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cheated. What had killed him was the inexorable fact that there was only one ending to stories like his. He’d died because he was too weak to stop. To escape. Danny found himself remembering his earlier thought, the question of what Evan meant to him now. He realized he knew the answer.
    Nothing.
    It was time to go home.
    ‘Listen, brother, it’s good to see you, but I’ve got to head out.’
    Evan’s expression hardened, and he turned to the bar, one hand on his pint. ‘Yeah?’
    ‘Yeah, you know, I’m a civilian now. I’ve got work.’ He stood up, reached for his jacket. ‘Construction.’
    ‘Just like your dad.’
    ‘Sort of. I work in the office, though.’ A voice inside him told him to shut up, not to go any further, but the words slipped out. ‘I’m a project manager.’
    Evan nodded, still not looking at Danny. ‘Good for you. Beats shoveling shit.’
    ‘Yeah. Hey, congratulations again.’ He fumbled for his wallet, took out a couple of twenties.
    ‘You don’t need to buy my beer.’
    ‘Shit, it’s my pleasure. Least I can do.’ What was he
saying
?
    Evan sat silent.
    The voice inside whispered that this was all wrong, that the tightrope was swaying and he was off balance and the darkness was hungry, but between the booze and the music and the thought of junkie Terry bleeding to death on dingy concrete, he pushed it away. All he wanted was to get out.
    Evan kept staring straight ahead as Danny took a half step toward the door. Danny knew he should say something, but had no idea what. Finally, he put a hand on Evan’s shoulder, feeling the stone-carved muscles rigid beneath. ‘Good luck.’
    Evan only nodded.

6. Sky Burned Blue
    A roar from Wrigley Field drifted up through the autumn air. The Cubs must have scored. In Bridgeport, they’d have been rooting for the White Sox. Danny, he didn’t much care one way or the other, but he loved the way the sun fell on his fire escape, and he loved the tree-lined streets that spread out beneath it.
    Come to think of it, he loved the whole damn place. Loved their condo, a second-story flat with hardwood floors and a working fireplace. He even loved weekend afternoons spent repairing crown molding or laying tile. Evan would have howled to see it, Danny on his knees, painting trim with the delicate care he’d once used to pick locks. The thought of his old partner gave him a momentary chill, but he pushed it aside. It didn’t matter what Evan would think. He had no place in Danny’s life anymore.
    Laugh it up, buddy. Just don’t expect me to care
.
    ‘What are you still doing here?’ Karen stepped out, smiling as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. ‘Didn’t you promise me a date?’
    He grinned and drew her close, feeling the soft tension of her muscles, the way her body nestled just so. All those years, and still not tired of the way she felt in his arms. He slid his palm down the small of her back.
    ‘Easy, Romeo.’ She stepped away from him with a teasing smile. ‘Isn’t your boss expecting you?’
    He groaned. ‘Richard can wait.’
    ‘Quit stalling. Go take care of business. Then take me to the zoo and buy me cotton candy.’ She turned to go inside,stopped, and glanced over her shoulder with a flirty look. ‘Who knows? You might get lucky.’
    He laughed, and followed her in.
    It took thirty minutes to make it out to the North Shore. In a neighborhood where half a million dollars bought two bedrooms, Danny’s boss had five. Located a block from the lake, the house was an English manor with a sprawling lawn. In front stood a mailbox built as a miniature replica, down to the paintwork. The mailman would hook the bay window and pull open the house.
    Danny parked on the street, hopped out, and found him self in the midst of a domestic explosion. Tommy, Richard’s twelve-year-old son, burst through the front door, yelling and pointing. ‘Why not? Everybody has one.’
    His boss followed, meaty face red. ‘I don’t care. I’m