"Try Cleary," a voice answered, "It was one of my favorites." The voice sounded nervous to Dean, and perhaps disguised.
"I chased your yellow jacket down Wolfe Creek Pass today," Dean said.
"Really? But you didn't catch me, huh?"
"If you'd turn the light on, you'd see my leg. I lost a wheel and a layer or two of skin. Otherwise, I'd have caught you."
"Sorry about the leg, but Mr. Winston says to keep the light off." Dean tried to picture Byrne from his photograph but nothing came to mind. They were both silent for a long while. Finally, Dean asked if Byrne planned to finish the bike tour.
"Probably not. I'm in a hurry to split. But Wolfe Creek Pass, that was really something, wasn't it? Worth every foot of the climb." Dean didn't answer but they both knew he agreed.
"Why did you want to see me?"
"I guess I wanted to ask you the classic question."
"Why did I do it?" Byrne volunteered.
"And, 'Would you do it over again?'" Dean added.
He sighed. "Mr. Winston says you know the whole business- how the dough fell out of the sky. I didn't plan any of it, but all of a sudden, there you are, every dream you ever imagined staring you smack in the face-unbelievable options-every kid's fantasy come true."
"You were taking a hell of a chance."
"I guess I've always been a dreamer and one night when I was just taking a piss I tripped over a couple suitcases with all my dreams in 'em. Sometimes there are temptations you just can't pass up."
"What about Cynthia and your son?"
The voice became surly. "That's off limits. I don't want to talk about them. Mr. Winston said I have to speak with you but he did-n't tell me what I had to talk about."
"Do you always do what Mr. Winston tells you?"
"Are you kidding? He owns me. God, I thought I was so damn smart, changing names, changing vehicles and some old guy and a small town detective find me like I've got a sign around my neck. No, Winston's my salvation. It's 'Yes, sir, no, sir' from here on out." Dean didn't comment and a short silence followed. "I'm really not a bastard, at least not as much as you think."
"Cece Baldwin doesn't think so."
There was a chuckle. "So you found Cece too! Way to go! Mr. Winston was right; you are good." Dean could hear the smile in his voice, as if he was pleased.
"Where are you going from here?" Dean asked.
"Maybe the coast. Who knows? I've got a couple of million I've hardly touched."