Page 124 of The 1 Lawyer

When she stood up, I rose, like my mother had taught me. Jenny came up to me and whispered something. I bent down to listen.

She repeated it. “I need a dollar, Stafford Lee.”

That wasn’t quite what I’d expected.

As I reached for my wallet, she said, “They’ve got a ladies’ room attendant in there. I think I’m supposed to tip her. I didn’t even know that was a real thing, thought it was just in old movies.”

She ran off to the restroom and returned a couple of minutes later. She had a glow to her—it sounds corny, but that’s the only way to describe it.

When we finished the entrées, Jenny sighed. “I’m stuffed, but it was so good I had to eat every bite.”

“How about some dessert? You know they invented bananas Foster here. They’ll make it tableside, set it on fire. It’s a showstopper.”

I could see her think it over. She shook her head.

I said, “Hmm, better reconsider. I think there may be a law against leaving Brennan’s without ordering dessert.”

She played along. “State statute? Or federal?”

“A city ordinance. I’m fairly sure.”

She laughed. Then she said, with a note of regret, “Stafford Lee, we still have to get back. It’s a ninety-minute drive to Biloxi.”

I smiled. It was a perfect opening to spring the surprise. “About that. We’re not going back tonight. I reserved a room for us at the Royal Sonesta.”

I’d been pretty sure she’d like the idea. When she lit up like a firefly, she looked so happy I was afraid I’d need a Kleenex.

“You did not!” she said.

“I did. We’ve got a balcony on Bourbon. It wasn’t easy to score a Bourbon Street balcony on short notice. I had to call my dad. He pulled some strings.”

She grabbed my hand, squeezed it hard. “That’s perfect. I love the Royal Sonesta. They’ve got a jazz bar with live music.”

A jazz bar sounded okay, if that was what she wanted. But I’d been staring at her in that slinky blue dress all through dinner.

She must have read my face. “What are you thinking?”

I cleared my throat, lowered my voice, said, “I got some beads.”

She looked perplexed. “Oh? You want to throw them off the balcony? To the people on Bourbon?”

I said, “I wasn’t thinking I’d waste them on strangers.”

She gave me that look. Picked up her purse. “No dessert tonight. Hurry up and get the check, Stafford Lee.”

My arm shot up to signal the waiter.

CHAPTER 99

MASON BURNETT was early for our meeting. He walked into the office shortly before eleven o’clock.

I was standing in the reception area, waiting. “Mason! Come on in and have a seat.”

Mason followed me into my private office and dropped into a chair facing my desk. “You’re looking good, Stafford Lee. Back to normal. How’s Jenny?”

I glanced away. “She’s okay.”

He made a sympathetic clicking noise with his tongue. “She’s holding up? Not carrying a load of trauma over Roman’s death?”

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