is meeting with the DA as we speak.

Anonymously, of course. They won't know whom he represents."

"I don't understand."

"I kept evidence that night," she said. "I took pictures of the body. They'll test Clu's hand for powder residue. I even have a suicide note, if need be. The charges against Esperanza will be dropped. She'll be released in the morning. It's over."

"The DA isn't going to settle for that. He's going to want to know the whole story."

"Life is full of wants, Myron. But the DA won't get it in this case. He'll just have to live with that reality. And in the end it's just a suicide anyway. High profile or not, it won't be a priority." She reached into her pocket and took out a piece of paper. "Here," she said. "It's Clu's suicide note."

Myron hesitated. He took the note, immediately recognizing Clu's handwriting. He started reading:

Dear Mrs. Mayor, The torment has gone on long enough. I know you won't accept my apology and I can't say that I blame you. But I also don't have the strength to face you. I've been running away from that night all my life. I hurt my family and my friends, but I hurt nobody so much as I hurt you. I hope my death gives you some measure of comfort. I am the one to blame for what happened. Billy Lee Palms just did what I told him to. The same goes for Myron Bolitar. I paid off the police. Myron just delivered the money. He never knew the truth. My wife was knocked out in the accident. She also never knew the truth and she still doesn't. The money is all here. Do with it what you will. Tell Bonnie that I'm sorry and that I understand everything. And let my children know that their father always loved them. They were the only thing pure and good in my life. You, of all people, should understand that. Clu Haid

Myron read the note again. He pictured Clu writing it, then putting it aside, then picking up the gun and pressing it against his head. Did he close his eyes then? Did he think of his children, the two boys with his smile, before he pulled the trigger? Did he hesitate at all?

His eyes stayed on the note. "You didn't believe him," he said.

"About the culpability of the others? No. I knew he was lying. You, for example. You were more than a delivery boy. You bribed those officers."

"Clu lied to protect us," Myron said. "In the end he sacrificed himself for those he loved."

Sophie frowned. "Don't make him out to be a martyr."

"I'm not. But you just can't walk away from what you did."

"I did nothing."

"You made a man-the father of two boys-kill himself."

"He made a choice, that's all."

"He didn't deserve that."

"And my daughter didn't deserve to be murdered and buried in an anonymous pit," she said.

Myron looked up into the stadium lights, letting them blind him a bit.

"Clu was off drugs," he said. "You'll pay the rest of his salary."

"No."

"You'll also let the world know-and his children- that in the end Clu wasn't on drugs."

"No," Sophie said again. "The world won't know that. And they also won't know Clu was a murderer. I'd say that's a pretty good bargain, wouldn't you?"

He read the note again, tears stinging his eyes.

"One heroic moment in the end doesn't redeem him," Sophie said.

"But it says something."

"Go home, Myron. And be glad it's over. If the truth were ever to come out, there is only one guilty party left to take the fall."

Myron nodded. "Me."

"Yes."

They stared at each other.

"I didn't know about your daughter," he said.

"I know that now."

"You thought I helped Clu cover it up."

"No, I know you helped Clu cover it up. What I wasn't sure about is if you knew what you were doing. It was why I asked you to look for Lucy-so I could see how deep your involvement was."

"The void," Myron said.

"What about it?"

"Did this help fill it?"

Sophie thought about it. "Strangely enough, the answer is yes, I think. It doesn't bring Lucy back. But I feel as though she's been properly buried now. I think we can begin to heal."

"So we all just go on?"

Sophie smiled. "What else can we do?"

She nodded to Jared. Jared took his mother's hand, and they started back for the dugout.

"I am very sorry," Myron said.

Sophie stopped. She dropped her son's hand and studied Myron for a moment, her eyes moving over his