I didn’t like the idea of Jackal and Lou deciding on marks, talking through problems without me. That she might’ve listened to Jackal’s concerns about Carrigan for years and ignored mine. “What? You have something to say about it?”

Jackal shook his head, coming back to earth. “Nothing. You don’t mind that she called it off?”

The Lady had found Lou and Lou had found Jackal before she’d found me. I knew that much. She’d picked him because he was competent with the technology, smart enough not to ask questions. Decent muscle, no moral code. Plus: that face. In a pinch, he could be a lure for one of our girls. It all made sense to me—I hadn’t bothered to ask if their relationship went any deeper than that. I’d always assumed I knew the answer. But I hated what the thought did to me, that maybe Jackal was close enough to Lou to offer his opinions on the marks and that she might listen.

“It was the right call,” I said. “Too risky.” Jackal nodded, but I could tell he was still turning it over in his head. “You’re so eager for another score? That side business isn’t paying out to your bookie the way you’d hoped?”

Jackal’s head darted out into the hallway, looking to see if there was anyone to hear. “Jesus, Jo.”

“Go away,” I said, and meant it, dipping the tip of my tongue into the juniper. Jackal’s meddling had jump-started the first inklings of a plan. Maybe my Monday wasn’t yet wasted. “I have better things to do and I’m sick of your face.”

The gin kept me company while I pondered the pieces. If I got the money back and got it to the police, maybe the Lady—maybe Lou—would never know I’d taken it. It would have to be quick. There wouldn’t be time to do it the right way, all the weeks of surveillance, choosing a girl based on the mark’s preferences. No, this job would have to be faster, messier.

It wasn’t the best way to work. The best stings took weeks to set up because you only had one shot to hook him. But Lou had been the one to teach me. And I’d taught dozens of girls. I knew the game as well as anyone—better than anyone. And, well, I had the name, didn’t I? I’d already done some of the research. I still had my doubts about Carrigan, but that didn’t matter anymore. I’d kissed caution goodbye in a moonlit canyon. I’d either pull it off and get the money—enough for the police, enough for the Lady, enough to put this whole damn city behind me if I wanted—or I wouldn’t and I’d go to jail for the rest of my life for murder.