“Not quite true, Jack,” Maggie said. “We got the boys’ impressions, that counts for something. True, they have skin in the game, but I agree and found them to be credible, and obviously so does Cosmo. Otherwise he wouldn’t have hired them in the first place. Kids see things differently than adults, you know that.”

Jack poured more water into the fold-up dish for Cyrus, who lapped it up immediately. “You’re right, I do know that. You know what we forgot? We forgot to ask them about the badass gang. Well, if nothing else is going on tonight back at Babylon, we can come back here and get the skinny on what if anything they might know. It might be cooler, too, plus Lomax might get his jockeys in a knot if he sees us here at night. Three visits in one day for sure will make him a little antsy. I’m just saying. I really think there is something fishy, something off about that guy. It’s not just that ramrod military thing either, it’s something else. Right now I just can’t put my finger on it, but trust me, it will come to me sooner or later.”

“Go ahead, you can say it. The guy is an all-round prick,” Maggie said.

“I didn’t want to offend your delicate sensibilities.” Jack guffawed. “But you’re right, he is definitely that.” Cyrus barked to show he also agreed.

Jack went back to staring out the window at the blistering heat that shimmered off the highway. His thoughts were everywhere as his cell phone rang. “Hey!” he said, turning to Maggie, who was driving. “It’s Harry,” he said, picking up the call. “Hey, dude, what’s up? You guys winning big? Nice of you to check in.”

Jack sat up a little straighter when he heard Harry’s frazzled voice. Harry never got frazzled. Jack put him on speaker, and Cyrus immediately leaned forward so he could hear better. Maggie craned her neck to the right for the same reason.

“Oh, the guys are winning all right. Between the four of them, they’ve won over a million dollars.”

“Wow!” was all Jack could manage to say. Finally, when there was no response, Jack asked, “So what’s the problem?”

Jack closed his eyes and pictured Harry struggling to find the right words to convey whatever the problem was. “It’s like this.... They’re still winning. Big time. We’re being watched to see if we’re . . . hell, I don’t know, using something or have some kind of system, but that’s okay, not a problem. The boys haven’t cashed in yet. They’re hoping to win another million or so. This is where you’re supposed to ask me why, Jack,” Harry dithered.

Jack looked at Maggie and rolled his eyes. “Okay, I’ll bite, why?”