assed.

Science fairs, spelling

determination, I

t's my boy!" he'd boom at games,

n extension of hi

ng the family construction business

of Wall Street. Of algor

books on economics, subscri

ne," Michael would say, impressed despite hims

ust s

tate debate championship, Michael

e said, hand

d tennis bracelet.

voice was thick with emotion. Or what he thought was

hael," I said soft

ething unreadable in his eyes. Th

t was a reward. A reco

y to reinforce his own self-i

elet. It felt c

getting restless. She was asking Michael for more money.

told me once, testing the wate

r her," I'd replied

lieved by my appa

, from Henderson, that she'd been a peripheral figure in her ex-boyfriend's money laundering scheme.

gun. I kept it locked away,

olleges. Ivy League. Hi

dness of strangers, about the woman who raised him

eant

in his eyes. "He's a good ki

l had n