Aces and Knaves

the only one who has considered that possibility. I have, too. Can you prove you didn't kill Ned?"
    James became irritated. "Do you mean, do I have an alibi? As Karl can tell you, I was here with him around the time it happened. But that doesn't mean I couldn't have ordered it done. If I had I probably wouldn't have told people that the drugs found in Ned's car looked like a setup. Why would I help to refute my own misleading evidence?
    "But more than that, I had no reason to kill Ned. As you two know, we grew up together, worked together, played together, even shared Elma." He smiled. "I might have had a better motive to kill him then than I do now. It's true that Ned and I were talking about Dionysus. We had our differences and might not have reached an agreement. But that's business.
    "If I killed people because of business disagreements I'd be the leading serial killer of all time. Besides, Ned started acting a little crazy before he died and I wasn't sure I even wanted to do business with him."
    "So you won't have me killed if I don't deliver Elma's proxy," I said.
    James smiled again and said, "No. But I might ask you to work for me for an additional year. I suspect that you and I can make a lot more money together than that baseball card is worth. You have good instincts and you're not afraid to take chances. All I have to do is train you to take chances when the odds are in your favor."
    ***
    "I completely screwed everything up." I didn't say this directly to Arrow, although she was the only person within earshot. It was a general statement to the universe. We were standing next to Arrow's rental car, after having left the casino.
    "Talk to your father, Karl. Tell him that you didn't try to get Elma to change her proxy. You didn't undermine him. He'll respect that."
    "Even if he believes me, how can I explain why I'm working for James when I won't work for him?"
    "Lots of kids don't want to work for their fathers. You haven't done anything to hurt Dionysus, that's the main thing. In fact, you have been trying to solve Ned's murder. And you and I gathered the evidence that swung Elma's proxy over to Richard."
    My behavior had been Jekyll-and-Hyde toward my father, toward Dionysus. I wasn't proud of it. In addition, I had ethical questions about working for James, even though I knew I would learn a lot. I needed time alone. My head was a swirling mass of confusion.
    I said goodnight to Arrow. She patted me on the shoulder again. She had become my mother. After she drove away I checked my rental car to make sure it wasn't blocking anybody. I didn't feel like driving; I needed to walk.
    The route to my hotel went steeply uphill at first. That was good. It would get my heart pumping, help me exhale the poisons from my body. Soon I was panting in fine style.
    My mind went back to what James had said. Could I believe him? If he wasn't Ned's murderer, who was? Maybe I could find out more by working for him. If there was anything to find out. But it would give me a purpose in working for James.
    I went over the top of the hill and down the other side. After a while the road became less steep. A car drove slowly past me and stopped some distance ahead, in a driveway, since the legal parking places were filled. The driver got out and came up on the sidewalk. He stood there in the dark. I would have to walk past him.
    I thought about Ned. Was this man a mugger? No, Ned was killed by the gangbangers. Still, mugging was always a possibility. Did muggers drive late-model German cars? Only if they had stolen them.
    I had to make a decision about turning around or crossing the street. Then I recognized Stan. Or thought I did. He moved and a ray from a streetlight shone on his face. It was definitely Stan.
    As I approached he said, "Why are you walking? Let me give you a ride."
    "Did you follow me?" I asked.
    "I saw your car at the house after you left. I figured maybe you had car trouble and decided to walk rather than bother us. I knew your approximate route because I drove you back to your hotel before. So I took a chance. At first I didn't recognize you because the parked cars blocked my view. Then I got a good look at you in the rear-view mirror."
    "I'm walking on purpose," I said. "There's nothing wrong with my car."
    "But how will you get your car?"
    "I'll pick it up in the morning."
    "Well, I've come this far so let me take you to your hotel. It's dangerous to walk this late at night."
    He had a point. Suddenly, I felt