“That’s right,” said Scott without stopping. Chris wheezed past him, seemingly oblivious.

Moments later, Chris threw his bag in the DPD’s rental. He watched Spencer leave in the Prius, the ops truck following. Then he got down to fixing the busted tire.

Spencer hit the seventy-five and headed south. He checked his rearview and saw the surveillance truck staying up close. He thought about the deal Scott had offered: get Dom to incriminate himself and Spencer’s gunpoint alibi would stand. No offer of protection for him, Chris, or Abby. Scott said they didn’t really have the budget but “the DPD would take measures” and Abby would take the name of her new parents and that would be kept secret. It was a shit deal.

He turned south on Gibson. The cops stayed on Martin Luther.

Spencer drove around and into the depot gateway. He pressed the buzzer.

“Yeah?” It was Denny.

“Spencer to see Dom.”

Silence.

Bit of a bombshell for you, Denny?

The barrier rose.

Spencer backed into the loading bay next to Cal’s Porsche. He backed in so the rear of his car would be in shadow and hidden from the cops watching the depot. No one was around. Denny had probably rushed upstairs to announce Spencer’s arrival, so he was on borrowed time.

He opened the trunk of Chris’s Prius to find the large duffel bag that Eddie had stuffed with cash. Spencer hobbled with it to Cal’s car. He popped the front trunk and threw it in. He got his crutches from the Prius and headed for the stairs.

The reception area was empty. He heard voices coming from McGrath’s office.

The room fell silent when he entered. Sheila was leaning against the filing cabinet. Cal and Johnny Boy sat facing McGrath’s desk. Denny stood by its side. McGrath looked at Spencer. Gone was the twinkle. Spencer knew he was tainted. No one in the room was stupid enough not to realize a deal must have been made for him to be out of cuffs.

Spencer put his fingers to his lips and lifted his shirt to expose the wire. He indicated “just you and me” to McGrath. McGrath pondered it for a moment, then motioned everyone to leave. Spencer stopped Sheila as she passed by, pulled her close, and put his mouth against her ear. She flinched at the unexpected intimacy. He whispered something and then spoke aloud.

“Hi Sheila, I need to talk to Dom.”

“You’ll have to wait. He’s on a call. It may take a while.”

“OK, then I guess I’ll wait.”

Denny left. Cal hovered. He wasn’t going anywhere with this sonofabitch wearing a wire and wanting intimate time with his boss.