Frank hadn't picked up yet, but it was still on the first ring. Wow, time had really seemed to slow down.

A second ring, and then Frank picked up. "Hey, Jack. Thanks for calling."

"Hey, Frank. You OK?"

"Is this a secure line?" he asked.

"What?" I was dumbfounded.

"You know, they always ask that in the movies, when people need to have a sensitive conversation. It sounds so cool, but I don't really know what it means."

Was he serious? I said, "I don't really know what it means either. But we're both on cell phones. I think that's about as insecure as you can get. Does it really matter?"

"Nah, I'm just messing with you," Frank said. "How cool would that be though, if we were so important we had to say things like 'can we switch to a secure line?' It would make work so much more fun if we were like spies, or astronauts, or vampires, or something."

"Frank," I began with the pain of a sudden onset migraine. "It's after midnight. I woke up my wife to call you. And you haven't given me the slightest reason not to be upset that I did. What the hell is going on?"

"Take it easy, dude. When the devil comes for you tonight, you want to make a good first impression, and not be such a stress case. 2012! Yeah! Woo! 2012 rules!"

"For God's sake, I've had just about enough of this 2012 nonsense! It's been 2012 for almost a whole year, and nothing has happened yet. Sorry to disappoint you, but the world is not coming to an end. Now why did you want me to call you?"

Next: Page 36
Current: Page 35
Previous: Page 34
Table of Contents: Mesothelioma Lawyers, New York


Privacy Policy