A Winter Dream

Chapter


Six


Someone has grabbed the wheel of my life and steered me over a cliff.

Joseph Jacobson’s Diary





As I walked out of the conference room, Ben was leaning against a desk, waiting for me. He looked as anxious and eager as a defendant awaiting the jury’s verdict.

He stood. “What’s going to happen?”

“They’re not going to turn you in,” I said.

He looked as puzzled as he was relieved. “They’re not?”

“No.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I made a deal,” I said.

“What kind of deal?”

“The kind I can’t tell you about.”

“Why not?”

“If I do, the deal’s off. So don’t ask, unless you want to go to prison. Understand?”

He just looked at me blankly.

I exhaled. “I won’t be around for a while.”

“Where are you going?”

I stopped outside my office. “I said, don’t ask. Ever.”

He was silent a moment then said, “What have you done?”

“What had to be done. I made a deal with the devil. Devils.”

“You can’t take the hit for me.”

“I already have. Now do me a favor.”

“Anything,” he said.

I looked him in the eyes. “Grow up.”