“We are. But maybe there could be more exchanges in our future.”

“Let’s see how this goes first.”

She hadn’t said no, and he had not had to remove his foot from his mouth. The arrival of their lunch entrées gave him a chance to regroup. Ted had the pho bo. It was good, and he thought it would be a complement to the bun cha if Kenzie wanted to try it. She did.

“That’s great,” she said.

“Want to swap?”

“Not a chance.”

They both dug in. Moans of gustatory enthusiasm ensued. Ted flagged a waiter and asked for two more 333s. An ice-cold beer with the beef and broth was heaven. If they never got around to discussing surplus money, crooked politicians, or Russian mobsters, he would be a happy man. He managed to smother his disappointment when Kenzie finally asked, “So. The Russians?”

He took a moment to organize his thoughts. Best to start with the basics.

“Do you know what it is that I do?” he asked. “How I make my money?”

“Something with foreclosures. Basically, you’re a carrion feeder. Am I right? Maybe not a vulture, but . . .”

“Thank you. I prefer to think of myself as a rogue lion. Hunting without benefit of belonging to a pride but strong, wily, and powerful.”

“Or a coyote—slinking along, playing mean tricks, and getting by on a diet of mice and kittens.”

“Okay.” He knew that she was teasing, but he wanted her good opinion, and if that meant explaining himself, so be it. “But a noble coyote with ethics. There are hundreds of reasons why people walk away from a piece of property, leaving money on the table. I’m merely trying to reunite those people with what is rightfully theirs. Clients are generally very happy to get a little of their money back.”

“This time it’s not little, though. That’s the rumor at any rate.”

“I don’t normally get involved in cases like this one. It’s too big, too complicated, and there are already too many lawyers involved. For the same reason, I avoid anything to do with divorce. But as everyone I meet has told me to stay away from this one, I have become interested. So, I keep digging.” And he would continue, despite the Judge’s warning.

An overly efficient busboy whisked all the dishes off the table. Ted would have appreciated another minute or two to gaze at the remains. He asked for a glass of seltzer, and Kenzie ordered a coffee before continuing. She was dogged.

“What do the Russians have to do with what you’re working on?”