“I think I got the singing from you,” Homer said. “I remember the violin case. Some musical talent. I guess not violin, specifically.”

“I sang before. It’s been a while since I did.”

“If you picked it up again, I’d lose the ability,” Homer said.

May nodded.

“It’s subtle,” he said.

“I’ve been really into putting all kinds of fun things up my nose and into my arm,” May said. “Is that from you?”

“I was never an addict. I used regularly, but I never had to,” Homer said. He paused. “I haven’t used in a while.”

“We each get what the others don’t want.”

“Seems like it. Or what we have in abundance.”

“I checked in on our third,” May said. “She’s serious now. Dedicated, disciplined. She doesn’t hate it either. I’m the opposite. She and I switched places.”

“I tried to reach out to her. She wasn’t interested. I don’t think she understood,” Homer said.

“That she’s not alone? It’s ironic, isn’t it? New school, new foster parents, moving away from friends, she’s lonely and she’s making up for it by jumping into the Ward thing, but if she stopped and listened…”

“The Ward thing is better than the mercenary thing,” Homer said. His voice took on a different tone, hollow. “I’ve stepped on toes.”

“I was thinking about going that way. I’ve burned through a hundred thou in an alarmingly short span of time.”

“If you do, step carefully. Find a mentor, find the people who are worth listening to. Once you step on toes, it can’t be undone.”

“You said you had a reason for reaching out.”

“The private investigator I hired said you needed cash. I’m not sure what will happen when things catch up with me, but… I hope you don’t keep getting pieces of me.”

They entered a tunnel beneath a bridge. Homer hit the ball, striking it sideways, so it ricocheted off floor, wall, ceiling, wall, then lighted onto the bat, stopping with only a slight bob from the bat to catch the momentum.

He did it again, harder, hitting the ball instead of catching it, to keep the speed going. The ball glittered and glimmered as it reached its peak speed.

They were out of the tunnel by the time it stopped, and Homer resumed dribbling it.

“You’re dying?”

“The kind of people who rise to power in New York aren’t the kinds of people you cross. When you get hired by someone, it’s your job to do the due diligence and make sure you aren’t digging yourself into shit with the wrong people. Gotta do it before you sign the deal, too.”

“You could run.”

Homer shook his head. “I’ll try. I’ll reach out to our third another time before I go. But… I wanted to look after you two. I got things from you, like the capacity to love, and satisfaction, and respect for other human beings. I owe you. So I’m going to set you up.”