When he was finished it was more than shipshape. In fact, he’d never lived in a place as clean and orderly as his was that morning. He phoned his mother to tell her he was going out to look for a job. He told her he was thinking about selling sailboats, and that she shouldn’t worry about him; he’d be all right. Talking to his mother made him feel better. He suddenly craved an omelet with jalapeño chilis, but there wasn’t even an egg in his refrigerator. He was preparing to go out for breakfast when the phone rang. It was Sammy Vogel from Newport Beach PD. “Win,” Vogel said. “I just wanted to tell you there’s an A.A. meeting tonight at seven-thirty, over on Thirty-second Street. A speaker meeting. I think you’d enjoy it. I’ll be there if you wanna come.” “Thanks,” Winnie said. “Can’t make it tonight. Maybe tomorrow night.” Before hanging up, the detective said, “Don’t try to do it on your own. A do-it-yourself circumcision’d be easier.” Winnie was already outside the door when the phone rang again.
