Chapter 22: Topping Out

The topping-out was held at noon on the top slab of Vanderberg Tower, in front of three hundred guests and every camera in the city.

A white tent stood over the stage, and a steel beam hung from the crane with the signatures of the whole crew written on it in marker.

The cable rail around the edge had been doubled, and my father stood in the front row in a new coat that he had paid for himself.

Beside him sat the charity chair, in a feathered hat, taking notes in a small book.

Giles stood at the back of the stage with his hands behind him.

He was one step behind me and a little to the left.

"Mr. Vanderberg," said the mayor, "would you like to say a word about your daughter?"

My father got up, and wiped his face, and said, "She built it. That's all."

The crowd laughed and clapped.

I stepped up to the microphone.

"Thank you all for coming," I said. "Twenty-one months ago, this was a gravel lot with a bait shop on it."

Somebody whistled.

"I'll keep it short, because you'd all like to see the beam go up."

That was when I saw her.

She came out of the crowd by the elevator housing, in a hard hat and a long camel coat, with her hair pinned and her face made up.

The bruise was gone.

She walked down the aisle between the chairs with her chin up, smiling at the cameras, and people moved their knees to let her by.

I knew every step of that walk.

It was mine, with a brighter mouth.

"Hallie," she said, warm and clear, and she took the microphone out of my hand.

The tent went quiet.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Reese Vanderberg. I'm Hallie's twin."

She looked out over the faces.

"I'd like to tell you what my sister is. She's the cleverest woman in this city, and she is a liar."

"Reese," my father said, standing up.

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