The moment the car door closed, they got down to business.
“Your court hearing is Thursday,” Bill told him. “Meanwhile, don’t take any long-distance journeys. Take this opportunity for a few days off. Get your bearings, rest up. All the good stuff.”
Mason thought of Amy. Both she and Sandra would be torn up about Joshua’s death. He would spend some time with them both. And then Diane popped into his mind. Mason felt awful for having involved her in this big mess, and he would be sure to thank her somehow.
“Thanks, Bill. And what about you?”
“Me? I’m fine. To tell the truth, I just feel bad you’re the one who suffered through all that.” He looked around at Evie, who was picking at her fingernails in the car. “If you need me to come forward and take responsibility—”
“No. That won’t be necessary.”
“But if you change your mind, it’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me.” Bill folded his arms across his chest as leaves swirled around their legs. “Do you regret it? What we did to Wendell?”
“Marvin?” Mason asked. “No. Not in the slightest. He messed with my family, and I’d do it all over again. My only regret is that I didn’t do enough to protect my loved ones.”
“Well, they’re here, aren’t they?”
Mason sighed. “I suppose. Come on, let’s go home.” He climbed into the back seat of the car and watched out the window as San Francisco rolled by. The beauty of the city made him think about his life here and what he could make of it. As soon as the court trial was over, he would be able to make a start.
But there was one more thing he had to do first.