"Yeah. Should be here in about ten minutes, I'd guess. He's going to need something substantive from you, though, Andrew."

"Oh, hell get it." The man sighed. "And I've found out more since I talked to you last. I'll tell you, Joseph, I'm heartsick about what's happening up in Canton Falls. And it's been going on, right under my nose, for a year or so. That story Grady kept harping on—about killing those troopers? I thought it was nonsense. But, nope, there were some folk actually planning that."

"You have names?"

Constable said, "You bet I have names. Friends of mine. Good friends. Used to be, at least. That lunch at the Riverside Inn? Some of them did hire that man Weir to kill Grady. I've got names, dates, places, phone numbers. And there's more coming. There're a lot of Patriots're going to cooperate to the hilt. Don't worry."

"Good," Roth said, looking relieved. "Grady'll be tough to deal with at first. That's his style. But I think things're going to work out."

"Thanks, Joe." Constable sized up his attorney. "I'm glad I hired you."

"I have to tell you, Andrew, I was little surprised at first, you hiring a lawyer that was Jewish. You know, with what I heard about you."

"But then you got to know me."

"Then I got to know you."

"That reminds me, Joe, I've been meaning to ask. When's Passover?"

"What?"

"That holiday of yours. When is it?"

"About a month ago. Remember that night I left early?"

"Right." He nodded. "What's it mean, 'Passover'?"

"When the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed, God 'passed over' the Jews' houses. He spared their sons."

"Oh. I thought it meant like you passed over a border to safety or something. Like the Red Sea."

Roth laughed. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Anyway. Sorry I didn't wish you a happy holiday."

"I appreciate that, Andrew." Then he looked into the man's eyes. "If things work out the way I'm hoping they will, maybe you and your wife could come to our Seder next year. That's a dinner, a celebration. We have about fifteen people. They're not all Jewish. It's a good time."

"You can consider that invitation accepted." The men shook hands. "All the more incentive to get me out of here. So let's get to work. Tell me about the charges again and what you think we can get Grady to agree to." Constable stretched.

Felt good to have his hands in front of him and the shackles off his ankles. He felt so good, in fact, that he actually found it amusing to hear his lawyer recite the laundry list of reasons why the people of the state of New York found him unfit for social relations. This monologue was interrupted, though, a moment later when the guard came to the door. He motioned Roth outside.