The next morning, Todd drove by Luthers house. He passed by and saw a woman tending the flowers in the front yard. She looked about Luthers age (and Todds), about forty. She was very pretty. Todd kept driving past their house. If that was Luthers wife, he was a very lucky man, Todd thought. And now, she wouldn't have to worry about Rod anymore.
   About a block away, Todd saw Luther walking towards his house. He pulled up next to him. "What's up Luther?"
   "Hey, Todd. How ya doin'?" Luther was genuinely happy to see him.
    Todd reached a hand out the window. "It's nice to see you." As they shook, Todd continued. "It's done."
   Luthers hand stopped going up and down. He just held onto Todds. "Are you serious?" Then he let go.
   "Yes. He admitted everything too." Todd threw in.
   "I hope you made that mother fucker squirm."
   "I did."
   "I wish I could've seen that. Oh well, maybe I'll see it on the news." Luther said.
   Todd wondered if Luther got in trouble. "What happened in court?"
   "Nothing. They had to let me go. My lawyer made it look like it was their mistake."
   Todd laughed. "I owe you one, man."
   "No you don't. You already paid me back. If anything, I owe you. What are you going to do now? Do you need some money?"
   Todd thought about that one. "I do. But I don't want to take your money. Would you like to buy a house in Wisconsin?"
   Luther answered. "I don't have that kind of money. I'm just a working man. I wish I could afford to move to Wisconsin. I hear it's pretty nice up there. But if you needed, say, a few hundred, or even a thousand, I would give it to you."
   "I have some money, for now. But maybe I will need some more one of these days. I know where to find you, if and when that day comes. But I'd really, much rather sell my house. It's worth about sixty thousand. I'd sell it to you for whatever you can come up with. I don't think I can sell it to anyone else, because the law is after me. I couldn't go to a closing, or even to a lawyer. I'd have to sell it outright, to someone like you, for cash."
   Luther responded. "Let me think about it. I'll talk to my wife. If she is game, I'll see what I can come up with."
   "OK. See you later." They shook hands again and Todd drove off.
   Luther went home and couldn't contain his excitement. "Honey, do you want to move to Wisconsin? I know where to get a pretty good deal on a small house."
   Betty smiled that smile that made Luther love her so much. "I would love to, baby. But where are we going to get the money? And where would you work? I hear there aren't too many jobs out there, not like Chicago."
    Luther held her in his arms. "We will make it. I can always find a job. Our cost of living will be lower than it is here, renting. And besides, why should we continue to make our landlord rich? We need to own our own house. I think we can't afford not to take it."
   Betty looked him in the eyes still. "We only have five thousand dollars to our name. How can we do it?"
   "Maybe that's enough, for now. No bank financing on this deal. I think we can give him five down and just pay so much each month."
   "Who is this guy? Do I know him?" Betty asked.
   "No. He's a guy I met in jail. He's down on his luck and needs to sell his house fast. Our timing is good on this. I think we shouldn't pass on this one."
   Betty looked excited now. "If you really think we can get it, then why not? But what about our credit? It's not so good, you know?"
   "It is for this deal."