Chapter 58 — You Learned an Important Lesson

_April 26, 1984, Chicago, Illinois_

{psc} "I might just have to modify my rule!" Natasha declared as we got into the shower on Thursday morning.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the extensive oral attention!"

"I cum so much easier from your tongue than fucking, and you had zero qualms of bringing me off with your tongue after you'd cum in me!"

"Is that really a problem?" I asked. "I mean for other guys?"

"Some guys," she replied. "But they also tend to be the ones who think them cumming is the end of it. My first boyfriend wasn't thrilled with kissing me after blowjobs, but he got over it pretty quickly, and I taught him how to pleasure me with his tongue. He did object at first, but I pointed out that if he came and I didn't, I was going to be VERY unhappy. He got the point!"

"Wise!"

"On Sunday, with me on top, I could get myself there, but it was more about you than me. Last night was about me! You acquitted yourself very well!"

"I aim to please," I replied. "It guarantees repeat customers!"

Natasha laughed, "Of that, I have no doubt!"

We finished our showers, dressed, and went downstairs. Natasha stayed for breakfast, and we left the condo together. We parted in the lobby, and I headed to the elevator to take me up to 32 for my meeting with Noel Spurgeon.

"What can I do for you, Kane?"

"MTB asked if we would waive the minimums for a few USFL players, including Steve Young. They offered the emolument of an introduction to J. William Oldenburg, who owns the LA Express and is a mortgage banker with a high net worth. I think we should do it, but I didn't commit to anything other than bringing it to your attention. Gordon did joke about Donald Trump, but all his money is tied up in real estate or the New Jersey Generals."

"He's too much of a loudmouth and too hands-on. He'd threaten to yank his money the minute we did something he didn't like, even if it was the right move. Anyway, can we use the names?"

"That was the implied offer, but I'll lock it down if you agree to waive the minimums."

"How much total?"

"About $750,000, but Young's contract is $40 million over ten years, so you know that number is going to go up on his investments alone."

"I thought that $40 mil was an annuity with a long-term payout," Noel countered. "Not that I'd let that block it, but it might not be as lucrative as you think."

"I should have looked further into that number. I won't let it happen again."

"Don't sweat this one. Approved. Now we just have to hope the league survives. Chicago sure didn't work out for them so far. Blowing that twenty-one-point lead over the Philadelphia Stars in the playoffs last year, and then the 'franchise swap' that sent all the good players to Arizona has done them in. Their last gasp of trying to sign Payton failed, and they'll be lucky to survive this season."

"I haven't followed the USFL much. MB does rep Herschel Walker, but he has someone handling his investments."

"So go get him, Kane! Ask for an introduction."

"I'll make the request."

"So long as they sign up contingent on having their names used in marketing literature at our discretion, I'll approve the exception. Make sure you get that in writing and have Henderson in legal review it before you sign."

"Will do. Thanks."

"Dismissed!"

I left his office and went down to 29, where I made a pot of coffee and began my daily routine. Pete came in at 7:30 am.

"Stay away from J. William Oldenburg."

"What did you find?"

"There are many questions about his personal finances and his relationship with his firm, Investment Mortgage International Inc. Utah is investigating him for fraud in a land deal, and my contacts tell me that he has a habit of luring S&Ls into questionable deals. More importantly, a friend of mine in San Fran says Oldenburg is overstating his wealth significantly. He also has the Express spending money like drunken sailors, and that is coming out of his own pocket."

"OK. I think to keep MB happy, I need to speak to him, but I'm not going to take money from him. You follow the USFL, right?"

"Yes."

"Steve Young's contract with the Express is $40 mil over ten years. Do you know how it's structured?"

"That was something I read when I was looking into Oldenburg. It's an annuity with a forty-year payout. So he'll get a million a year for forty years, and given the annuity was paid for, that's guaranteed even if the league ends up not making it. There are attendance problems with several teams, including the Blitz and Express. The Express are drawing around 13,000 per game in the second-biggest market in the US. And the Blitz are doing worse."

