“That’s your problem, my friend,” Jack said, reaching forward to straighten Archie’s bow tie. “You don’t know when to give up on people.”

Karim produced a small black electronic gadget about the size of a deck of cards. It had a dial on it and a small red light. He held it in front of Archie. “Any wires you want to tell us about?” he asked.

“I told you,” Archie said. “I’m invited.”

Karim scanned the gadget up and down Archie’s body, front and back. “He’s clean,” he said to Jack. “I hope you’re not offended,” Karim added to Archie with a shrug. “Can’t be too careful.”

“Of course,” Archie said.

Karim pocketed the gadget and then held out his hand in front of Archie, palm up. Archie knew what he wanted. He set the mask on the desk, opened his tuxedo jacket, pulled his weapon from his holster, ejected the magazine, put the magazine in his pocket, and then laid the gun in Karim’s open hand. “I’m going to need that back,” Archie said. It was his personal weapon, registered under his name. Leaving it out of his sight was an insane proposition. Karim would know that. Which was exactly why Archie needed to allow it. It was a gesture of trust. Or recklessness.

“Of course,” Karim said. He put the gun on the desk behind him. “Now I just need you to empty your pockets,” he said.

Archie reached into his pockets and emptied out the contents on the desk. The compass. The brass pillbox. His wallet. Cell phone. Badge. Karim picked each up and inspected it. He came to the pillbox and opened it. “What are these?” he asked, looking at the white pills.

“Painkillers,” Archie said.

“I thought you went to rehab for those,” Jack said.

Archie picked the mask up off the desk and put it on, snapping the elastic band around his head. “I did,” he said.

Karim held the pillbox out and laid it in Archie’s palm. “Enjoy the party,” he said.

Archie closed his hand around the box and slipped it back into his pants pocket. “So where’s Leo?” he asked.

Cigar smoke veiled Jack’s face. “He’s around,” he said.

Chapter 11

CHAPTER

11