His hand tangled in my hair and he pulled his fist forward so that we were both looking at the dark strands tucked between his knuckles. I leaned into him, wanting him to break the stalemate first. But he let go, taking a half step back. I watched a feeling pass over his face, quick like a summer storm, but I didn’t know, did not want to know, what it was.

I reached out a hand for him, and his phone rang. Jackal’s head jerked, and he stared at me, like he was waiting for me to tell him what to do. I blinked at him, and he cursed under his breath and answered.

“What.” I watched his face as he listened to the other end, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the phone. Silently, he held his phone out to me.

Me? I mouthed.

Jackal shrugged, his eyebrows raised. Lou.

“What’s up,” I said into the phone, a small wash of panic rising in my stomach. Maybe she’d heard from the Lady that there was a second envelope floating around the office. Maybe she was calling to ask if I’d happened to see it anywhere.

“You weren’t answering your phone.” I could hear something going on behind her—the radio? A woman’s crooning alto. Lou’s voice had a tinny, disembodied quality, like she was speaking to me from far away.

“I left it on my desk,” I said, picturing the phone next to the now-dead gin bottle. “Where are you?”

“On my way home,” Lou said, which didn’t entirely make sense—she’d left the office hours ago. Before I could ask about it, she went on: “I wanted to make sure we were all set for Carrigan tomorrow morning.”

“Yes,” I said, “of course. Ten. I remember.”

There was a pause. I could hear someone honking in the background. “Don’t be too hungover, okay?”

“Lou,” I said, my voice waspish despite the fact that she had a point, despite the fact that I didn’t want her asking me too many questions. “I won’t fuck up. All right? Just because Ellen isn’t—” I stopped. I could’ve bitten my tongue out.

Jackal was staring at me, his hands on his hips. I knew he was wondering what she wanted. If he should be worried.

“What?” Lou’s voice was clipped now, panicky. “Did something happen while she was there, something you didn’t tell me about?”

“No,” I said. I didn’t want her to know that anything was wrong. But Lou would jump to conclusions if I didn’t say anything. “Nothing. But she’s been in it too long. The feelings are starting to turn on her.” I think she’ll sell us out to the police eventually, and by the way, while we’re on the subject of law enforcement, the cops are missing their bribe money . . .