"What's the end game?"

"A merger with the NFL similar to the AFL merger in '70. I could see a team like the Generals making it because the market is big enough, and they're drawing well. A few other teams could make it, as well. Heck, last year's Blitz were good enough to play in the NFL, just nobody here cared. If they do merge, I suspect it would be more like the '79 NHL expansion, where four of the six remaining WHA teams joined the NHL, rather than a merger of equals like the AFL/NFL."

"And if not?"

"Then it dies. To achieve the merger of either style, they have to do what the AFL did — compete for players and put on good games with strong attendance. Part of the USFL's problem is head-to-head markets. That was mostly not the case for the AFL/NFL."

"Your best estimate?"

"It'll fail. I don't see them making it in their current configuration. Maybe if they ditch all the cities with NFL teams and focus on other big cities, they could do it. That's how the AFL operated, except for the Jets being in New York."

"I never followed any of that closely enough to know, and I was born in '63."

"A babe in the woods! Not that I'm all that much older; I was born in '58."

"Thanks for the catch," I said. "You just saved us some potential embarrassment."

"You're welcome! If you do sign Young, I'd appreciate an autographed photo."

"I'll ask!"

"Thanks!"

He left, and I returned to my work on the analyst report. When I finished, I went to see Mrs. Peterson to arrange for Bianca to come back to work part-time. We agreed on the terms, and then I went back to my office.

At 12:15pm, I left the office and walked to the building where Hart-Lincoln had its offices. I was immediately shown into Thomas Hart's office.

"Mr. Walsh is going to conduct the deposition," Thomas Hart said. "As we discussed, that's permitted by the rules. I'll sit with you for the entire session, and both Mr. Walsh and I will ask questions."

"I didn't realize you could do that."

"Judge Bradford expressly said this was an 'evidence' deposition, which means all parties may ask questions. The reason for that is that Miss Newton's attorneys plan to use the deposition in court to impeach your affidavit. The other kind of deposition, a discovery deposition, cannot be used for that purpose."

"OK."

"Remember you'll be under oath, so if you're stating an opinion, be sure to say that. In addition, if Mr. Walsh is a good attorney, which we have to assume he is, he'll be careful not to ask questions that harm his client. I will ask those."

"If Bev hasn't been truthful with him, he may not know where the landmines are," I said.

"Let me warn you now — do not try to outfox him, do not spar with him, and no matter what happens, keep your cool. Let me do all of that. If you start sparring with him, you may find yourself in an untenable position, and you might open yourself to questions we've put off limits.

"The most important guiding principle in a deposition is that you can never say too little, but you can always say too much. Give the shortest, most succinct answers. Mr. Walsh will expect that and have follow-up questions. Be very careful of open-ended questions. You can't avoid answering them, but I can ask that the scope be narrowed.

"Finally, be careful of multi-part questions. I'll object to those, and Mr. Walsh will have to rephrase. Keep your answers narrow and do your best to limit their scope to the specific question you were asked. If you feel you need to say more, let me know at the breaks well take every hour."

"I understand."

"Is there anything specific you want on the record besides Miss Newton's mental instability and erratic behavior?"

"No. Everything else is in the affidavit."

"Last question before we go to the conference room — what exactly is the nature of your relationship with Miss Clemmons?"

"Very close friends," I replied. "We haven't shared so much as a single romantic kiss. I'll explain to you, but this has to be covered by privilege."

"Of course."

"Her parents raped her older sister, Rose, and locked Violet in a cage while they were doing so after she stumbled upon the abuse. She was under psychiatric care from age fourteen to eighteen and has been seeing a counselor off and on since then. Her psychiatrist warned me that Violet might never be able to consummate a romantic relationship.

