car garage in Oak Brook.”

“Believe it or not, there are days when Dick wonders if he made a mistake—if you’re doing things the right way, not him.”

“I know you haven’t been drinking, because I can’t smell it on your breath—so it must be something you put up your nose.”

Freeman smiled. “It doesn’t happen often, but the guy did think enough about you to marry you once.”