The First Counsel

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By eight o'clock, to avoid the glut of Friday night little-kid sitcoms, the restaurant switches to CNN--just in time to watch the story run again. When they're finished showing Hartson's sound bite, the anchorwoman says, "Tomorrow's Washington Post reports that this man, Michael Garrick, is currently being sought for questioning by authorities." As she says my name, my ID photo flashes on-screen. It happens so fast, I barely react. All I can do is look away. When she's done, I pick my head up and check the bar. Waitress. Bartender. Businessmen expense-accounting their salmon dinners. No one knows but me.