"We spent a lot of time together, and she went with me on those trips because she worked in a daycare before going to work for a plumbing company. I hired her from there as my administrative assistant. Every Saturday, I have breakfast with her before class and usually have lunch with her after class. And she comes to gatherings at my house. But, as I said, no physical intimacy of any kind."

"OK. I assume Miss Clemmons will testify to that?"

"Absolutely. If she is deposed, I'd like you to represent her, and I'll cover the fees."

"You'll both need to waive conflict of interest in that case."

"No problem. If it comes down to her or me, protect her, and we'll figure out how to proceed."

"OK. There will be a court reporter in the room, along with both attorneys and Miss Newton. I will also have a paralegal to take notes. Do you object to having my granddaughter as the paralegal?"

"Not at all. She's a sweet girl, but you know the issue."

"All too well. Shall we?"

We got up and went to the conference room, and Thomas Hart indicated where I should sit, which was to his left, with Kayleigh to his right and the court reporter at the end of the table. A minute later, a young man brought in Mr. Switzer, Mr. Walsh, and Bev."

"We'll go on record," Thomas Hart said, then nodded to the two attorneys.

"Good afternoon," Mr. Switzer said. "I am Jacob Switzer. With me is Lawrence Walsh, an attorney licensed in Ohio, and our client, Miss Beverly Louise Newton. We are here to depose Jonathan Edward Kane in the matter of custody of H.N., a minor, pending in Clermont County Family Court in Ohio.

"Good morning. I am Thomas Hart, counsel for the deponent, Jonathan Edward Kane. Also in the room are Court Reporter Wendy Carr and Kayleigh O'Connor, paralegal with Hart-Lincoln. This is an evidentiary hearing being conducted under an order of protection with specific areas declared off-limits as stipulated by both parties.

"Pursuant to Illinois rules, Miss Newton is permitted to attend the deposition but may not speak on the record. She is, of course, free to consult with counsel. Mr. Switzer and Mr. Walsh, you may proceed."

"Thank you, Counselor," Mr. Switzer said. "My colleague, Mr. Walsh, will conduct the deposition pursuant to the customary practice whereby out-of-state attorneys may take depositions.

{ptt} LW: "State your full name, address, and occupation, please.

{ptt} JK: Jonathan Edward Kane; 175 East Delaware Place, #9201, Chicago, Illinois; Head of Research for Spurgeon Capital here in Chicago."

{ptt} LW: I hand you your sworn affidavit. Will you attest that your signature is affixed?

{ptt} JK: It is.

{ptt} LW: I direct your attention to page 3, line 40.

{ptt} JK: OK. I have it. The first mention of my trip to Kansas.

{ptt} LW: Did you travel to Overland Park, Kansas alone?

{ptt} JK: No.

{ptt} LW: Who did you travel with?

{ptt} JK: Miss Violet Clemmons.

{ptt} LW: And your relationship with Miss Clemmons

{ptt} JK: She's a friend.

{ptt} LW: Would you clarify that, please?

{ptt} JK: There's nothing to clarify. She's a friend.

{ptt} LW: She's not your girlfriend?

{ptt} JK: No.

{ptt} LW: Have you ever been intimate with her?

{ptt} JK: No.

{ptt} BN: BULLSHIT!

{ptt} TH: Objection. Counselor, control your client, or I will insist she be removed.

{ptt} LW: Bev, please. You cannot speak while we are on the record.

{ptt} BN: Fine.

{ptt} LW: On that trip, did you have adjoining rooms?

{ptt} JK: We did.

{ptt} LW: And was the door between them open for the entire night?

{ptt} JK: It was.

{ptt} LW: I now direct your attention to your affidavit, page 8, line 6.

{ptt} JK: I have it. My stay at the InterContinental Hotel in Minneapolis.

{ptt} LW: Did Miss Clemmons accompany you on that trip?

{ptt} JK: She did.

{ptt} LW: And you shared a room, did you not?

{ptt} JK: A suite with separate bedrooms.

