“But that then creates a problem Sharkey because then we touch on the tender area of your professional connections.”

“O shit.”

“Yes. We do.”

“O shit Jack.”

“Yes Sharkey here is the problem it was you or it was one of mine or it was Mr. Client.”

“Okay Jack can I say something?”

“Yes Sharkey.”

“I don’t wanna disrespect nobody at this point in time Jack but someone has to say this.”

“Go ahead man I will be indulgent.”

“You gotta be real calm.”

“I will be motherfucking papal.”

“Did you consider it might be Volodya?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Please don’t explode my balls.”

“What—oh—naw man I was not thinking that.”

“Okay.”

“That suggestion more than anything Sharkey is reassuring to me that you are really giving this some thought.”

“It is?”

“Yes it is because that is an intelligent suggestion and it is left field. You are thinking that he fakes getting shot then slips out of the mail truck while I am unconscious and he dumps some vagrant or what have you into the mill engine and now he is invisible and he is coming for me for whatever fortune and glory or just because he is an evil old fuck?”

“I do not know what any of those things are in the middle but yeah I guess something like that.”

“It is a classic and you got to respect your history.”

“Yes?”

“Even if that history is largely like eighties movies. But there is a problem with your theory Sharkey.”

“There is?”

“Yeah man I saw half of his face in a basket before I left this morning. Brain still somewhat in the factory-standard housing.”

“…Oh.”

“Yeah so while I completely respect that you took a risk there and that was very cool of you under the circumstances it does not really get us anywhere. But kudos man that was—”

“…”

“I was going to say ballsy but it seems in poor taste.”

“Yeah okay I hear ya but then Jack you know there’s the doctor and Charlie and—”

“Sharkey I see what you’re doing here and again I got to respect the attempt man because I get that confidentiality is your all but—”

“Jack—”

“There’s no help for it Sharkey you’re going to have to tell me who Mr. Client is.”

“I—”

“Otherwise I will be subject to a reciprocal negative obligation in regard the aerosolization of your ballsack.”

“Balzac?”

“Jesus Christ Sharkey answer the fucking question.”

“…It was a shell Jack I swear.”

“Of course it was a fucking shell we are crime people we do not—”

“It was a shell is what I’m saying so I DID NOT KNOW or I would have never—”

“You know now.”

“Now I’m putting it the fuck together Jack I know something okay SOMETHING but I don’t know how much of it is right and I was honest-to-God wondering whether I should call you today but I—”

“Sharkey.”

“Yes?”