The First Counsel

* * *

I'm about to head over to Caroline's when I hear the phone in my office ring. Running inside, I check the digital screen to see who it is. It's the number from before. Nora. "Hello?" I say, picking it up.

"Michael?" She sounds different. Almost out of breath.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Have you spoken to her yet?"

"Caroline? No, why?"

"You're not going to tell her I was there, are you? I mean, I don't think you should . . ."

"Nora, I already told you I wouldn't--"

"And the money--you're not going to say I took the money, right?" Her voice is racing with panic.

"Of course not."

"Good. Good." Already, she's calming down. "That's all I wanted to know." I hear her take a deep breath. "I'm sorry--I didn't mean to freak like that--I just started getting a little nervous."

"Whatever you say," I tell her, still confused by the outburst. I hate hearing that crack in her voice--all that confidence crushed to nothing. It's like seeing your dad cry; all you want to do is stop it. And in this case, I can. "You don't have to worry," I add. "I've got it all taken care of."