{ptt} LW: Would you please explain why, in your entire affidavit, there is no mention of Miss Clemmons?

{ptt} JK: Because I didn't want Bev vindictively going after Violet when Violet had done nothing wrong.

{ptt} LW: Move to strike as non-responsive.

{ptt} TH: You asked the question, Counselor, and my client gave an honest answer.

{ptt} LW: Mr. Kane, have you ever spent the night at Miss Clemmons house?"

{ptt} JK: Yes, after my wife died of leukemia when I needed time away. I slept in a guest bedroom.

{ptt} LW: Did you recently hire Miss Clemmons to work at Spurgeon Capital?

{ptt} JK: Yes, as my administrative assistant.

{ptt} LW: Is it true that secretaries at Spurgeon are expected to sleep with their bosses?

{ptt} TH: Objection. There is no foundation and no basis for that question, and it is outside the scope of your permitted questions.

{ptt} LW: Miss Newton has given a sworn statement to that effect, and it implicates Mr. Kane's relationship with Miss Clemmons.

{ptt} TH: Jonathan, please answer.

{ptt} JK: There are rumors to that effect, but I have never personally witnessed any improper relationships between secretaries and their bosses.

Which was true as far as it went, as I didn't actually _know_ anything was going on, though the evidence implied it was.

{ptt} LW: Have you had intimate relations with any administrative staff at Spurgeon Capital

{ptt} TH: Objection. That question violates the order of protection concerning my client's personal relationships except for your client, her family, and Miss Clemmons. Jonathan, do NOT answer.

{ptt} LW: For the record, I believe the question is relevant, and Mr. Kane opened himself to answering when he admitted to hiring Miss Clemmons.

{ptt} TH: You are welcome to call Judge Bradford and make your argument.

{ptt} JS: Off the record, please.

Mr. Switzer and Mr. Walsh stepped out of the room and came back about two minutes later.

{ptt} JS: "We're on the record again. We withdraw the question.

{ptt} LW: Mr. Kane, did you ever have a discussion with my client about giving Heather to my client's parents?

{ptt} JK: Yes.

{ptt} LW: When was that?

{ptt} JK: While driving back to Chicago from Overland Park.

{ptt} LW: And what was her response?"

{ptt} JK: She objected vehemently, but I told her quite clearly that I would do that if she refused to seek counseling for what I felt was mental illness."

{ptt} TH: "What made you think Miss Newton was mentally ill?"

{ptt} LW: Objection! Your client is not qualified to make that assessment.

{ptt} TH: You opened the door, Counselor. My client simply stated an opinion. Jonathan, please answer and be expansive.

{ptt} JK: Her completely erratic behavior, starting with when she dropped out of college, left home, and traveled to St. Louis. Then, she left a good job and a stable home environment with friends in St. Louis and landed in Overland Park. There, she was acting so erratically that the motel clerk called the police, who found her to be hysterical and irrational, and transported her to the hospital, where she was placed under psychiatric care. Her attorney at the time attributed it to what he called postpartum depression, but after further erratic behavior in Chicago and after her arrest, Dorothy Caulfield at Goshen High suggested Bev might be schizophrenic."

{ptt} BN: THAT'S A LIE YOU ASSHOLE!

{ptt} TH: Mr. Walsh, control your client. If there is another outburst, I will end this deposition, and you can take it up with Judge Bradford.

{ptt} LW: Bev, PLEASE be quiet. Mr. Hart, I suggest a ten-minute break.

{ptt} TH: Agreed. We are off the record.

Bev and her attorneys went to a small conference room that had been set aside for them, and I followed Thomas Hart to his office.

"I don't think she'll be able to keep quiet, Tom," I said.

"I suspect you're right. She did herself no good and may have ruined her case. They certainly won't be able to use the deposition if her outbursts are there."

"How could they not be?"

