“Did he piss off someone on the Council? He was always talking about how he had better ideas than them.”

“Maybe,” said Clint. “We got out of there, and I’m not going back anytime soon. That’s some Reign of Terror shit they got going.”

Donny looked at Xelina.

“I don’t know what happened, Donny,” she said. “Like Clint said, we haven’t been back there in a while, and most of our people there have left too. We’re tired of fighting. The only thing I do know that might help you is that some blue neckties have been sniffing around asking questions about Slider.”

“A couple of them dropped in on me the other day,” said Donny. “Asking some pretty wild questions. I figured they were crazy. But now I want to know what he did.”

“Then you know as much as we do,” said Clint.

“Are you really going to New Orleans?” said Xelina.

“Yeah. To try to save the rich girl they were arresting when Slider was killed.”

They looked at each other. Clint raised an eyebrow.

“I know what you think,” said Donny. “But her dad is an old friend.”

“Be careful,” said Clint. “The war’s not as over as people like to think. And last time I checked, you’re on the payback list.”

“I know. But I have to believe they’ll talk to me. There’s got to be a shot at a deal. And if I don’t go, I’m afraid things will be a lot worse for all of us.”

“You may be right about that,” said Clint.

“When are you going?” said Xelina.

“In the morning. There’s a hearing scheduled for Friday, and I’m hoping we can work a deal and make it a short trip.”

“Good luck with that,” said Xelina. “The people on the Council can’t even figure out what to have for lunch without two days of argument.”

“I’m counting on the fact that they know me. And they need to work something out just as badly as my clients do.”

“Sounds like the time you told us you had the case all figured out, and then Xelina ended up spending a week on that fucking prison boat,” said Clint.

Donny didn’t remind him that he also got her freed. “It’s worth a shot,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t really have a choice.”

You could see it in their eyes, how their estimation of him suddenly dropped when they realized how desperate he really was. That it wasn’t about the client’s problems. It was about his problems.

Xelina reached for Donny’s hand.

“Remember when we thought we were going to build a better future?” said Donny.

“Yeah, well, don’t call us when you need a rescue from that,” said Clint.

19