Emily Thornton cleared her throat. As soon as she sat, the others sat, too. She said, 'Special Agent Fields indicates that you have information regarding a man named Andrei Markov.'

'Did the special agent describe that information?'

Jasper said, 'Describe. Can you believe this guy?'

Thornton 's eyes flicked to him and her eyebrows went up maybe an eighth of an inch. 'You're here by invitation, I believe, aren't you, Mr. Jasper?'

Jasper frowned but said nothing. I was liking Emily Thornton just fine. She came back to me. 'Ms. Fields did tell me the situation, but I'd like to hear it from you.'

I went through it again, telling her that I could offer them Andrei Markov on a count of possessing counterfeit U.S. currency with intent to distribute and defraud, and for the more serious charge of kidnapping a minor. I told them that I could offer Clark Hewitt as a witness to both counts. Thornton listened without speaking until I was done, and then she said, 'Who is this minor?'

'Hewitt's twelve-year-old son.'

She wrote something on a pad. 'Is Hewitt now printing this money?'

'Hewitt is in the Los Angeles area.'

Jasper's pal said, 'Oh, to hell with this guy!' He put his forearms on the table and made a face at Minelli. 'Christ, Lance. Fuck this guy.'

Thornton 's eyes went to him. 'Would you get us coffee, please?'

He blinked at her.

Emily Thornton repeated herself. 'Coffee for everyone, with sweeteners and a creamer of some kind.'

Jasper's pal's face went dark red, and he forced out an angry smile, like she was confused about something and he was going to set her straight. 'You want coffee, lady, I think you oughta ask someone in the hall.'

Emily Thornton didn't move, but Lance Minelli said, 'Step out of the room, please.' His voice was quiet and his face said absolutely nothing.

The red-haired man opened his mouth, closed it, then abruptly walked out and closed the door. He closed the door so softly that you could barely hear it. I guess he was the one confused.

When he was gone Thornton pursed her lips, and tapped one immaculately enameled nail on the table. 'I would think your Mr. Hewitt would come to us anyway, with his son in danger.'

'We're going to get his son back with or without your help, Ms. Thornton. Your help will make it easier.'

A microscopic smile touched the corners of her mouth. She said, 'You were involved with Ida Leigh Washington, weren't you?'

'Yes, ma'am.' Ida Leigh Washington was a woman I'd helped a few years ago. I'd proven that a small group of corrupt police officers had murdered her son, and then I'd helped her recover damages from the city.

The smile broadened for just a moment, then vanished. 'Yes, well, I imagine you could get the boy back.' She tapped the nail again. 'What is it you want?'

'Clark Hewitt is dying of stomach cancer. He is currently engaged in an activity to earn money to care for his children after he dies. I want him to be able to complete that activity free of investigation or prosecution.'

Emily Thornton shook her head. 'I couldn't possibly agree to that.'

'Then we have no deal.'

Jasper said, 'How about we just throw your ass in the tank?'

I spread my hands. 'On what charges?'

Jasper frowned and Minelli shrugged. 'We could probably think of something.'

'So play it that way if you want.'

Marsha Fields said, 'What is Hewitt doing?'

I looked at Emily Thornton when I answered. 'He is not printing U.S. currency, or any other paper negotiable in the United States. He is not committing fraud, nor is he engaged in any other crime for which he could be charged.' I spread my hands. 'Should you agree to this arrangement, you don't want to ask any more or know any more.'

Emily Thornton was nodding. 'If we knew more, and approved it, we'd be stepping over the line into entrapment.'

'Yes. We want Markov off the board, and you can do that for us. That's why I'm here. I can get the boy back, but there's less risk if you're involved. That's also why I'm here. But everything that I want to happen is going to happen whether you're a party to it or not. If you're a party to it, you get Markov and you'll bring down his entire operation.' I leaned back and waited.

Lance Minelli said, 'How do you see the scam?'

'Markov is going to receive a large amount of counterfeit U.S. currency as ransom for the boy. When I learn the time and place of that transfer, I'll let you know so your people can be there. You get to arrest Markov in possession of the counterfeit money, and Hewitt will testify against him in the kidnapping.'

Marsha Fields was gently rocking in her chair. She was staring at me, and I could see that she was liking it. She said, 'You know, the more funny money Markov has on him, the more we could charge him with.' Everyone looked at her. 'He had about a million bucks, say, we could hit him with a manufacturing count, as well as possession with intent to sell. A million dollars would do just fine.'

Emily Thornton said, 'That's dangerously close to plotting an entrapment, Special Agent.'

Marsha Fields blinked at her. 'Oh, I wasn't suggesting anything. I was just thinking out loud.'

'Mm-hm.'

Lance Minelli smiled.

Reed Jasper said, 'Markov is responsible for the death of a U.S. Marshal. His organization is suspected in at least fourteen unsolved homicides in the Seattle area.' He shook his head. 'I don't give a damn what we have to do to get Markov as long as we get him.' Way to go, Jasper. But then Jasper leaned forward, and jerked a thumb at me. 'But my interest is in keeping Hewitt safe, and I wouldn't trust this sonofabitch any farther than I can spit. If we go along with this, we should have someone on the site to make sure things don't get out of hand, and I'm here to volunteer.'

I frowned at him. 'What do you mean, on site?'

Lance Minelli looked at Thornton. 'I go along with having someone there, Emily. I'd want to make sure Hewitt doesn't cut and run as soon as he gets his kid.' He shook his head and looked back at me. 'I don't believe this cancer thing for a minute.'

Marsha Fields nodded. 'Agreed. I could see my way clear to buy into this, but I'd like to know what's going on even if we're not going to follow up.'

Emily Thornton said, 'That's it, then.'

I said, 'Wait a minute. I've got other people involved, and they may not go along.'

Emily Thornton stood. 'They don't have any choice. I think we can do business here, but only if we have one of our people on the inside to maintain a level of control.' She offered her hand. 'That's our final offer, and now you can take it or leave it.'

I stared at her for maybe a thousand years, and then I took her hand and we shook. 'I guess we'll take it, Ms. Thornton.'

She smiled nicely. 'I knew you would.'

Juice.