Soh massaged his chin, considering the request. If he could close the deal that had been proposed, he would be one of the most powerful criminals in the country. He could take over Boston Harbor. “There is a man we would need to involve. He is not one of our people.”

“Who?”

“A local who controls the harbor. If he finds out, and we have not included him, he will be a problem.”

Carpio shook his head. “No, we cannot involve another.”

“He has many eyes on the water,” Soh said. “He will know.”

“Will he cooperate?”

Soh shrugged. “There is no way to know with him. He follows a code from days that have passed. It makes him difficult to predict.”

“Then he must not be told. This is too important. He must be removed.”

Soh again chose his words carefully. “That will be difficult,” he said. “What is the timing?”

“Two weeks, Wednesday.”

“To remove this man so quickly,” Soh said, shaking his head. “It will require great sacrifice.”

“To sacrifice in the service of our cause is an honor,” Carpio said. He poured two more shots and pushed one toward Soh. He lifted his in toast, to drive the point home. Soh sat motionless. “Do you not agree?”

Soh leveled his eyes at Javier Carpio. “We are no longer talking about our cause—as in the organization. We are talking about our cause—yours and mine. This is a dangerous discussion.”

The man frowned. “And yet you are having it.”

“I am. But there are those who are higher up who have reservations about your brother.”

“He is a soldier!” Javier bellowed, slamming his huge fist on the table.

“He is,” Soh agreed. “But he is also a psychopath.” Soh leaned forward and put a hand on Javier’s in a reassuring gesture. “For good reason, and I have no problem with his actions. But there are those in the organization who believe that he has gone too far. To free him without agreement from our superiors will be viewed as an act of disobedience. When you add that to the independent deal we are talking about, it will be viewed as revolt.”

Javier put his glass back down on the table. “What do you propose?”

“The same terms as discussed, but my payment at ninety percent. That will ensure that I will have the funds to organize my men in case I am attacked by our superiors.”

“And you will guarantee my brother’s safety?”

“With my life.”

Carpio raised his glass again. “Then our cause will truly be served.” The two of them drank. “When will you move against this local boss?”

“Tonight.”

Javier Carpio looked startled. “So soon? Do you not need to plan?”

Soh looked out the window again. Steam was coming off the frozen water, hovering low and fragile along the surface in the frigid air. “I have a plan,” he said.