Heat exhaustion had apparently done in the air-conditioner. The windows were open and two fans pointlessly shoved the hot air around. The room was full of warm bodies, all of them perspiring. But it wasn’t just the heat that hit Spencer. There was something else: a grim tenseness. It was like walking into a foundering peace negotiation.

“Been waiting for you, Spence,” said McGrath mildly, as if he’d been wanting to chat about the Lions’ chances. Then he addressed everyone in the room. “Our driver here wanted to leave our little family. Wanted to go into respectable business. That right, Spence?”

Spencer wondered where this was going since he was pretty sure the whole room knew that McGrath had him on a chain anyway. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t personal. CPS was busting my balls over how I was paying my bills. They still are.”

McGrath said nothing but kept looking at Spencer, as if assessing whether he cut the mustard. Suddenly, he held his hand out to the Yo-Yo.

“Phone.”

The Yo-Yo handed McGrath his phone. McGrath checked the screen, then held it out to Spencer. “That little video you’re so worried about? That’s the original, right there. Wanna delete it?”

Trying to read the eyes that laughed at him but with him at the same time, Spencer walked over and took the phone.

“Go on. Johnny Boy will do the same with his copy.”

Deleting the video didn’t give Spencer much relief and not just because they’d probably kept a copy anyway. McGrath never gave anything for free and always took more than he offered.

“You like the Windy City, Spencer?”

“Only been there once but sure.”

He and Marielle had had an epic St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Chicago. Marielle’s parents had taken Abby away and Spencer and Marielle had made hay while the Chicago River ran green. They’d made love, talked about having another baby, got wasted, fucked. Spencer had held her hair while she threw up. Laughing, both of them. Yeah, Chicago wasn’t so bad, as a memory.

“I could see you running a dealership out there. Johnny Boy has contacts, could help you set up,” said McGrath.

Spencer was aware of how quiet the room was. “That would be pretty cool, Dom.”

McGrath nodded. “Everything I’ve said I’d do for you, have I done it?”

Spencer nodded. He had to. It was true.

“That’s right. And in return, everything we’ve asked you to do, you’ve done. You’ve done real well. All the figures tallied, right Cal?”

Cal gave what was probably the closest approximation of a grunt of assent he could muster.

“One last job, Spence. You might not even realize it, but you’re pretty much ready to roll on it. Then you’re out, on your way. Respectable car man again, new start, new city. How’s that sounding?”