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shoulder-length black hair swished as she strode back and forth. Two phone lines blinked, like they were waving their arms for attention. Although her electric green eyes darted around the room, she didn’t seem to notice me.
    The woman spoke into the phone, “This is a good kid, Glen. The judge is going to give him community service anyway.” She kept pacing, stopping short when she got to the end of the phone cord. Behind her, I noticed a desk covered with stacks of paper, a computer monitor, and an open briefcase. There were more stacks of paper on chair seats, on top of a wooden filing cabinet, and on the floor along an entire wall.
    The woman said, “Thanks, I owe you.” She hung up, started to punch another line, then looked up, as if I’d just come in. When she faced me, I saw that her nose came to a sharp point, as if it had been pinched.
    She said, “Yes?”
    â€œI’m looking for Hannah.”
    â€œAnd you are?”
    â€œHarvey Kendall. I knew her in high school.”
    She squinted at me. “Harvey?”
    I blinked. “Hannah?”
    She smiled.
    Did her eyes always have a sexy twinkle? I wondered.
    I said, “Sorry. I didn’t recognize you. You look…”
    â€œBrunette and a hundred and eighty-three pounds lighter.”
    â€œUm, yeah.”
    She stuck her hand out. “How have you been?”
    â€œGood.” I shook her hand. She gave me a firm pump and release.
    I said, “Well, maybe not so good.”
    Hannah twisted her mouth to the side, as if to say, Hmm.
    I’d never noticed that dimple before. Was it there when her face was all puffed out?
    She said, “Have a seat.” Hannah took a stack of papers off a chair, looked around for a place to put them, then set them crosswise on top of another pile on the floor.
    As I sat down, Hannah punched the other two phone lines and told them she’d call back. Then she half-sat on the edge of her desk and said, “So, what’s up?”
    I forced a little chuckle. “Well, there’s been this stupid mistake with the cops, and some of my friends think I need a lawyer.”
    â€œWhat kind of mistake?”
    Her phone rang. She reached around and flipped a toggle switch on the side. The phone shut up, though the line kept blinking.
    I told her about the cops questioning me and how they said they found my DNA at a crime scene.
    She said, “Your friends are right. You need a lawyer, even if it’s just a mistake. I can recommend some good people.”
    â€œRecommend? Aren’t you a lawyer?”
    â€œI’m really busy. Besides, I can’t represent someone when there’s another relationship.”
    â€œWhat relationship? I haven’t seen you in ten years.”
    She smiled. “Then let’s leave it that I’m too busy.”
    â€œLook, Hannah, I’d really feel more comfortable with a friend helping me.” Especially a friend who might give me a discount .
    Hannah shook her head. “Murders take too much time. The cases are real—”
    â€œKillers?”
    She gave me a stiff grin. “I’m sorry. I just can’t. It’s nothing personal.”
    How do I bring her around? To get an audience involved in a trick, you first have to hook them. Get them going the way you want, then pull the switcheroo. I said, “I’m a magician now.”
    She cocked her head. “Really? I remember you doing magic in the high school talent show.”
    â€œYeah. I dropped my floating chrome ball. I can still see it clunking against the wooden stage and rolling into the audience. I’ve never been so humiliated.”
    Hannah laughed. “I don’t remember that. I was in the show, too. I played guitar and got so nervous that my leg started shaking.”
    I remembered that. She was so huge that the guitar looked like a ukelele.
    I said, “If you take my case, I’ll get you into the Magic Castle