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trust fund, right? If you need help, go pay a tutor"

I put my foot down on top of a textbook "Would you do it?"

"Tutor you? No way"

"Stop At the car accident"

Her hands quieted "Yeah Because even if the law says that no one is responsible for anyone else, helping so to do"

I sat down beside her, close enough that the skin of her arht next to mine "You really believe that?"

She looked down at her lap "Yeah"

"Then how," I asked, "can you walk away from me?"

Afterward, I wipe my face with paper towels froht circles beside ood," I tell hi the thick ruff of his neck

When I get back into one Kerri sits at the co "She said that if you needed her, you could damn well come find her Her words, not lances over her shoulder at me "You look like shit"

"Thanks" An orange Post-it on her desk catches my attention "Is this where she wants the records sent?"

"Yeah"

I slip the address into my pocket "I'll take care of it," I say

A week later, in front of the sarave, I unlaced Julia Roe jacket Her feet were narrow and as pink as the inside of a tulip Her collarbone was a mystery "I knew you were beautiful under there," I said, and this was the first spot on her that I kissed

The Fitzgeralds live in Upper Darby, in a house that could belong to any typical A; Totfinder stickers in the s for the fire depart behind the roofline

The whole drive over, I've tried to convinceon why I've decided to visitto take this little detour before I headed hoht

But the truth is, in all the years I've been practicing, this is the first time I've paid a house call

Anna opens the door when I ring the bell "What are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you"

"Does that cost extra?"

"No," I say dryly "It's part of a special pro this month"

"Oh" She crosses her arms "Have you talked to my mother?"

"I' my best not to I assume she's not home?"

Anna shakes her head "She's at the hospital Kate got adone over there"

"Kate's not my client"

This actually seems to disappoint her She tucks her hair behind her ears "Did you, like, want to come in?"

I follow her into the living room and sit down on the couch, a palette of cheery blue stripes Judge sniffs the edges of the furniture "I heard you uardian ad litem"

"Julia She took ht" Her eyes dart toabout me?"

"She's worried that yourto you about this case"

"Other than Kate," Anna says, "what else is there to talk about?"

We stare at each other for a moment Beyond a client-attorney relationship, I am at a loss

I could ask to see her room, except that there's no way in hell any o upstairs alone with a thirteen-year-old girl I could take her out to dinner, but I doubt she'd appreciate Cafe Nuovo, one of my favorite haunts, and I don't think I could stomach a Whopper I could ask her about school, but it isn't in session

"Do you have kids?" Anna asks

I laugh "What do you think?"

"It's probably a good thing," she admits "No offense, but you don't exactly look like a parent"

That fascinates me "What do parents look like?"

She seeuy at the circus wants everyone to believe his act is an art, but deep down you can see that he's really just hoping he lances atto tie you up and sta rap"

"Oh, well," I joke "In that case" I loosen my tie and sit back on the pillows

It makes a smile dart briefly across her face "You don't have to pretend to be "

"I don't want to pretend" I runis, this is new to me"

"What is?"

I gesture around the living roo a case at the office at the end of the day"

"Well, this is new to me, too," Anna confesses

"What is?"

She twists a strand of hair around her pinky "Hoping," she says

The part of tohere Julia's apartment is located is an upscale area with a reputation for divorced bachelors, a point that irritatesspot Then the doors allowed," he says "Sorry"

"This is a service dog" When that doesn't see a bell, I spell it out for hi Eye"

"You don't look blind"

"I'ets between me and a beer"

Julia's apartment is on the seventh floor I knock on her door and then see an eye checking h the peephole She opens it a crack, but leaves the chain in place She has a kerchief wrapped around her head, and she looks like she's been crying

"Hi," I say "Can we start over?"

She wipes her nose "Who the hell are you?"

"Okay Maybe I deserve that" I glance at the chain "Let me in, will you?"

She gives"Are you on crack?"

There is a scuffle, and another voice, and then the door opens wide and stupidly I think: There are two of her "Ca here?"

I hold up theover the shock How the hell is it that she nevera twin?

"Izzy, this is Campbell Alexander Campbell, this is my sister"

"Caue At second glance, she really looks nothing like Julia at all Her nose is a bit longer, her coold Not toher mouth move doesn'tto Julia "From"

"Yeah," she sighs

Izzy's gaze narrows "I knew I shouldn't let him in"

"It's fine," Julia insists, and she takes the files fro these"

Izzy waggles her fingers "You can leave now"

"Stop" Julia swats her sister's ar with this week"

"But wasn't he the guy who--"

"Yes, thanks, I have a fully functioning memory"

"So!" I interrupt "I stopped off at Anna's house"

Julia turns to me "And?"

"Earth to Julia," Izzy says "This is self-destructive behavior"

"Not when it involves a paycheck, Izzy We have a case together, that's it Okay? And I really don't feel like being lectured by you about self-destructive behavior Who called Janet for a ht after she dumped you?"

"Hey" I turn to Judge "How about those Red Sox?"

Izzy stamps down the hall "It's your suicide," she yells, and then I hear a door slam

"I think she really likes me," I say, but Julia doesn't crack a smile

"Thanks for the medical records Bye"

"Julia--"

"Hey, I' a dog to drag you out of a roo froirlfriend who's telling the truth How does it work, Cah-pitched whistle?"

I look wistfully down the empty hallway "Can I have Izzy back instead?"