"Chief."
"Hale."
"The grand jury?”
"Returned the indictment. Frank Vaccaro is in custody in Reno. Frank Vaccaro will be in a federal courtroom in Reno on Monday. Frank Vaccaro will not be out of a federal building for the next thirty years."
I look at Evangeline.
She does not look at me.
Eve is looking at the phone on the bench under the wool hat.
"Mrs. Clark."
"Chief."
"You did a good job."
"Thank you, Chief."
"You are going to have more work, Mrs. Clark, now that you are part of the family."
Evangeline looks at me. She knows what it means.
"I am happy to be part of the family, Chief."
"Lena says hello."
"Hello, Lena."
"Hale."
"Chief."
"You are off the line for the day."
"Chief, I am due at."
"You are off the line for the day, Hale. I am sending Doyle to cover. You are at the cabin until oh-six-hundred Monday."
"Yes, Chief."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Chief."
The line goes.
I put the phone back on the wall.
I sit on the bench beside her.
She looks at me.
The chain is at her throat with the gold band on it.
The gold band is mine.
