Page 41 of Pursuit of Happiness

“Sorry, no. And I know you can’t talk. I suppose I’m so desperateto have a conversation that doesn’t have anything to do with this damnelection.”

“We can talk in New York if you want, but I had other thoughtsabout what we could do while I’m there.”

“Is that so?”

“It is indeed.”

“I’m very interested in these other thoughts.”

“Would you like me to share a few of them now?”

A loud knock on the door startled Meredith, and she stood andcleared her throat. “Be right there,” she yelled at the door and then toStevie, she whispered. “I hate this, but I have to go.”

“I get it. Totally. Just a few days and we’ll see each other inperson. Be forewarned, you’re going to need to set aside a few hours with a DoNot Disturb sign on your door and your phone powered off. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“You’re going to knock ’em dead at that dinner.”

“Thanks.” Meredith knew this was when she should say good-bye,but she suddenly felt like a drama-filled teenager on the phone with her firstgirlfriend, worried that by hanging up the phone all would be lost. Funny sinceshe’d never been like that when she actually was a teenager.

“Meredith?”

“Yes?”

“You got this.”

A few minutes later when Meredith was listening to thecaptivating Lily Gantry, her mind kept drifting back to her conversation withStevie and lingering on what she might have planned for their date in New York,and she vowed to make the most of what little time they had and figure out away to carve out more.

* * *

Stevie walked into the jail, shifted the box she was carryingonto one hip, and prepared to do battle. She slid the slip of paper withBarkley’s information on it to the guard. “I’m going to need to see him in acontact room with electrical outlets.”

Wrinkles formed on his forehead, and he shoved the slip back ather. “Window seat only today.”

She gripped the paper in her hand and shoved it back across thecounter. “I called ahead.”

He shrugged. “Sorry.”

He wasn’t, and they both knew it. She set the box on the floorand rummaged through her bag for the ammunition she’d hoped she wouldn’t haveto use. She finally located it and handed him a one-page document. “That’s anorder from Judge Solomon. Are you going to comply?”

“It doesn’t say you have to see him today. Maybe the room will beavailable tomorrow.”

“Would you like me to call the judge?” She watched while heweighed the fun he got from giving her a hard time against the trouble he waslikely to get in if his boss found out a federal judge was on his back.

She heard the large buzz of the gate lock disengaging, and hewaved her through. “Room at the end on the left,” he said through the intercom.She picked up her box and walked the short distance, taking time to set up herfiles before Barkley showed up.

Barkley glanced back at the guard who escorted him, and Stevietried to read his expression. It wasn’t fear. Anxiety maybe? Stevie waiteduntil the guard shut the door and his footfalls no longer sounded in thehallway. “How have you been treated here?”

“Fine.”

The one word, though more than he usually said, was deliveredwith flat affect, telling her nothing. “You can tell me if someone is hurtingyou or threatening you. I can do something about it.”

“You have an exaggerated sense of your own power.”

“Someone’s chatty today. What’s the occasion?” She kept her tonelight, hoping a bit of levity might spark him to say more.

“Why did you decide to take my case?”

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