He put out his hand and we shook. When we shook, he squeezed my hand hard, so hard that it cut off the blood. More than one rock in the family. He said, “The agreement works both ways. Does the woman know that?”

“Yes.”

“Does her husband? The movie guy?” Peter Alan Nelsen, the movie guy.

“Yes. I’ll be responsible for them.”

He nodded. “That’s right. You will. For the rest of your life.”

He let go of my hand and I got out of the limousine and walked across the street. Joe Pike and I went back to the hotel, called Karen Lloyd at her bank, and told her what Vito DeLuca had said. We checked out that afternoon.

Chapter Forty-one

Forty-one

October moved into November, and three weeks later, on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, I was on my deck grilling salmon steaks and Japanese eggplant for Cindy, the beauty supply distributor, and Joe Pike and another woman named Ellen Lang. Ellen Lang had been a client once, several years ago, and since then she and Joe Pike have seen each other, time to time. She had a deep tan, and when she laughed there were dimples high on her cheeks. Laughter came easier to her now than in that earlier time.

Joe Pike and Cindy and Ellen Lang were inside, making salad and garlic bread and mint tea, when the phone rang. Someone inside answered it, and Ellen Lang came out and said, “There’s a call for you. It’s Peter Alan Nelsen. The director.”

I said, “Wow. Maybe this is my big break.”

She said, “Oh, you.”

Ellen stayed with the salmon and I went inside and took it in the kitchen. On the counter next to the sink, Pike sliced the long French bread and put it on a tray while Cindy watched him. Cindy had soft auburn hair and expressive brown eyes. I liked watching her watch Pike’s precise moves.

Peter said, “They’re coming out to visit.”

“Karen and Toby?”

“Yeah. He’s got a week off for Thanksgiving and I asked’m to come out.”

“Great.” I already knew, because Karen had called and told me.

“She doesn’t want him traveling alone, so she’s coming, too.”

“Even better.”

“She’s not coming by herself. She’s bringing some guy.” She had also told me that.

“She’s got a life, Peter. That’s a good thing. Why don’t you get a date and the four of you can go out one night. Leave Toby with me.”

“I know. I know.” He didn’t say anything for a little bit. “Listen, when they’re out, I’m gonna bring Toby to the set, take’m to Disneyland, that kind of thing. You think you could sorta be around some of the time? At first.”