"They'll try to exclude them from the final copy because they weren't questions asked of you or responses from you. I won't agree to that unless you instruct me to. I'd advise against it, but it's up to you. If they are left in, it'll be up to the judge in Ohio to decide whether to exclude them or not. We can ensure they are in the record by sending your deposition to the attorney representing Bev's parents, who can give it to Family Services. It all depends on whether you still want 'scorched earth' or not."

"They're going after Violet, and she is completely innocent in every meaning of that word. To use the term in the Spurgeon training manual about how to deal with competition — _sine missione_."

Thomas Hart nodded, "No quarter. Let me ask you this as a friend, and I hope I can call you that."

"You can."

"Are you positive you want her to lose custody of her daughter?"

"Certainly in the short term, yes. If she gets counseling, no. As I said, this would all end if Bev simply reconciled with her parents and sought counseling. Her parents would help her, she'd be with Heather and would regain custody in short order, assuming the counseling was successful.

"I never knew Bev to be irrational growing up, nor did she ever act erratically. Something happened after she had her affair with Glen Rodgers. Maybe it's just the stress of an unplanned pregnancy with her teacher; maybe it's what Mr. Chojnicki said — postpartum depression. Maybe it is mental illness, as Mrs. Caulfield suggested, though I hope not. But in the end, she was putting Heather in danger, and I couldn't allow that."

"What is that little girl to you?"

"The daughter of my best friend growing up," I said. "I was with Bev when she gave birth, and I bonded with Heather. I also can relate, given I'm the child of a single mom who was kicked out of her religious parents' house for getting pregnant at age fifteen."

"I think I understand a bit better, and I also understand your difficulty with religious people."

"They're fine so long as they leave me alone."

"I'm with you on that one. Do you need the restroom before we return?"

"No."

We returned to the conference room and sat down, and about a minute later, Bev and her lawyers came in. She was looking daggers at me, and I was positive that very shortly, she'd lose it again.

{ptt} TH: We are back on the record. Jonathan, can you tell us what you did to try to help Bev?

{ptt} JK: I brought her to Chicago, found her a place to live, covered her expenses, and helped her get a job.

{ptt} TH: Why did she leave Chicago?

{ptt} JK: Because her husband, Glen Rodgers, was accused of multiple counts of statutory rape in Ohio. It is my opinion she fled with him and attempted to help him escape across the border to Canada.

{ptt} BN: YOU LYING BASTARD! THAT'S NOT TRUE! YOU LIED TO THE GOVERNMENT! YOU KIDNAPPED HEATHER!

{ptt} TH: Let the record reflect a third outburst by Miss Newton. This deposition is terminated.

{ptt} JS: Tom, if Miss Newton agrees to leave the room, can we continue?

{ptt} JK: I'm OK with that.

{ptt} TH: Then yes, we'll agree.

{ptt} BN: SO YOU CAN LIE BEHIND MY BACK INSTEAD OF TO MY FACE? FUCK YOU, JONATHAN! NO!

{ptt} TH: This deposition is terminated. We are off the record.

Bev looked like she might leap across the table and attack me, and I felt my best option was to simply stay seated.

"Larry, would you take Bev out," Jack Switzer requested.

Mr. Walsh managed to get Bev to stand up and leave the room with him, though she looked daggers at me the whole way.

"Tom, I'm sorry." Jack Switzer said. "She promised she'd behave."

"I'd advise a complete psychological assessment," Thomas Hart said. I'll walk you out. Kayleigh, would you please escort Jonathan to my office?"

She agreed, and we got up and walked to her grandfather's office.

"She needs help," Kayleigh said quietly.

"I've been encouraging that for over a year."

"How have you been otherwise?"

"Fine, thanks. You?"

"Fine. I just wish there was a solution to what we discussed. My grandfather thinks you're a great guy, and I agree."

"You know the problem," I said.

"Yes, I do. I just…no, never mind. Here comes my grandfather."

She walked away, and Thomas Hart came into his office.

"Now what?" I asked.

