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just in time. Though I’m sure feeling his college tuition payments. Maybe you should look at that—some parochial school for Evelia.”
    “I could never afford it,” Thalia said. “I’m barely making ends meet now.”
    Able thought about that. He said, “Seeing myself a priest soon about another matter. Maybe I’ll talk to him. See if there isn’t some special program or sponsorship kind of thing we can get going to get Evelia into the school tied to his church. Let me look into that.”
    Before she could object, Able said, “Oh, here. Something for you.” He pulled a folder out of his briefcase and rooted through papers. He handed her a certificate. “I’m in a club—just had my tenth oil change and so they kick me back a free oil change and tire rotation. You take it and keep that jalopy of yours running.” He smiled and said, “Don’t even try to refuse. You’ll insult me, and it’s a dangerous thing, bein’ on my bad side.”
    Able pulled out another slip of paper. “And I got an invitation for me and a guest to the new steakhouse opening up over to Market Street. I can’t make it, so you take it. You and your mother can have a free night out. Take Evelia. I don’t think they’ll object. Not like she’ll be at their free hooch.” He forced the invitation on Thalia along with sundry coupons for free colas and burgers from various fast food operations. His badge was forever reaping him freebies.
    Thalia quietly said, “Thank you so much,” still unable to meet his eyes.
    “Nothing. It’s
nothing
. Is there anything I can do for you that counts for something? Anything I can help you with?”
    Thalia hesitated, then said, “No, I don’t think so.”
    “What is it?”
    “Well, it’s a breakfast thing they do once a year at school. You know, fathers, grandfathers, or even uncles if they have to dig down that deep, go in and sit with the girls for a breakfast.” Thalia’s surviving brother and sister had drifted away years ago; moved West. Her siblings sent Christmas cards, but usually forgot birthdays. It was just Thalia, her daughter, her mother, and a girl cousin, now.
    “I’ll do it,” Able said quickly. “Give me the time and the place and I’ll play grandpa.” He smiled. “And I’ll go out of uniform.”
    “Thank you so much,” Thalia said, finally meeting his gaze. She smiled. “It’ll mean the world to Evelia—to have a man there for her.” He could tell she meant it.
    “It’s nothing,” Able said. He sipped his coffee again, said, “Anything for me today? Anything I should know?”
    Thalia bit her lip, then said, “I don’t know what you can do about this, or if you’d even want to try. But word is there is a gang of white men, teenage boys, really, who are targeting the illegals on the West Side. Home invasions, purse-snatchings and parking lot robberies. They prey on the illegals because they can’t report the crimes. You know, for fear that you or your people will deport them.”
    Able nodded. “You get any sense of who these white boys are, I do want to know. I’ll see they’re punished, all the way up.”
    “I will.” Thalia paused, then said, “How is your grandson? How is Amos doing?”
    Able shrugged. “Good. He’s doin’ good.”
    Thalia raised her coffee cup, but stopped short of her lips. “Anything exciting in his life?”
    “No, I don’t think so. He’s just studying hard so I don’t kick his ass. Seems to have some new girlfriend he never talks about.” Able shrugged. “Same old, same old.”
    He sensed Thalia wanted to say more. He said, “Somethin’ else you want to tell me?”
    The moment still didn’t seem right. Thalia smiled and shook her head.
Tomorrow,
she promised herself.
Tomorrow for certain.
     
    THEN
    Thalia’s family was two miles out of the Painted Desert when the radiator sprang a catastrophic leak.
    Sofia was furious at her husband for the side trip. The park was supposed to be a scenic attraction, but it