“All right. We both have friends. Maybe our friends are the same people.”

“What does that mean?”

“I have Rainey and the money. I’ll sell him to you.”

“Sell’m, my ass. You need to walk, and hope I don’t come looking.”

“If I walk, I’ll sell him to Hugo. They’ve already offered a million. Maybe I can get more.”

The silence felt different this time, and when Vincent spoke, his voice was both thoughtful and wary.

“Yet here you are, talking to me. I must have something you want.”

“The girl.”

“Ah.”

“The girl, plus one half of the remaining money. You get Rainey and the other half.”

“Walk away, boy. I’ll cut this bitch in half.”

“I’ll still have Rainey.”

Vincent shouted.

“I’ll cut you in half, too, you motherfucker, then I’ll have’m both.”

Pike knew he was winning. The shouting was good, so Pike kept his own voice low and steady.

“Here’s where we are. You’re only going to get one of these people for Mr. Joaquin, so which one do you want? Which one does he want most? Rainey ripped him off. Rose was just along for the ride.”

Pike let it sit. Outside in the world, Cole and Rainey were watching. The family returned to their SUV, carrying boxes overflowing with hot dogs and fries. The traffic moved like a sluggish pulse.

Vincent said, “You working for the Bolivians?”

Pike was surprised by the question. Vincent was concerned about his position with the Bolivians.

“I never discuss my employers.”

Pike let it sit again, knowing that Vincent’s insecurity would grow. By playing it vague, Vincent would think Pike’s friend was a Bolivian. He also knew that Vincent would be trying to figure out how he could get both Rainey and Rose.

Vincent finally made his decision.

“Okay. How do you want to do this?”

“However you want. Let’s meet somewhere. You give me the girl, I’ll give you Rainey, all there is to it.”

Vincent laughed, as Pike expected. Pike had talked it out with Cole while they were waiting for Rainey. Vincent would never expose himself. He would never walk the girl out to Pike and Rainey, two on two, because this would make him a target.

“No way, dude. C’mon, are you being serious?”

“Have the girl where I can see her. I have to see she’s alive. She looks okay, I’ll send Rainey with your half of the money. They meet at the halfway point, she comes to me, he goes to you. Sound better?”

“Waitaminute. What if the sonofabitch runs?”

“Shoot him.”