“This is what I’m willing to do: two-fifty now and two-fifty after I get the video.”

There was a pause. “We’ll talk in twenty-four hours.”

“Fine with me, but you’re not getting a penny more than two-fifty until I see the video.”

“I’ll need more from you now that we have the man. The boy takes directions. The man is a liability.”

“The man is a coward and he’s scared shitless. I’m sure he’ll be no problem.”

“He can be stubborn.”

“I’m sure you’re used to dealing with stubborn people.”

“What we do with stubborn people is arrange a permanent solution. Of course, that will cost you more.”

“Right now, I’m not interested in a permanent solution.”

“Every day he’s alive is a liability. If you neutralized him now, there is no need for him to sign papers. But as I said, that will cost you more. Neutralizing has to be planned carefully.”

“Keep him healthy,” Donatti said. “I’ll send you the two-fifty and the second installment after you send me the video. And it needs to be exactly like I said. I’m showing it to her, and if I don’t have a smiling kid, it’s useless to me.”

He hung up.

His heartbeat had slowed during the conversation. His breaths were even and deep. Not even a scintilla of anxiety. If it weren’t costing him so much money, he’d be enjoying the process. He went over and gave a hard knock on Juleen’s door. “You can come out now.”

She opened the door. Her eyes were red.

“Were you eavesdropping?”

“I didn’t hear a thing. I lay down on my bed and put a pillow over my face.”

“That’s a little extreme.”

“I didn’t want you yelling at me.”

“Don’t take my yelling personally.” Donatti checked his watch. “Your next tutor will be here in forty-five minutes. You can take a break until then.” Her eyes focused on the floor. “Not a word to your mother.”

“I know.” She looked up at him with Terry’s face but her own dark eyes. “My father went to be with Sanjay?”

Once they put a gun to the back of his head. Donatti said, “Yes, he did.”

“So, he’s not a coward.”

“Nope. He’s a brave man and a good father.”

She nodded, tears bursting from her eyes. “Will they be okay?”

“I hope so, Juleen. It’s costing me a lot of money for them to be okay. Does your mother ever talk to you about it—about what happened to Sanjay?”

“No.” Juleen shook her head. “We don’t talk about that day.”

“She doesn’t ask you questions about Sanjay? What I might be doing?”

“No. I don’t think she wants me to think about it.”

“That’s good.” Donatti paused. “What do you want for dinner?”

“I’m not hungry.”