I walked toward him past a long rectangle of bright green grass so perfectly manicured it must have been cut by hand with scissors. He held a glass in his hand, and he reached for a bottle and poured another glass of the same and held it out to me. “Celebrate with me.”

I accepted the glass. “We’re celebrating the judge’s ruling in Northstar?”

“Yep, and it’s all thanks to you.”

“There won’t be much to celebrate, though,” I said, “if you go back empty-handed after sixty days of discovery.”

“Oh, we’ll find something.” He grinned. “Did Phoebe get you squared away?”

I nodded. “She was very kind. And you are very generous. Too generous.”

He clinked his glass against mine. “Here’s to freedom,” he toasted.

“But it isn’t, is it? Free.”

He shook his head with a sad smile. “You’ve been working the defense side too long. You’ve forgotten that there are lawyers who are motivated by anything other than greed. Who do the right thing just because it’s the right thing.”

I laughed in his face.

His smile turned into a wry grin. “Not buying it, huh?”

“Not for a second. The plaintiffs’ bar is in it for the money just as much as the defense bar. The only difference is the defense side is risk-averse. While your side is willing to gamble.”

“Oh?” Another gust of wind blew across the rooftop and tossed his hair in a whirl. It was all his, I could see, and thick and silver. “And what am I gambling here?”

“You’re gambling that I’ll be so grateful for all your help that I’ll help you out, too. With the Palmer case.”

“I already told you—”

“I know. I didn’t believe it then, either.”

He regarded me over the rim of his glass as he took a slow swallow. I lifted my own glass and drank. It was a bold red wine, full and dense in my mouth.

“Let’s say you’re right,” he said. “Maybe that is my hope. But it’s only a hope. It’s not my price. Please understand that.”

“Then what is your price?”

“Come work for me.”

I let out a startled laugh.

“I mean it. Join us. You’re still licensed to practice. I checked.”

“Did you check the criminal docket? Because you might have noticed that I’ll soon be on trial for murder.”

“Yes, speaking of that—are you happy with your lawyer?”

I scoffed. “No.”

“Then let’s substitute new counsel. My treat.”

“I heard there was a GoFundMe?”

He waved a dismissive hand. “Only fifty thousand. Consider that your mad money. It’s not enough for a real defense. What do you think of Bill Centrello?”

“The preeminent criminal defense lawyer in the country? No, thanks.”

Ivins cocked his head. “Okay, explain that to me.”

“Apart from the expense? Which would put me in your debt for the rest of my life?” He started to protest, but I spoke over him. “Because I want to steer my own boat. Somebody like Centrello would never allow it.”