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Her heartbeat just jumped about 200 percent.

“I’ll give you one million dollars.”

“Why don’t you make it a gajillion and throw in a pony?”

“Two million.”

“Still not interested.”

She puts a hand on my gun arm and gets closer.

“I mean it. You can have the money right now. I’ll transfer it to any account you want.”

I press the gun harder into her head and force her back into her desk chair.

“Look at me. Do I look like I have bank accounts?”

“I’ll open one for you.”

“Forget it.”

She puts her hands on the desk, lacing her fingers together.

“You don’t seem to understand what I’m getting at. I’m offering you two million dollars, plus Howard’s services. These two things are a package deal. You’re either going to be a rich live man or a penniless dead one. What’s your choice?”

I look back at Sinclair. He’s paler than ever. “Did you come up with this together?”

Before he answers Sandoval says, “No one tried to kill Barron tonight. This new proposition is mine.”

“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you both right now.”

She moves her laced fingers from the desk to her lap.

“Because then you’ll end up unmourned in a pauper’s grave. And just think of it. You were this close to being with your lady love, but you were too stubborn to go all the way.”

One trick I don’t know how to do is to stop time. I know people who can do it. Not for long, but it’s still a pretty impressive trick. I wish I could do it right now just to have a little time to think over the situation. I trust Sandoval and Sinclair even less now. But I can’t see any way around this if I’m getting back to Candy. I need Howard more than any of these pricks need me. And I wouldn’t mind having two million dollars to start a new life with.

I look down at her.

“I guess I don’t have a choice.”

“Of course you have a choice,” she says. “They’re just not very good choices.”

I let my gun hand drop to my side.

“Okay. I’ll do it. But no tricks, no renegotiations or technicalities. Fuck with me one more time and we all die together. And you’ll go a lot messier than I will.”

“It’s agreed then.”

“Not yet. Get Howard in here. I want to see that he’s all right.”

Sandoval takes her phone from a pocket and punches in a number.

“Howard, will you come in here, please?”

“Excuse me,” says Sinclair.

I look at the wheezing creep.