WHAT CAME BEFORE SUDDENLY, MAX IS STANDING AT THE FOOT OF MY BED. I sit up, rubbing my eyes. Did I fall asleep? He smiles. "Hey." He's wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He looks good. "Hey, yourself. When did they let you out of the hospital?" "An hour ago. I was afraid you weren't going to wake up in time." My head is fuzzy with sleep. I give it a shake and focus on Max. "You really look good. I just left Texas a few hours ago. You made a miraculous recovery." "In a way." He takes a seat on the end of my bed. "I have something to tell you. And I don't think I have much time." I smile. "Why not?" "Oh, you know, places to go, people to see." "You realize Pablo is in custody." "Yes. But that's not why I'm here." I prop myself up straighter against the headboard and try to concentrate. My brain isn't cooperating. It seems to be trying to cut into my thoughts, to tell me something. I tell it to shut up, that I only want to listen to Max. I lean toward him. "Go on." He sighs. "First, I owe you an apology. I didn't treat you very well