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Absalom has his hands on his knees, stooping to speak at Riley's level. "How's your Mommy doing? Is she all healed up?"
"She's good," Riley replies.
"Yeah, that Cerise, she's a real fighter. And you're a grower! You get a little taller every time I see you."
"Well. Uh. It's because I'm growing up," Riley says, with no trace of irony.
Absalom laughs. "I better look out. If you get any taller, I'll have to wear stilts just to talk to y--"
"What are you doing here?" Dad says, interposing himself between Riley and Absalom.
"Your man Tyrus let me in." Absalom stands straight. "We're colleagues now, right? And our children are dating. So we're practically family. Don't get so dramatic."
"We are not family."
"Yeah, well, I already gathered that you don't see it the same way. I just got back from a long conversation with a gaggle of FBI agents. Then I checked the news. You want to tell me what the fuck it is you think you're pulling here? You're going to ruin a fantastic deal for all of us."
Dad looks at you over his shoulder. "Take Riley upstairs."
"Come on," you say, taking him by the hand and ushering him away. "Let's go finish that crossword." But as you trudge upstairs with him, you can hear both men's raised voices:
"It's a message, Absalom. Simple as. We can ruin a lot more than this deal for you if you come after us again."
"I don't like messages that delay my retirement and forbid me from leaving the country. A fucking forensic audit of my business? They won't find anything, you know."
"Good for you."
"I actually run clean books. But I wonder what they'd find if they poked through Darkbloom's books. Shall we find out? You're not the only one with friends at the bureau."
You shut the door in the bedroom where Riley is staying.
"Why are they mad at each other?" Riley wants to know.
"It's... complicated."
He's worried.
[ ] Tell Riley the truth.
[ ] Leave him out of it.
