I… Esteban swallowed hard. We… Carmelita and me… we were so sorry to hear about Miss Margot.

Bennett straightened and nodded. He rarely pondered what his house staff thought of him and his family, but hed always assumed they observed them with disdain and fear in equal measure. The rich were always a puzzle to those who worked for them.

Thank you. Bennett cleared his throat. The truth was, he felt as awkward as Esteban. And your family? How is your family?

Oh! Estebans eyes lit up. Excellent, Mr. Cummings. Thank you. Rodrigo, our oldest, is in his second year at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Hes getting straight As.

How fabulous, Bennett said, not knowing who the hell Rodrigo was but feeling vaguely proud that his gardeners son had made it into the one of the countrys premier art schools. And his field of study?

Estebans eyes went wider. The man was obviously growing suspicious of the conversation, since Bennett had never given a rats ass about him, his wife, or his kids during the more than two decades hed been under his employ.

Computer animation, Esteban said, shifting his weight awkwardly, then shrugging. You knowcartoons.

Of course. Wonderful. Bennett cleared his throat again. Well, Esteban, do you have a moment? I have a proposition for you. It may sound rather strange, but I was hoping we could come to an agreement.

Estebans eyes narrowed. He shoved his ball cap into the front pocket of his jeans and motioned for Bennett to have a seat at the long wooden table in the main room of the shed. Bennett imagined this was where the crew ate their tortillas and whatnot for lunch.

His head groundskeeper took a seat across from him, and Bennett noticed that the change of venue had created a sense of equanimity between the two men, which amused him.

Esteban, I appreciate all your years of service.

The gardener fell back against the chair. Youre firing me.

No! No! Bennett laughed awkwardly. Of course not.

Esteban put his palms flat on the surface of the table, his face losing much of its earlier friendliness. What, then, can I do for you, Mr.

Cummings?

Bennett took a deep breath. In all his years of business he had never underestimated an adversary, and that approach had served him well. He had a feeling that this little arrangement with Esteban Jaramillo the gardener would require nothing less.

I want your car, Esteban.

For a second, the mans face was blank. Then it lit up with amusement and he laughed. The /Buick/?

Yes.

But He stopped laughing. I hadnt really thought about selling the Buick, Mr. Cummings. Me and Carmelita are still using it because we gave our Jeep to Rodrigo, you know, to take to school.

Bennett waved the details away. You wont be without transportation. He reached into the inner pocket of his sports jacket and pulled out the folded papers. This is the title to my 2009 Escalade. Its already in your name.

Estebans mouth turned to stone. He blinked. His shoulders went rigid. Why?

Bennett pushed the title toward his gardener. Im giving you the Escalade in appreciation of your fine work over the years.

Twenty-six years, Mr. Cummings, Esteban said.

Exactly.

And then what?

You put your Buick in Bay Number 6 and forget about it. You never even notice if its no longer there.

Esteban said nothing. He made no move toward the title. His eyes stayed focused on his employers face. The Escalade plus ten thousand dollars in cash, his groundskeeper said, his voice as flat as the tabletop. Trini, our daughter, is going to college next year. She got accepted to Prince ton. The money would come in handy.

Bennett had to laughit seemed everybody was a hustler at one level or another, even out here in his own potting shed. Ill have the cash to you in three hours. Now, Id like the keys to the Buick, if you please.

Esteban got up from the straight-backed chair and walked to the pegboard near the door. He snagged a key ring dangling from the top left hook, then came back and tossed it onto the table. You have to jiggle the shift when you put it in reverse, he said.

Bennett nodded.

AndIm not going to lie to you, Mr. Cummingsit needs a new alternator.

Doesnt matter.

Esteban looked down on his boss, smirking. The gardener picked up the paperwork, scanned it, then held out his palm. Bennett dug into his pants pocket for the Escalade keys. He handed over the gaudy platinum key fob, enjoying the huge smile that spread across Estebans face at the sight of it.

Two hours for the cash, right? Esteban asked.

Actually, I said three hours.

Make it two.

Bennett chuckled. A man named Milton will be here in two hours. Hes my attorney.

Will you already be gone?

Bennett stood, meeting his gardeners steady gaze. I am not feeling well, Esteban. The flu, I believe. Ill be recuperating for a couple of weeks and wont be seeing anyone. He turned and headed out the door.

Get well soon, then, Mr. Cummings. Esteban waited till he got a few yards away and added, And have a safe trip.

Oh, I guess I just fell asleep reading, Josie said aloud, pulling into the first parking spot she found near Dolores Park. No. She didnt like the way that excuse soundedtoo flippant.

Drinks were /last/ night? Oh, my God! I thought it was /next/ week we were getting together! No, she hated how snooty that one sounded, like she had so many obligations that she couldnt keep track. Besides, no one with an iPhone could get away with that, not when alarms were going off every fifteen minutes to remind you to call your mother, or stop off at the grocery after work, or to start your period every fourth Sunday.

Josie cleared her throat and gave this one a try: I am so sorry. I should have called you guys. I think I got food poisoning from a bad batch of eggplant.

Yuck. Besides, her recipe had a bad enough rep as it was.

With a sigh, Josie got out of her Honda CR-V and fetched Genghis from the back, hoping a perfect excuse would come to her spontaneously. She spied Bea and Ginger waiting at the top of the hill, and prayed her spontaneity would be the instant kind.

This is ridiculous, she mumbled to herself, gathering up the leash. Shed just tell them the truth. Sure, theyd be hurt and angry, but theyd get over it. Eventually her friends would have to be happy for her.

Suddenly, Roxie was at her side, joining her for the walk up the hill.

Genghis tried to give Lilith a friendly sniff but the muzzled she-devil growled.

Morning, Rox. How are you?

There was no response. Josie peered closer into her friends face, her chances of getting any information severely reduced by the oversized dark sunglasses.

Rox? You okay?

By that time, Ginger and Bea had reached them at the hills halfway point. With a shaky hand, Roxie ripped off her sunglasses to show them that, no, everything was not okay.

The papers going to fire me, she said, her lips trembling.

What? Ginger put a hand on Roxies arm. Why? Thats ridiculous! Youre one of the best reporters we have! Are we into another round of newsroom layoffs?

Roxie shook her head. Kenny called me last night at home. Its just me, no one else. She sniffed. It seems the board complained about my Web site again.

Just ignore the little weenie, Bea advised.

Roxie shook her head and choked back tears. Kenny is the city editor, Beamy boss. And hes dead serious. He already warned me once and I blew him off.

Josies eyes went wide. Really? When did that happen?

Roxie shrugged. Last month. Kenny told me the board decided my Web site /?jeopardizes the integrity of the newspaper/ or some shit like that and, more importantly, they think it violates my contract.

How? Ginger asked.

You knoweveryone on staff agrees not to work for a competing media outlet, and thats what they think Im doing.