“No doubt,” Danny began, “this area could benefit from a large capital infusion and some forward-thinking development, but—”

Jackie cut her eyes up to Danny. He stopped speaking.

They told me how much Sloane had offered for the building.

I might have whistled.

“Even had the nerve to bring it up in here! In cash. Showed us!” Francine said. “Two big ol’ suitcases stacked on a luggage dolly!” She gave a shiver. “Gave me the midnight willies ’cause you just know that kind of cash don’t come from no good.”

“Folks,” I began, “I’ve got a lot of money. Frankly, more than I’ll ever need. But comparatively speaking, I don’t have that much. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t—”

“We’ll sell it to you—everything, Octavio!—for a third of his offer,” Mr. Ochoa pleaded. “Just—just make sure my people—I’ve got to take care of my employees. Francine. And Jacqueline.”

“I can take care of myself,” Francine said. “Don’t you worry about me, you old fool.”

“Ditto,” Jackie said. “Do whatever you want, Papa. But the clock’s running on the offer. And you.”

“I’m sure this is a lot for you to think about, Octavio,” Elena said. “But every day, the character—the history—of Mexicantown is being eaten away. Please. Promise me you’ll think about Jackie and Mr. Ochoa’s proposal.”

“For the record,” Danny said, puffing out his lawyer’s chest for all to see, “I think this is a grave mistake—and not very good business sense—to make this offer to Snow.”

“Wow,” I said. “It speaks!”

Danny took a step my way. “Hey, at least I didn’t get booted off the police force like your scrawny ass.”

“Scrawny?” I laughed. “Adonis-like, yes. But ‘scrawny’?”

Jackie smiled. An unexpected and much appreciated check-mark in the win-column for yours truly.

“He may have conned a good deal of money out of the city. And he may have renovated and flipped a few houses. Any third-rate grifter could do that. But he’s no businessman,” Danny said, keeping me in his steely glare. “You put a dirty ex-cop in this company’s driver’s seat, and Authentico’s sold for parts in three months.”

“As much as it pains me, I have to agree with Danny,” I said to Mr. Ochoa. “Except for the dirty cop part. You’ve got a very rich offer on the table from Vic Bronson through this Sloane guy. An offer that could take care of your employees and leave Jackie sitting prettier than she already is.”

“It is a handsome offer,” Jackie said.

“Let’s just leave things at I’ll think about it,” I said. “That’s all I can promise, Señor Ochoa.”

“One more thing before you go, Mr. Snow,” Francine Evers said. With a trembling hand, she offered me a forest-green file folder.

“Oh, Jesus,” Danny said. “Is this really necessary?”