"That's probably it for you. I'm positive Jack will drop her as a client because she's unstable and irrational. She could have had this deposition if she'd agreed to the terms, and they were very likely onto something with regard to you and Violet, even if it was just to impeach your affidavit."

"How so?"

"Your initial feelings of wanting to give Bev a chance to win her custody dispute caused you to give incomplete information in the affidavit. You didn't lie, but they'd show you purposefully left out key details, and they would use that to try to impugn your character. It was a good gambit that might have swayed the judge in Ohio had Miss Newton not lost control of herself."

"Could I get in trouble for leaving out that information?"

"No. Nothing you wrote was false; you simply omitted what you felt was irrelevant information. It's only actually relevant to try to impeach your affidavit. I suspect they had other questions, and they might well have tried to find someone at Spurgeon with whom you did have a relationship."

"Bev knows about a secretary I dated briefly."

"Did she work for you?"

"No, but we were on the FX Desk together."

"They'd have tried to use that to impeach you as well, doing their best to imply you and Miss Clemmons were lying. Again, not particularly damning in the scheme of things, but important to rebut the affidavit. They had a good strategy, but their client ruined it. Remember what I said yesterday in court? A client can wreck things very easily if they don't listen to their attorney."

"What will happen with the court case?"

"That was what I wanted to speak to Jack about. He'll notify the judge that the deposition was taken and leave it at that. Mr. Walsh has no standing nor any ability to challenge that ruling without going to the judge to seek permission, and if he does that, he's likely to make Judge Bradford very angry because of what happened today. Making a judge angry never goes well."

"Thank you for your assistance, as well as the basic legal education. The most important thing I learned is that I know just enough about how it works to get myself in serious trouble!"

Thomas Hart nodded, "Then you learned the most important lesson."

"I need to get back to the office. Thanks again."

"Don't mention it. Just keep generating those fantastic returns."

He walked me to reception, where we shook hands. I thanked him again, then used the elevator to take me to the lobby. From there, I walked back to the Hancock Center.

The rest of the day was typical, and at 5:00 pm, I went up to the condo to see Bianca and Sofía, though I was having dinner at Jeri's house with our group. When I walked in, Sofía had just finished nursing, so I took the opportunity to hold her.

"Everything is set for Monday," I said. "Your salary will be pro-rated until you're back full-time, but you'll still accrue your vacation and sick days at the usual rate."

"Excellent! If I can convince our darling daughter to only wake up once during the night, I'll be able to come back full-time. Until then, I still need an afternoon nap. You seem to manage."

"Because as soon as you get back into bed with the little leech on your breast, I fall back asleep!"

Bianca laughed, "It does seem like that at times! She's a hungry little thing!"

"How will you handle feeding her while working half days?"

"I bought a breast pump, so I'll express milk before I come to work. If she needs more, then Chelsea will give her a bottle of formula. I'm not opposed to formula, but breast milk is better for Sofía."

I held my daughter for about ten minutes, but she didn't fall asleep, so I handed her back to Bianca, then left for my dinner with Jeri's group. As usual, Karl showed me in, but this time, Pete was there ahead of me, so Jeri and I didn't have a chance to talk privately about Marcia. Once everyone else had arrived. Jeri announced that Marcia wouldn't be attending in the future.

We had our usual excellent meal and good conversation, and at the end of the meal, when we adjourned to the drawing room, Allyson pulled me aside.

"Mind if I come to see Sofía and the condo when we're done?" Allyson inquired.

"And then you'll go back to Loyola?" I asked with a grin.

Allyson laughed softly, "If that's what will happen, I can wait for the housewarming on the 13th. Obviously, if you aren't in the mood, I'll just have James take me back to Loyola, and I won't be upset."

I considered it, knowing that Allyson was one of the least demanding, most mellow girls I knew, who had not been upset when I'd suggested we didn't click well enough to be a couple. I knew exactly how I could make her day.

"I think I'd like to have the _much better_ sister come home with me tonight!"

