Tall Tom shoved Jake’s hand aside. “So when you talk about share and share alike, just how do you define that?”

“Gentlemen, please!” rumbled Rousseau from the doorway.

To my surprise, they both hesitated, then stood back a step, still glaring as if ready to launch into it again at any moment. Jake held position between them.

“Those two really don’t like each other,” I murmured to Grace.

“Probably a guy thing. Y’know, tall and gorgeous versus short and tight-ass.”

“Got to be more than that.” I thought the blond was okay looking, though better if he’d let his hair grow some, not shear it down to a stubble.

“Maybe so. You’d have to go further back than me for that one.”

Jake backed off as Rousseau came up to lay a companionable hand on each tensed-up shoulder. I expected at least Tall Tom to shrug him off, but both gave in to the older man’s authority in his own den.

“It’s time to put differences aside.” Rousseau clearly had a lot more to say, but glancing from one man to the other, den leaders and his equals, he seemed to think better of it. “Please, go in peace. Take the message to your dens. Think about what’s been said, and what we should do about it. If anything at all.”

He squeezed Tall Tom’s shoulder, then slid an arm across the shorter man’s back to lead him off to join his companions. The red-jacket woman took him in tow with a cool hand on his arm. They’d brought no extra security, unless like Maxine’s it awaited them out on the walkway. After polite thanks and goodbyes to Jake and Rousseau, off they went.

Rousseau turned back to smile up at Tall Tom. A terse little smile with a lot of history, one that said they’d been here before. “Okay, now?”

Tom didn’t exactly smile back, but he let go of the glower that had roiled his tattoos into a ferocious mask of fury and was simply handsome again. He offered Rousseau a brief nod, then gestured his entourage ahead and stalked off after them.

Rousseau shook his head pensively and retreated to his office.

A collective sigh whispered among the remaining Joes.

Grace watched Tall Tom till he turned the corner. “That was interesting.”

“So who didn’t make it?” I was counting dens.

“No sign of the Macys, but that’s no surprise. Probably still arguing about who to send. No one from Riverhome, but they could be storm-prepping, out there in the river. And I heard some Gimme Shelter ladies might come, but a baby was due and they might have to stick around.”

“Still, it’s major, right? Five dens together in one place?”

“Shouldn’t take bad news to make it happen. But I’ve witnessed the miracle and must hereby go forth to tell the tale.”