The virtue of New York, some pundit on the police force once had said, is that you can usually see your killers coming. Give me the soot and pollution, the crush of too many people and cars in a hurry, even the mugger on the street. I’ll take my chances.
I unconsciously slipped my wallet out of my pocket. This thinking about muggers must have made me nervous about my money. It was a fine wallet—made from that same special lamp-weave as Laurie’s handbag. John Lapp had given it to me as a little present—to remember Jacob’s work by. For a few months, at least, I’d be able to better see how much money I was spending.
Well, it was good to have a bit more light in the world—even if it, like the contents it illuminated, was ever-fleeting…
Editor’s Note: Earlier tales of Phil D’Amato include “The Chronology Protection Case” (September 1995) and “The Copyright Notice Case” (April 1996).