“Water under the bridge. I’m asking for protection. You owe me that.”

“I can’t protect you. With Michael Sutton on his way? Are you nuts? We’ll be at his mercy. The first dollar changes hands and he’ll have us for life. I can’t believe you’d even entertain an offer.”

“You must have been open to the idea or you wouldn’t be here.”

“I came because you talked me into it. I don’t want to meet the kid at all and I certainly don’t want to pay him money. Jon, this can all be so simple. If I go to the police we can put an end to it right here. He’ll have nothing on us.”

“He’s got nothing on us now.”

“Then why are we sitting up here waiting for him?”

“We’re not. He’s actually not going to join us. He’s been unavoidably delayed.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I reconsidered and you’re right. Doing business with him is a bad idea. I changed my mind. I’m here asking you if you’ve changed yours.”

“About turning myself in? That’s nonnegotiable. I wish I could help you, but you’re on your own. Do whatever you want.”

Jon made a face. “Like fuckin’ what?”

“Why not take off? Disappear into thin air. Isn’t that what the bad guy did in your last book?”

“Book before last. And thanks for assigning me the part of ‘the bad guy.’ I’ve already thought about taking off, as a matter of fact. You go all holier-than-thou with this confession of yours, I have no choice. I gotta get out before the shit hits the fan. I’m offering you one more chance . . . just one . . . to do something other than what you’ve proposed.”

“You want me to keep my mouth shut.”

“Now you got it. Otherwise, I take control, which is not going to be good for either one of us.”

Walker shook his head. “Can’t do. Won’t. I’m sorry if that creates a problem for you.”