Fall Guy

personal effects, photos, some books and valuables for Maggie. I put those things on Tim's bed after pulling that apart to make sure there wasn't a bird's nest in that one, too. I had a huge pile of things, packed in shopping bags, suitcases, and just loose, for Housing Works. I'd call in a day or two, ask if they'd come and pick up everything at once. Ironically, the charities were nearly as fussy as the heirs. There were always things no one would want, things you'd eventually have to pay someone to come and haul away. I had a third pile, neatly folded and packed in plastic bags: Parker's clothes, everything from his closet except the shrine and the small purse. When I finished, I left everything as it was and went upstairs to Irwin's apartment.
    „You're early, doll.“ His hair was gelled flat and the gel made it appear darker. „The game doesn't start for another hour. I'm glad you're here. You can help me make dip.“
    „I don't make dip,“ I told him, „and I didn't come to play.“
    „Alas,“ he said. „I thought that might be so when you showed up without the obligatory six-pack, but c'est la vie. What can I do for you?“
    „I was wondering if you called Parker yet, to invite him to the memorial on Saturday.“
    „Not yet, doll. It's on my list.“ He tapped his temple and I thought of Tim holding the gun to that very spot on his own head, then squeezing the trigger. Jin Mei was right. I needed some quiet time.
    „Will you give him a message from me? I told him he could come and collect his things tomorrow afternoon, but it turns out, he can't. I have a dentist appointment I'd forgotten about.“
    „Nothing serious, I hope.“ He was squinting up at me, his face a study of cynical disbelief. Irwin had good radar. I decided I'd better stop bullshitting and stick to the business at hand.
    „I packed up his clothes. He said he needed them. If I can leave them with you, he can ...“
    „Sure, doll, sure. No problem.“
    I went back downstairs and brought up the shopping bags and one suitcase full of clothes. It took me three trips to get everything upstairs. Irwin never touched a bag. He just pointed at where he wanted me to put everything. Fair enough, I thought. It wasn't his job in the first place.
    „There are a few other things I'll give him after the memorial. Will you tell him that, too?“
    „You can tell him yourself. He'll be here for the game.“
    „Sorry,“ I told him, „no can do. I have an appointment tonight, too, and I don't like to keep a gentleman waiting.“ I checked my watch as if I had to rush, but the truth was, I wasn't meeting Brody for several hours. I thanked Irwin again and told him I'd see him on Saturday.
    He motioned for me to bend closer. I did. „It's going to be a sad one,“ he whispered. „But you can always cry on my shoulder. Don't forget, doll, I'm here for you, whatever it is you need.“

CHAPTER 15
    I was halfway home before I changed my mind. I stopped into one of the ubiquitous Korean delis that never close and, amazingly, has everything you'd ever think to ask for crammed into a space the size of a country kitchen. I bought a six-pack, a large bag of com chips and two containers of ready-made dip. I strongly suspected that Irwin was kidding about the dip. Still, as I told him, semper paratus was my motto. Or one of them.
    If Irwin was surprised to see me back at his apartment, he didn't show it at all, not a man I wanted to play poker with under normal circumstances, which mine never seem to be. Anyway, I was nothing if not a good sport. In fact, in keeping with said motto, I'd made one other stop on the way to the game. I'd stopped at O'Fallon's apartment and dropped off his briefcase. I didn't want any curious eyes seeing that I had O'Fallon's notebook or, worse, Parker's cell phone, and I thought it might look pretty hinky taking the briefcase with me if I went to the bathroom. I took off Dashiell's leash and left that on top of the briefcase. I also picked something up, my poker money. I took three hundred of Parker's stash, stuffed it into my pocket, and Dashiell and I headed up the stairs. If Irwin was as good a player as Brody had indicated, I was going to lose for sure. Losing Parker's money wouldn't be nearly as painful as losing my own.
    „Just when you thought you were out...“ he said.
    „You pulled me back in.“
    And so he did, his hand on the waist of my jeans, walking backward and tugging me along. He stopped short of the poker