Allyson smiled and winked, and we joined the others in the drawing room. We spent about forty minutes with the group before saying 'good night', then Allyson and I left, with Allyson telling Jeri I would get her home. Twenty minutes later, we walked up the steps from the parking garage to the elevators and got in.

"What floor is the Sky Lobby?" Allyson asked after we got into the elevator."

"44th," I said. "We switch to a local elevator there. There's an indoor pool on that floor, too; the highest one in the US measured from ground level."

"No way!"

"Just wait until you see the condo."

We changed elevators, and I pressed the button for the 91st floor. The elevator whisked us up, and we stepped out. I let us into the condo, and Allyson stopped dead in her tracks.

"That view!" she gaped. "Wow!"

"Hey Allyson!" Bianca exclaimed. "Want to see Sofía?"

"Hey Bianca! Yes!"

We walked over to Bianca, who was sitting in the conversation pit, and Allyson sat down next to her.

"Oh my God, she's sooo cute!" Allyson gushed.

"And the future doctor turns into a twelve-year-old girl!" Deanna teased.

Bianca allowed Allyson to hold Sofía for a few minutes, then Allyson handed her to me, and I sat down with the girls.

"She's much more aware," I said. "And it's only been two weeks."

"Babies sleep most of the time," CeCi observed. "Something like eighteen hours when they're newborn, but they wake up every few hours. By the time she's six months old, she'll sleep through the night, but some babies do that around four months. The thing is, an eight-hour stretch means if she goes down at 8:00pm she's awake at 4:00 am. It can take some time to shift that to coïncide with your sleep schedule."

"How did you learn so much?" Bianca asked.

"I babysat from the time I was twelve, including infants."

Just then, Sofía yawned, something I hadn't seen before.

"She yawned!" I exclaimed.

"And she snores, too!" Bianca said. "But it's soft, almost like a cat purring. Why don't you give her to me, and you can give Allyson a tour."

I carefully handed my daughter back to Bianca, then gave Allyson a full tour, ending in the Master bedroom.

"This is unbelievable! I know this is totally out of line to ask, but how much do you make a year?"

"This year, it'll be north of $300,000 in commissions and bonuses. Next year, it'll be closer to $400,000."

"Not to be mercenary, but I wouldn't mind a sugar daddy paying for medical school!"

"All kidding aside, how much does medical school cost?"

"It's actually not that bad — about $8,000 a year. Dad can afford it, so we won't have to borrow money. But even if I did have to borrow, $32,000 in debt isn't terrible. It'll cost Kristy about the same for three years of law school, though she'll make way more money when she graduates than I will. The bucks for doctors don't come until you're an Attending. Interns don't get paid much, but each year of Residency, your salary goes up."

"Before we start, do I need to get you back to Loyola in the morning?"

"I'd appreciate it, but the easiest would be to call a car service and have them pick me up at 7:00 am."

"I can do that. Let me get the Yellow Pages and make the call. I'll be right back."

I went downstairs and got the Yellow Pages from the cabinet above the phone, looked up limo services, and called Chicago Livery, the company Jeri used. I arranged for a Town Car to pick up Allyson at 7:00am outside the lobby of the building, then went back upstairs, where I found her in bed.

"All set," I said. "7:00am outside the lobby. It's pre-paid, including tip."

"I'd like the tip…and the whole shaft!" she declared.

I undressed, quickly brushed my teeth, emptied my bladder, then joined Allyson in bed.

_April 27, 1984, Chicago, Illinois_

"I really enjoyed last night," Allyson said when we got into the shower on Friday morning. "But you were gentle and loving, which is something of a change. Not a bad thing, just different."

"I suspect it's not obvious, except maybe to Bianca, Deanna, or Violet, but I'm having serious mood swings, and I'm still trying to sort out the best path forward."

"This will sound self-serving, but I think you need to take some time before you start any kind of committed relationship."

