This time, I wasn't so quick to say yes. In truth, Ididwant to know, but if there was another surprise, I didn't want to ruin that one, too.
Deliberately, I switched gears. "Did you get my message? About Joel, I mean?"
"Not directly. But I heard from Bishop."
"You did? Did he find Joel?"
"Sort of."
"What do you mean 'sort of'?"
"He talked to him. That's it."
"How'd it go? Did you hear?"
"Oh, I heard about it," Jake said, sounding like the conversation had been less than friendly.
"From Bishop?"
"Andfrom Joel. Let's just say, I got an earful."
"I can believe it," I said, recalling my own encounter with his brother. "Is Joel okay?"
"He will be," Jake said. "He just doesn't know it yet."
"How about you?" My voice softened. "Are you okay?"
I heard a smile in his voice as he said, "I am now."
Soon, I was smiling, too. And I'd be smiling even more when Jake returned.
Still, I had to ask, "About Joel, what are you gonna do?"
"Nothing."
I don't know what I expected, but his answer caught me off guard. "Nothing? Why?"
Dark humor crept into his voice. "Because, in Bishop's words, I've done enough."
"Since when do you listen to Bishop?"
"Hey, there's a first for everything." He paused, and his tone grew more serious. "And Bishop's right. Joel needs some time to cool off. Me chasing after him? Not gonna help."
I felt so bad about everything that I had to sigh. "True."
"Hey, don't worry. Bishop's on it. Joel isn'tquiteso pissed at him."
"And what about Vince?" I asked. "Are you really gonna leave his clients alone?"
"Not justhisclients."
"I'm not following."
"Then lemme put it this way." Jake was quiet a beat before saying, "I'm done."
