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“That’sanotherthing: you’vegotyour own security. How is it my fault that your security team didn’t do their job?”

“Theydiddo their job, which is why Lara isn’t lying in the hospital with a broken back. Or worse. No thanks to you!”

“I’ve had barely forty-eight hours to work on this. You sat on those threats for how long? Nor did you give me a whole lot of anything to work with. Theonlyperson who’s been willing to talk to me is Lara, and I think it’s pretty clear you’re not telling her everything.”

Neilson’s eyes narrowed. He said dangerously, “What are you getting at?”

It seemed like a strangely defensive response. What did he think Ellery was suggesting?

Ellery said, “Lara’s take is you’re trying to protect her. To not bother her with things that might distract from making her comeback.”

Neilson’s shoulders relaxed. He stopped looking like he was ready to throw a punch. “That’s right. That’sexactlyright. We’re trying to pull off a show here. You know how much time and organization and effort that requires?”

“I’ve got a pretty good idea.”

That was clearly not the right answer. Neilson’s lip curled. “The hell you do.”

“The point is, I’ve got to have more to work with in order to do what you want me to do.”

Neilson’s mouth curled into a sneer. “Thanks, but no thanks. We don’t need your help from here on out.”

Frankly, it was a relief. The money, though always welcome, wasn’t as necessary as it had been several hours and fifty thousand dollars earlier, and Ellery already had more on his plate than he could deal with. Responsibility for someone else’s safety was a side dish too far.

“Okay.” he shrugged. “Fine with me. I haven’t liked this set up from the start.”

Neilson again assumed that belligerent posture. “Oh really?”

“Yes, really.”

Neilson started to reply, but the suite door opened and Jocasta, Lara’s sister, slipped outside.

She hissed, “Will you two shut up? Lara’s trying to write.”

The silence that followed her words was broken was by muffled guitar chords.

Neilson pointed at Ellery. “He just quit.”

Jocasta gasped, swung on Ellery, “Why? After last night? How could you!”

Ellery gave Neilson a look of disgust. “I didn’t quit. He said my services were no longer needed.”

“Neil.”

“Neil what?” Neilson protested. “He wasn’t even there last night, Jo. He couldn’t even bother to show up.”

“I did show up. I had to leave.”

Neilson put his hands up like,what did I tell you?

Jocasta got in front of Ellery, pleading, “Don’t quit. At least…give me five minutes and if you still want to quit after that, okay. But we really do need help.” She threw an impatient look at her brother-in-law. “After last night, we’vegotto have help, Neil. You know it as well as I do.”

“Ifhe’syour idea of help, we’re all doomed.”

Probably. It was kind of hard to argue, given his current batting average, but Ellery ignored Nielson and said to Jocasta, “If you want to talk, we can talk. It certainly would have been helpful on Thursday, if someone had told me what the actual deal was. But I still think, especially after last night, you should go to the police.”

“No cops!” Neilson exclaimed.

“Shhhh!” Jocasta fastened her hand on Ellery’s arm. “Come on,” she coaxed, drawing him away from the door. “We can discuss downstairs.”