Page 89 of The Best Trick

We’d reached a new level of commitment and acceptance back there in Malibu. It had been amazing, feeling like we’d embraced each other harder.

And Thor had gotten past his strange guilt.

But it didn’t keep Odin’s sleep issues from getting worse. It didn’t keep Thor from worrying about that.

Whatever came, we’d deal with it together.

Still.

We'd kept Doris around, hoping that Denko would feel worried about her and change his mind and do another trade, one that wouldn’t be foolishly dangerous. Zeus even threatened to drop Doris on a roadside somewhere where Denko would never get to her, not that we ever would.

Over and over Denko refused, claiming that the evidence was now off-limits to him.

What did that even mean? Was his access to it intermittent? Or did Denko have it, but he never planned to turn it over?

One thing was for sure—Denko wanted his dog back. That had become evident over the ensuing days and weeks.

So we were at an impasse.

Denko sent along a message one day asking again for Doris and offering to trade something else—anything. “Pick something I can actually deliver,” he’d demanded. “Let’s end this.”

“What the hell else would we want from you?” Zeus had asked. “Start shopping for another dog, because this one’s coming to Timbuktu with us.”

In truth, we couldn’t take Doris on the run with us—it would be dangerous for all involved. Denko knew it.

A week later, Denko messaged to suggest he could drop some charges that had been filed against the Gigis. Apparently, Macy and Jenny had gotten into some trouble connected with a heist they’d done. They weren't indicted for the heist itself, but they might have to do time off of lesser charges.

That was interesting to us, needless to say. Not as interesting as the exculpatory bag of evidence, but if Denko really couldn’t get at it anymore, helping our dear friends was something.

It was on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, sitting inside around the fire, that we all four voted to take Denko up on the offer.

It was a big decision. Earth-shaking, in a way, because it was letting go of a possibility we’d embraced. Zeus got quiet after we made it. Odin looked upset, even though he agreed it was the only option. Thor seemed distant. I felt a little bit lost.

True to his word, Denko arranged for the charges to be dropped.

The Gigis agreed to come by the following Saturday and pick up Doris. They were to deposit her at a to-be-named doggy hotel. The Gigis would be able to handle the logistics with Denko once they had Doris.

We'd all miss Doris, but Odin would miss her the most. He’d stopped talking about his sleeping thing, which was a bad sign. Now he’d lose his new friend.

Thor didn’t say anything, but I could tell he wished he could alleviate our suffering. He wanted so badly to make things better for us, and there was no way he could.

The Gigis showed up like clockwork that weekend, along with a feast of gourmet takeout food and lots of booze and sparkles. They lifted the mood, as usual, and the seven of us had a fun night around the bonfire. Odin showed off the tricks he’d taught Doris, and the Gigis were stunned and impressed. They stayed over; we definitely had the extra bedrooms to spare.

The next morning, Zeus and Thor made the whole gang breakfast.

I went off for a long walk with Angel, and we downloaded about everything that had been happening, dishing fondly about our respective gangs the way we always did when we were together.

Eventually it was time. We said our goodbyes to the Gigis and Doris, and the four of us sat together on the stoop watching them drive off, keeping sight of Doris’s sweet face in the back window until they took a corner and turned out of sight.

It was indescribably sad.

Our leverage for the tackle bag was gone for good, and now Doris was gone, too.

I put my arm around Odin. “At least we can go to five-star hotels again,” I said.

He mumbled sleepily. Maybe all his energy had left with Doris.

“Hot tubs,” Zeus said.

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