Dan studied Maria as she spoke, not hearing every word.

The waitress came by, and Maria paused until she left.

“Are you part of the movement?” she asked without warning.

“Oh, I’m not much a part of anything.”

“You don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to.” The sincerity in her eyes felt like a weight on his chest.

“I’m a nameless courier, in a darkened tavern, secretly passing cash in a briefcase.”

“I wonder, could I ask you to sit forward a little. I just can’t see you back in that corner.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he leaned forward.

“Well, I’ll be…Dan Young. You shaved your mustache.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he chuckled.

“Oh and what could I possibly say to you, short of you giving me lots of money, which you are. I can’t believe this. I’m speechless.”

“Doesn’t sound that way to me,” he said.

“Now I feel completely stupid dressing up this way. Why are you doing this?”

“I’m only a lawyer, just like you. They didn’t ask me what I thought.”

“Why’d they send you?”

“Nice smile?”

“This isn’t a joke is it?”

“The briefcase is full.”

“So what do you want?”

“To give you the money, get a little info.”

“Info? This,” she gestured at the briefcase, “is to help us get the Highlands Forest designated as a park. Lobbyists and court battles cost a fortune. Patty McCafferty and I and a lot of others are determined to save it.”

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