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I looked behind me at the bar “With a drink?”

Mulkern let out a hearty laugh, and Jiot it At least they didn’t all slap their knees in unison

“Of course,” Mulkern said “Of course”

He raised his hand, and an i identified her as Rachel, appeared by et you?”

“You could get this young h

Rachel’s shtly and looked down at me “Of course What would you like, sir?”

“A beer Do you have those here?”

She laughed The pols laughed I pinched myself and remained serious God, this was a happy place

“Yes, sir,” she announced “We have Heineken, Beck’s, Molson, Sam Adams, St Pauli Girl, Corona, Löwenbräu, Dos Equis ”

I cut in before dusk fell “Molson would be fine”

“Patrick,” Jiet serious “We have a slight”

“Conundruht conundruotten”

No one spoke for a few moments I think ere all too impressed by the realization that we knew someone who used “conundrum” in casual conversation

I shook off my awe first “What is this conundrum, exactly?”

Mulkern leaned back in his chair, watching lass in front of me, poured two-thirds of the Molson into it I could see Mulkern’s black eyes holding steady with my own Rachel said, “Enjoy,” and left

Mulkern’s gaze never wavered Probably took an explosion to make him blink He said, “I knew your father well, lad A finer man well, I’ve never known one A true hero”