The waitress came and I ordered a burger. Froehmer didn’t want anything, which made me think I shouldn’t have ordered. He knew what he was doing, I thought; and I didn’t have a clue.

“Your father said you had a question.”

“I could use some help,” I said. “My girlfriend had a kid about a year ago, you know. Now she’s with somebody else, somebody I don’t want around the kid, so I’m wondering what that would take. You know, to keep the guy away from my kid?”

“Who’s the guy?”

“I don’t know him.”

“You know a name.”

“I don’t even know what he looks like,” I said. “I’ve never seen him. But I know he’s no good. No good for the kid, no good for anybody.”

“Cause he’s with your girlfriend?”

“It’s not that,” I said. “I don’t care about the ex. I care about my kid. The guys got a drug problem. I don’t want him around the kid.”

“They sure drop the net over you, don’t they?” Froehmer said. “How about the ex? She using?”

“I think so, but not like him.”

“What have you done about it?”

“I got that restraining order over me.”

“That’s what your dad said.”

“He’s not happy about it.”

“Are you?”

I shrugged. “I should have called you first.”

“It would have been cheaper, in the long run.”

“What do you think it will take?”

“You want him moved off, or just moved back?”

“Back, I guess. I don’t care what she does. How much?”

“More than you’ll want, but I’ll have to talk to some people. We’ll look into it.”

“Somebody said he’s got a reputation as a hard-ass or something. He won’t be easy.”

Froehmer shrugged. “You never know. We’ll see how it goes.”

The waitress came and put down a plate with a hamburger and a large pile of fries and a bright green spear of pickle.

“How’s work?”

I laughed and then regretted it. “I haven’t worked in almost six months. Nobody’s building, so nobody’s hiring.”

“You want to work?”

“That would be great, if it’s no trouble.”

Froehmer looked at my plate and nodded. “I’ll talk to some people.”

“My dad says you could talk Christ off the cross.”

“I’m not sure that would do anyone any good.”

“What happens now?”

“I talk to some people, then they talk to some people, then they talk to me and I talk to you.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“And it will cost me.”

“I’ll let you know. It’s going to be fair, but I’ll let you know. You don’t have to do anything.”

“I want it done, but I’m not working and all.”

“Okay.”

“You can’t give me an idea now?”