“I can hardly wait. Incidentally, it’s not broken.”

“What isn’t?”

“My hand. Where is he?”

“In the sunroom.”

She looked tense and wooden, the look I remembered from when I’d come to Cade’s that first time, every southern gentleman’s notion of the perfect son-in-law, an Irish Catholic northerner, and broke at that. The pinstripe I’d worn on the flight down was my only suit and I was somehow sure that Cade would know that. He rose from the living-room couch to shake my hand, conveying ease and power in a cardigan sweater. I began feeling like a dress-up doll with sweat glands. Kris Ann stood to one side, watchful and unnaturally quiet.

“That’s a long trip,” Cade had smiled. “Would you like a drink?”

“Yes, thanks. Any kind of whiskey.”

“Good.” He brought two bourbons. We sat at opposite corners of a couch set in front of a Chinese wall hanging and surrounded by antiques I admired for a moment. When I glanced back to the room Kris Ann had disappeared.

“It’s good to finally meet you,” Cade was saying.

“And you, too, sir.” I flinched inwardly at the sound of “sir,” waiting for him to wave it away. He didn’t.

“You’ve done quite well in law school. I’m impressed.”

“Krissy’s biased.”

Cade scowled as if he didn’t like the sound of “Krissy.” “I happen to know she’s right. You’re fifth in your class and on law review.” He saw my puzzlement. “The Dean’s an old classmate,” he explained. “I hope you don’t mind.” He sounded quite sure I wouldn’t, or wouldn’t say so.

I shrugged. “I guess I’d mind more if I were bottom quarter.”

“A good answer. With those grades you can write your own ticket. It all depends on what you want.”

Late sunlight through his window warmed the rich colors of the rug and suffused Cade’s bookshelves with a kind of glow. It seemed a good room to discuss good futures. “The justice department has an honors program, in its antitrust division.” Whiskey warmed me to the subject. “Antitrust is a growing field, and the government gives you more responsibility, earlier. I think I’ve got a pretty fair shot.”

Cade balanced his glass in both hands. “Justice is a useful connection,” he said judiciously. “But I’ve seen government ruin young lawyers through lack of training.” He paused, then said abruptly, “Adam, I’d like you to visit our firm. I can set up appointments tomorrow, if you’d like.”