Page 89 of The Picasso Heist

“HI, DAD.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

“I’ve been worried about you.”

“And I’ve been worried about you. How do you feel?”

“I’m fine. All good.”

“You just looked away when you said that.”

“So?”

“So that’s the biggest tell in poker. Every time you do that, you’re trying to bluff me.”

“Nonsense. And that’s enough talk about me. Your turn. What’s new with you? How goes it in the outside world?”

“Honestly? Sometimes I think you might actually be safer in here than out there. It’s a complicated world.”

“I try not to look at the news much in here. The cinder block is depressing enough.”

“What about movies? Are you still watching a lot of those?”

“There’ll never be a better way to pass the time. Any new recommendations?”

“Well, I finally got around to watching that Yellowstone series. Better late than never, I figured. It got me thinking about some of Kevin Costner’s other stuff, movies he did when he was younger. I came across one I somehow missed. It’s called Revenge. Ever see it?”

“No, I don’t think so. I must have missed it too. Who else is in it?”

“Anthony Quinn. You remember him, right?”

“Of course. Zorba the Greek.”

“Yeah, although it’s interesting. In this Revenge movie he plays a wealthy Mexican businessman, but he reminds me more of a mob boss.”

“Why’s that?”

“He commands a lot of loyalty from his men.”

“Meaning there’s little they wouldn’t do for him.”

“Exactly.”

“Remember The Untouchables? That’s probably my favorite Kevin Costner movie.”

“Probably mine as well.”

“The best part is when he recruits his team to bring down Al Capone, the people he knows for sure he can trust. He has to go outside the department, think outside the box.”

“Exactly.”

“Yeah, that was a great movie, all right, although it probably appeals more to men. I mean, it’s safe to say a certain someone in our family hasn’t seen it.”

“Very safe.”

“Come to think of it, she’s never been a big fan of men-saving-the-day stories, has she?”

“No, not at all. I wouldn’t even recommend The Bodyguard to her.”

“That’s your sister, all right. But she’s the only one you’ve got, son.”

“Trust me, Dad, I know.”