The elk Jalapeño dog at Biker Jim’s was both gamey and spicy, coated with a hot mustard. Griffin and Ashe devoured their own dogs, exotic and fanciful against the homey, roadhouse atmosphere.

“I’ve never had a hot dog like this before,” Griffin said. “Like yours, Ashe?”

The boy nodded, his mouth filled with food as he chewed, a bit of mustard in the corner of his mouth.

“It’s not exactly your average dog,” Lorraine said, “but it’s good to have some down-home food every now and then: hot dogs and pizza and things.” After an awkward pause, she explained, “Not that I haven’t had a great time this week—all those fancy restaurants.”

“It’s been more than our pleasure,” Griffin said.

A nervous thought wiggled in the back of Lorraine’s imagination. “I have to say…I’m really gonna miss you two.”

Griffin knew what she was saying, and instead of contradicting her, he only offered a slow, resolute half-smile.

“Well, well.” Lorraine looked up at the familiar voice, Donal standing by their table wearing a broad, fake smile. “Look what we have here: the first family of Denver, Colorado.”

Griffin’s eyes shifted from Donal to Lorraine until she introduced the two men. “Donal Roland, this is Griffin Phoenix and his son, Ashe. Guys, this is Donal, he’s…he’s a friend.”

“A friend,” Donal said, “that’s rich.” He grinned at Griffin. “No pun intended. So what’s your plan with this guy, Lorraine? String him along like you did with me, and then when something bigger and better comes along, drop him like a hot potato? I should have known those months we were together, you were just wasting my fucking time!”

Griffin stood up and faced Donal down. “Watch your language, buddy! We don’t have any business with you, Mr. Roland. Leave us alone.”

“Wow, that’s good,” Donal said, “that’s really good. What’s gonna happen, you gonna beat me up too, like you did that other guy?”

“If you leave me no choice.”

“Right. I’m no sex attacker, pal. Touch me and I’ll sue!”

Griffin grabbed Donal by the ear, a move so quick and graceful that Donal was bent forward before he knew what was happening. “Ouch! Ow, stop it!”

Griffin calmly walked Donal out of the restaurant to proactively avoid the uncomfortable scene that was quickly unfolding, Lorraine and Ashe behind them.

“Now you listen to me. Lorraine Devonshire is off-limits to you. You see her on the street, cross to the other side and keep walking.”

“Or what?”

Griffin yanked Donal, brought him in close, and said in a warning tone, “Like I said, take off and keep your distance!”

He returned to Lorraine and Ashe while Donal staggered off. “I’m sorry that was uncomfortable; I think he got the message.”

Lorraine said, “Thanks, Griffin…again. You can’t seem to stop coming to my rescue.”

He smiled. “More than my pleasure.”

* * *

Back at the hotel room, Griffin was on the phone again, pacing around the suite’s posh living room. “Of course we want news coverage, as much as we can get!”

Ashe was sitting at the couch, eyes fixed on his laptop, fingers flying over the keys. Lorraine came in from the powder room, drawn to Ashe’s typing. “Wow, you’re fast,” Lorraine said. “Guess that’s a benefit to growing up online. Though I have to admit I use my mouse more than anything else.”

Ashe nodded but kept typing. Lorraine asked, “What’re you writing? Mind if I take a look?” Ashe nodded and kept typing, Lorraine sitting next to him and leaning closer for a good view of the screen.

Ashe was working with a word processing program—a white page lined with black text. Lorraine read just the few lines which were nearest to Ashe’s whirring cursor:

As a free society, we must look out for one another, to give back with everything we can, everything we have. The Bible asks, ‘What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?’ And the library is the very soul of a community, where mind and heart converge.

“Where mind and heart converge?” Lorraine would have challenged his authorship out of sheer disbelief at the quality of the writing, but she was watching him do it, so there was little room to be confused.

But there was plenty of room to be impressed. “You know the Bible, Ashe?” He shrugged and held his hand out, tilting it one way and then the other. “I see,” Lorraine said. “You’re more of a researcher than a theologian.” Ashe nodded and Lorraine couldn’t help but chuckle. She read on, interrupting herself to ask, “This is a speech for the rally, for your dad?” Ashe nodded. “Wow, that’s…that’s really impressive, Ashe, I mean it. I know a lot of adults who aren’t that eloquent.”

“Kid’s a genius, I’m tellin’ ya,” Griffin said. “If I could write that well, I wouldn’t bother to talk either.” Griffin said, “Ashe, would you write something for Lorraine too?”

Ashe nodded, but Lorraine said, “Me? Oh no, Griffin, no.”

“Oh yes, Lorraine, yes.”

A few minutes later, Lorraine’s own smartphone rang, Jeremy’s name on the screen. “Jer, how are ya?”

“I’m good, Lo’, good. Gettin’ ready for the big rally?”

“Sure am. I’ve got everybody I know coming down, covered Denver with fliers. It was even on the local news, Lo’! I don’t think you’re gonna have any attendance problems.”

“And got both Crosby and Nash, so…” But a tense silence wriggled by between them. “You don’t sound that excited, Jeremy.”

Jeremy’s voice came fast, anxious. “Of course I am, Lo’. And I’m glad for you, that you found that wonderful man. It’s…it’s great.”

But a sad, nervous thought flashed in the back of Lorraine’s mind. “You…you’re not jealous, Jeremy?”

“Me, jealous? No, Lo’, of course not. How could you even think such a thing?”

“I dunno, he’s rich and everything; he’s such a great guy.”

“And you deserve that, Lo’. What have I been telling you?”

“I know, I know, you were right, I know that now. You’re a good friend, Jeremy, my best friend.”

“That’s sweet, kiddo, really…thanks for making it even worse!”

“Worse? Jeremy, what are you talking about?”

Jeremy’s voice was rich with a whiny sorrow. “You’re my best friend too, Lorraine, and now I’m gonna lose you! You’re gonna go off with that man, probably marry him, fly off to New York or Paris or wherever his various castles are.”

“Jeremy—”

“And I’ll never see you again! And that’s gonna suck, Lorraine!”

Lorraine wanted to contradict him, but she was secretly hoping he was right. “It might not happen that way, Jeremy. I even…I kind of brought it up.”

“And what did he say?”

“Actually, he didn’t. So I think the chances of me staying in Denver are pretty good.”

But Jeremy’s tearful voice was still swollen with misery. “Oh, Lorraine, I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you sure?”

Lorraine glanced at Griffin, standing at the window and staring out over Denver, phone to his ear. “No, Jeremy, I… I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

“Are you okay?”

She felt that wave of sorrow return, almost impossible to disguise. “That, I’m especially not sure about. And this is the only thing that matters to me anymore.”

“I see,” Griffin said into his phone, grabbing Lorraine’s attention. “When?” Lorraine and Ashe both looked over at Griffin as he turned away from the window. “All right well, keep us posted.” Griffin swiped the screen.

“What is it, Griffin?”

Griffin sighed. “Your attacker, Tony Gardner.”

“Yeah?”

“They had to let him go.”