Part 18

"I don't understand it," Joanna said to Quinn, sitting in Luke's Bar with Quinn after a swing shift. "Glen is a nice guy, I went out with him several times. He would never tell a lie or get messed up with some woman who goes around shooting people. Hell, even Charlie wouldn't do that."

"You can't help who you're attracted to," Quinn said. "It doesn't work if you make this list and assign points for certain traits and decide to be attracted to the one with the most points."

"You don't suppose I'm so idiotic I'm falling for mere looks?" Joanna asked.

"No, I don't suppose you are idiotic," Quinn said affectionately.

"I know he lies, for example, I feel certain he is lying about driving Miss Emily."

Quinn smiled. "Well, you know, it is a lie that's to his disadvantage. I mean, I don't think it's a good idea that he do it or approve of it or anything like that. But it isn't a selfish lie."

"I guess you're right. I don't know why they protect that brat so much. There's Lucky, too. He takes her side regardless. She could murder somebody and they'd all be defending her."

"There's Lucky's half-brother, too, Nicholas. Gia had Emily for a bridesmaid. I was talking to Gia when we visited that island, and from her I gathered that she wasn't so fond of Little Miss, but felt like she had to choose her as a bridesmaid because Nicholas considers her such a friend."

"Those two might not lie to the authorities for her, but they are similar, I guess."

"As for AJ, you know he's not lying to you. In fact, he might lie to the authorities on your behalf, if he thought it necessary."

"I don't know that I like that."

"No, but you could like him for it. I'm just saying. These things don't work the sensible way, or I'd be married to Paul Whitman right now."

"Yeah, you know what I mean exactly, don't you, Quinn? You know you could be dating somebody without a criminal record, just for starters."

"Yeah, the criminal record is interesting."

"That's it! It's just interesting, because he is. You don't find it disqualifying if there are other factors. But you would have if just asked about it, out of the blue. Like if you had never met Zander and I had asked you would you ever date someone who had ever broken the law, you'd have said no."

"Yeah, and you'd have said no dating someone who lied to get little sister out of paying for her mistakes."

"But that's not a good thing. She will grow up thinking she's entitled to do anything. So will his son."

"He might think twice about it when it's his son. He might come under your good influence, too," Quinn added, grinning.

"Oh no. It does not work to reform them. Or try to."

"No, but you can always state your opinion and it might have some weight."

"Yeah. But what do I do now? I sound like I'm in high school. I'm not sure how to act when AJ pops up in ICU next."

"Maybe it was always to run into you!"

"I never felt singled out."

"Well, maybe he tried to hide that and succeeded. You're at work there, busy. If that's not the explanation, you might be able to find out for us!"

Joanna laughed. "I may never find out the truth!"

"It could be fun trying!"

"And aggravating. I am sure grateful to have a friend like you, Quinn. Somebody you can tell anything to."

"Me too. I wish Zander had someone like that."

"You don't think he does? His brother loves him."

"Yeah. I think his brother, when he gets older, and the age difference shrinks - he could be that. Probably will. Sometimes I think Alexis might be or that Rosa might be - he can talk to them, about anything, but I wonder if he realizes it. And Joe I think he can talk too, but I'm sure Zander would be careful what he said, about me."

"There's the shrink."

"Oh sure, but that's not the same. It's that his parents aren't like mine. It's not the same for him."

"Would you mind if it was a girl? Like Rosa's daughter, or Gia or somebody."

"I guess not. So long as it was purely Platonic. Purely platonic."

"That sounds mighty possessive!"

"But of course! I told you - you can't pick the one you love with a list!"

"I hope you're right that it just all works out."

Nicholas went to Oksana's house with a sweater she had left on the island. "I should have left it for my uncle, because I'm sure he'd rather have the excuse to come over," Nicholas said to Peter, who had let him in. "But I was dying to take up Zander on his offer to let me see that car."

Peter laughed and called Zander up at the gate house.

Zander came back and then went out in the Porsche, with Nicholas driving.

"This is a great ride," Nicholas said. He drove out on Lake Road, since it was relatively traffic-free.

"There's the accident site," Nicholas said.

"This is my car," Zander said. "No berating me about Emily."

"OK," Nicholas said. "Fair enough rule. I guess you take the position she was driving. Gia does too."

"Of course she was," Zander said. "And so, why shouldn't she get the legal penalty? You were all for me getting whatever penalties I deserved."

"Well, see, you didn't get enough," Nicholas said. "Because Emily was so helpful to you. So why not give her a break now?"

"Now, it doesn't matter to me one way or the other."

"But your girlfriend caught her."

"Quinn was stuck on the case, it could have been any nurse."

"Yeah. And I guess Quinn can't change her story now."

Zander laughed. "Good fiction! Quinn changing her story to lie to protect Emily! That'll happen only in fairy tales."

"Well, I wish she hadn't said anything, or anyone for that matter, because there's no harm done."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Emily has the best law firm on her side, with the best shyster lawyer clerk from another state there is."

"What is that guy's story, anyway? He was out at our house asking us a zillion questions, being really as charming as he could be the whole time. Is he really Emily's boyfriend?"

"No, I think you have another one to protect Emily from. Watch out for him," Zander advised. "He's up to something. I just know it in my bones."

"Thanks!" Nicholas said. "And for the ride."