Ted watched Lester wind his way through the barely moving traffic, crossing the boulevard in hops and stops. The afternoon sun was strong, and the air seemed to shimmer off the pale plaza across the street. There were few pedestrians over there, most people taking advantage of the shade on the west side of the street. Kasabian trailed him, slower, more deliberate, using his bulk and authority to keep drivers from running into him.

Jackie wouldn’t know either of them, but then they might not be able to recognize her either. Ted googled Jackie on his phone and found a picture. The image was small and crowded, but Lester and the detectives had some idea of what she looked like.

“It’s late Friday afternoon on a beautiful spring day. How many people do you think are in the basement of the courthouse checking out files in the records room? Look for the woman scotch-taping pages together,” Ted had offered.

“Wonderful,” Lester had said.

“Or you could stand at the door and call out, ‘Jackie,’” Ted had said. “The woman who scowls at you is the one.”

They were crossing the nearly empty plaza, Lester two steps in the lead. Kasabian’s head swiveled as he scanned the area for any sign of the giant. The shadow from the subway-token sculpture reached halfway up the steps. As Lester passed it, the main door opened, and Jacqueline Clavette stepped out, briefcase swinging.

“Ah, shit,” Ted said.

“That her?” Duran whispered though there was no need for quiet.

“Yes, dammit.”

Lester continued up the steps, passing the lawyer seemingly without looking at her. Jackie came down, head high and alert. She noticed and dismissed Lester in a split second. Ted could read the tension in her body. Was she aware of the potential danger out there? It was hard to tell, he thought. She always looked like she had a stick up her ass.

Kasabian slowed as he approached her. He called something to Lester.

Lester’s head whipped around. He stopped, turned, and called.

It was too far for Ted to hear him, but Jackie’s scowl made it clear what he had said. She whirled, head cocked to one side.

Lester put up both hands in a mollifying gesture and jogged down to confront her.

“Get her inside,” Duran said to himself, more a prayer than an order.

Lester was selling it hard, but Jackie wasn’t buying. Body language told the story. He was a master at gaining people’s trust, but his magic wasn’t working on her. She said something quite final and turned away.

Kasabian showed his shield. Jackie looked startled, then angry.

Lester reached out and took her arm.