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expecting me by eight o’clock or so.”
    “Another big date?” Jake asked.
    Hank grinned. “Something like that.”
    Amelia was the mother of a victim in a recent case Hank had worked on with the Lincolns. Everything had turned out well, and she and Hank had hit it off after that.
    Hank continued, “We thought we might check out that new place, Tommy Marino’s. I hear the food is pretty good there.”
    “How are Amelia and Jenny?” Annie asked.
    “They’re both doing great,” Hank said. “And still putting up with me.”
    “That’s a miracle,” Jake said, and then looked over toward Annie. “You still didn’t get that pistol you were talking about.”
    “We’ve been pretty busy. I didn’t have time to look into it.”
    “Yeah, we have been.”
    “Maybe tomorrow,” she said.
    “Yeah, maybe.”
    “You’re buying a gun?” Hank asked.
    “I thought I might get a small one. For protection.”
    “Do you realize Canadian law doesn’t allow private investigators, even licensed ones, to carry a pistol?”
    Annie’s mouth dropped open a moment. “I didn’t know that.”
    “Yeah, you can own one, if you pass a test, and then get the proper license, but you can’t carry it, except to and from a firing range. And even then, there’s a whole lot of rules about what you have to carry it in.”
    “So what good is owning one?” Jake asked.
    “Not much good. Just for sport.”
    “So much for that idea,” Annie said.
    “Why didn’t you know this before?” Hank asked.
    Annie shrugged. “I’ve never thought about it. We’re still pretty new at this investigating thing. Originally, it was all research and background checks. Nothing dangerous. I never thought I would need one, but lately we’ve been running into a whole lot of bad guys.”
    Jake added, “And bad guys don’t care about a license to carry a gun. If they’re caught, carrying a concealed weapon is the least of their worries.”
    Hank laughed. “You’re allowed to carry handcuffs and a baton, if that makes you feel any better.”
    “Not much protection from a guy with a gun, is it?” Annie said. “Hey you, put that gun down and hold still there, fella, while I hit you with my baton, and then handcuff you.”
    Jake chuckled and held up his massive fists. “It’s a good thing I have these.”

     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
     
    Monday, August 22nd, 8:03 PM
     
    OLIVER CRAIG’s months of preparation and planning had resulted in a situation less than ideal. Sure, the outcome had been as planned, but the girl was a loose end that wasn’t supposed to exist.
    He leaned forward in his chair, picked up the telephone and dialed a number from memory.
    “Yes?”
    “Wolff, it’s Craig.”
    “Yes, Mr. Craig.”
    “You messed up,” Craig said. “What happened? The girl survived.”
    “I don’t know how that happened, sir. We thought we had her fully prepared. All the tests were positive, and there was no indication whatsoever there may be a complication.”
    Craig thought a moment before speaking. “We don’t have the resources to deal with her. Will she be a problem?”
    “I don’t believe so.”
    Craig thought he heard apprehension in the voice. He sat back and took a deep breath. “Is the boy ready?” he asked.
    “I believe so, sir.”
    Craig wrinkled his brow. “You don’t sound so sure.”
    The voice on the phone hesitated. “He’s ready, sir.”
    “Wolff, I know you’re the best there is. I have complete faith in your abilities, but we can’t afford the next operation to go wrong. Do you hear me?”
    “Yes, sir. The boy has been thoroughly tested, and we’re satisfied he’s ready.” Silence on the phone, and then, “The girl had a strong will. It was evident at first, however we were convinced it had been overcome.” More silence. “It seems we were mistaken.”
    “That’d better be the only slip-up. Are we on schedule for tomorrow?”
    “We’re all ready to go,” Wolff said, and then paused