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“Sam? Are you there?”

“Yes, Linda Uhwhat kind of legal matter?”

“I’d like to take some time to explain it, maybe over lunch or dinner? I’ll pay, of course”

Must be acase I decided to hear Linda out Besides, it had been ages since we’d seen each other, and as I to object to a free meal?

“Well, there’s room on my calendar tomorrow to e to squeeze you in, old friend

“Great! Why don’t we e Park Airport Eleven-thirty, say? Can’t wait to see you”

We hung up, and I thought, I can’t wait to see you, too I thought briefly of an old line another lawyer used to say: “Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly” I felt chilly, despite the day’s warmth; then, the chill passed

At eleven-thirty on the dot I walked into the restaurant, housed in a pseudo-French farmhouse circa World War I, and was escorted to a table next to a big picture here the waiter reoblet with a flourish and poured ht The place had a loooden ceiling with thick parallel beams and a brick fireplace in the corner

I vaguely recalled seeing a show on the History Channel about bo World War I as a defense against the Ger steps to tunnel down and recover the off accidentally Possibly due to lightning strikes

I sat in my solid wooden chair and ad the brass pots and pans hanging near the fireplace and the ed out a recorded ragtiround Each table was adorned with a pristine white tablecloth draped over a red one and full place settings arranged around a candle flickering in a cut glass holder, in hopeful anticipation that soht sit there No threat of the Kaiser, no boly decorated eatery None that we knew of

I shifted in id, so I tried s oofy, so I stopped My mouth was dry, so I sipped my water One sip of water didn’t quench my thirst, so I took another My mouth still felt dry Why was I so nervous?

I looked around again at the tables, all neatly set, waiting for customers So far, the only takers were roup of fourabout sales figures and laughing too loudly at each other’s jokes I turned away to gaze out the , guzzled water, and watched a Cessnafield

Linda cah the rooazelle and the self-assurance of a woman on a mission A smile broadened across her pale, freckled face, and her wavy red hair flowed back as if blown by a secret wind The air seeht soed

“Sa”

“Feels like aher tardiness and lack of explanation “You ith the US Fish & Wildlife Service the last time we spoke”