“Max’s last run is the end of next month. No one else’ll be ready. You guys got that? No one. If this doesn’t happen with Spencer, it doesn’t happen. Now someone get him here.”

Then McGrath told them to leave his office.

But the croupier should never turn his back to the table.

“Officer, could we do this somewhere else?”

Kids and parents were swirling around, gawping. It didn’t help that the Charger had a flashing red light on its dashboard.

“Right here is good,” said Batiste, leaning in close to Spencer. “Driver’s license and insurance, please, sir.”

Batiste straightened up, made eye contact with Scott across the roof of Spencer’s car, and waved his hand over his nostrils. Spencer reeked of booze.

Spencer handed his license over and then leaned across Abby to get his registration out of the glove compartment.

“Mister Burnham, if you don’t mind me pointing it out, I think I can smell alcohol on your breath.”

“I can assure you I haven’t been drinking.”

“In that case, it’d probably be best if you let my partner here run a few quick sobriety tests. That way we can clear this whole thing up and you can be on your way.”

Spencer didn’t move.

“Sir? You want to step out onto the sidewalk here, please? And while my partner helps you out, would you have any objection to me searching your car?” said Batiste. He was enjoying this moment and being especially polite made it all the more exquisite. His phone pinged. He ignored it.

“Sir?”

Spencer opened his door and joined Batiste on the pavement.

“Pop the trunk for me please,” said Batiste.

In a kind of daze, Spencer obeyed and then watched Batiste dive in.

“Over here, sir,” said Scott.

Batiste went straight for the speaker casings.

Spencer was trying to walk in a straight line and watch Batiste at the same time.

“Keep your eyes on me, please, sir,” said Scott. Burnham had already failed to touch his nose. The walk test was really just a case of buying his partner time.

Batiste’s phone pinged again. He caught his partner’s eye and signaled him to start the charging process. Then he looked at his phone and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Batiste moved behind Spencer’s back and drew his hand across his neck, telling Scott to drop it. Scott looked at him incredulously. Batiste waved his hands across each other: Drop it all!

“I, uh, we’re gonna have to leave it there, sir,” said Scott. “My partner and I have had an urgent call. Be a little more careful with your driving.”

Back in their car, he turned to Batiste. “What the fuck?”

Batiste started up. “We’d better make it look like we do have somewhere to get to.”