"I don't disagree with you. In fact, my current thinking — and I don't expect this to change — is that I won't remarry."

"That's a pretty radical decision. Don't you think it's the emotions from losing Keiko?"

"I'm sure that's part of it, but she's my wife, and, as illogical as it might sound, I don't want anyone else to fill that role with that title. It's also the case that I promised her that when my time comes, I'll be cremated and interred next to her at Montrose Cemetery. My name is already engraved on the stele, though painted red to indicate I'm still living."

"That seems out of character for you," Allyson said. "You don't believe in life after death or any kind of eternity or soul or anything like that."

"I know. Keiko expressed the hope that someday, somehow, we could see each other again. I think that's improbable in the extreme, but being interred next to her just feels right. It honors her and her family, and to me, that's important."

"And that commitment would create challenges in any future relationship."

"Not to mention the baby you were fawning over last night!"

"That does certainly create complications. What you're saying seems to make some amount of sense, though your feelings may change over time."

"I don't disagree, but nobody should count on them changing."

"Then I'm going to ask for something that is only possible in that kind of future — we agree to be occasional lovers until one of us is in a committed relationship, and after, if those relationships don't last. Once a month after Jeri's dinners? Or another time if our lives interfere with getting together as a group?"

"You're thinking about when your schedule is like Perry's?"

"Ninety-plus hour weeks with barely any sleep due to thirty-six-hour shifts. Having a casual lover will be perfect because a relationship will be nigh-on-impossible. I'm not sure how Shelly does it."

"By adapting her sleep schedule to when Perry is not on shift. She just has to manage her classes."

"So, interested in getting into a _very_ tight spot once a month or so for the foreseeable future?"

"I can see my way clear to do that!"

We finished our shower, dressed, then went downstairs to have breakfast.

"Jonathan," Bianca said. "Did you see the calendar?"

"No. Why?"

"CeCi's shifts changed now that the semester is over. She's on both Friday and Saturday evenings, starting tonight. She was going to let you know last night, but you brought a friend home!"

"Did I block her?" Allyson asked.

"No," I replied. "She's my regular Friday date, which was true while Keiko was alive as well, though it was purely platonic. Keiko insisted I go out with Jack, and CeCi was my regular companion."

We ate breakfast, and at about 6:50 am, Allyson and I left the condo and took the elevators down to the lobby.

"Good morning, Mr. Kane," Terrance, the morning doorman, said. "Miss Crowley's car is here."

"Thank you, Lawrence."

Allyson and I hugged, and Terrance escorted her out to the waiting car. I headed to the business elevators, rode up to 29, checked with Rich, then went to the Research office to begin my day. After making coffee, I turned on the Bloomberg terminal and began working.

Later that morning, I received notification that the final transfer from the investors Thomas Hart had brought to me had been received, and I performed my usual rebalancing of my portfolio. Once that was complete, I called Gordon at MTB Sports Management.

"We can waive the minimums for all the players," I said. "All the other conditions apply, including the lockup and the fees, and in exchange for waiving the minimums, we'd need to be able to include payer names in marketing materials."

"I'll confirm that with Marvin, but I'm sure he'll be OK with that. He did place the call to J. William Oldenburg, who is expecting your call. Let me give you his private number."

I'd have to find a way to _not_ do business with Mr. Oldenburg without upsetting MTB.

"Thanks," I said after writing it down and repeating it back. "I do have one favor to ask. One of my guys is a huge USFL fan. Could you arrange an autographed photo of Steve Young?"

"I'll do you one better — an autographed game-worn jersey and an autographed football."

"That will make his day! I'll have Violet send you copies of the new account form by Federal Express for Monday delivery."

"Thanks, Jonathan. I'll have the memorabilia to you by Friday of next week."

"I appreciate it."

"We rep some Reds and Bengals players, so I can get you anything you want from either team."

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

We ended the call, and I returned to work while thinking of who to call to be my date for the evening.