I went down the stairs and out the door. I closed it and locked the dead bolt with exaggerated slowness to give Jacie time to cover up. I needn't have bothered. As I walked past the pool she was floating on her back. I hurried my steps, not looking directly at her.

"Where is the gay caballero off to this morning?"

Jacie's looks might have gotten her into silent films, but she couldn't make it into the talkies because of the harshness of her voice. Her body wasn't bad, however. I felt that since she had addressed me I was entitled, so I looked directly at her and confirmed not for the first time that she was a natural blond. I said, "I'm going to tilt at a few windmills and right some unrightable wrongs."

"Well, just make sure you don't queer things instead of righting them." She laughed.

Jacie was comedically challenged. I jerked my head to the front with an effort and went through the open sliding door into the castle. I was in the formal dining room, with its massive chandelier from Austria. I heard noises from the adjacent kitchen.

I poked my head through the door and said, "Hi, Luz, how's my sweetheart?"

"Karl! Mi hijo."

I went to her and gave her a hug. As I put my arms around her ample body I thought of the mother I no longer had.

"I'm cooking spareribs for dinner," she said. "I have a great tomato sauce. I will make enough for you, if you like."

"That sounds wonderful, but I don't know when I'll be home."

"Would you like me to put them in your refrigerator? You only have to heat them in the microwave. And I will give you some beans, too."

"Thanks, Luz. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You would waste away to a spot of grease. But I will take care of you."

"Bye. Gotta run." I waved to her and dashed toward the garage. I have to admit that I learned two things from my father. One was to treat the "janitors" well because they can help you. Luz's title was actually housekeeper. I invested her IRA for her; it had tripled in value in the last two years, partly because of Dionysus stock. Fortunately, I had sold Dionysus near the top.