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WHILE THE DISHWASHER hummed and sloshed, Joe and I folded laundry at the kitchen table

I was on autopilot My hands turned the jumble of shirts and towels into war thees vase, which Julie had pulled off a table, swith IAD’s Hon, and the cherry on top was that I eak and headachy, a little bit queasy It was an overall sick feeling that was beconore

Joe said, “That’s it? No woo-hoo?”

“Aw, geez, Joe, sorry Say it again Please?”

He said, “I got a call from the new head of antiterrorism at the Port of San Francisco”

“Wow About a job?”

Joe said, “Yep There’s a new guy, Benja for a hands-on risk assessment pro, freelance or on staff, to be decided He’s known to be kind of a dick, but I think I’d like him”

I said, “He’s ‘kind of a dick’ but otherwise fantastic?”

“Correct,” said Joe “This isn’t about love It’s about money”

“Three cheers for money”

Joe cheered I laughed and ent back to folding

Actually, this breaking neas fantastic A few months back Joe had been badly injured in a bo before Julie would be going to preschool, and Joe needed a job Even though hts were scattered, I could focus on that

I said, “So, what’s the next step?”

Joe was telling me about the intervieith Security Director Rollins next hen, of course, the phone rang

It was a weeknight, and to me that meant I was still on duty I took the phone out of lanced at the caller ID Joe watched me and shook his head no