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“Then she’s going to keep after you until you give her what she wants. You know what women can be like.”
    â€œShe always was a stubborn bitch. Just like her mother,” Meyer snapped. “What is it exactly that she wants?”
    â€œShe wasn’t particularly clear about that, but I imagine it’s something along the lines of you loving your son and me being at the bottom of the ocean.”
    Meyer’s dry chuckle sounded faintly asthmatic. “Made a good impression on her, did you? I warned you she could be difficult. What are you planning to do about her?”
    â€œTake her out to dinner tomorrow night.”
    â€œYou won’t get her into bed. She’s the prude in the family.”
    â€œWhy would I want to get her into bed?” Coltrane took another sip of his Scotch. The ice had melted, watering the drink down slightly, and the sharpness danced against his tongue.
    â€œTo keep her occupied. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed she’s a good-looking woman. Can’t hold a candle to Rachel-Ann, of course, but she’s still pretty enough even with that hair of hers. And last I heard you weren’t involved with anyone.”
    Coltrane had no doubt that Meyer knew exactly who he’d been sleeping with over the last year and how long each relationship had lasted. His employer’s efforts at surveillance were laughably blatant, and Coltrane always fed him just enough to keep him satisfied.
    â€œYou want me to marry her, boss?” he drawled. “Or just shack up with her?”
    â€œDon’t push me, Coltrane,” Meyer said. “I want you to distract her. I’ve got too much on my plate right now. Getting the Cienaga estate shouldn’t be causing these kinds of problems, and I don’t need the Justice Department breathing down my neck. You were supposed to give them stuff to distract them. Send them off on another tack.”
    â€œI took care of it.”
    â€œGoddamned bureaucrats don’t seem to have a realistic idea of how things are done out here. And where the campaign contributions come from. Get them off my back, Coltrane.”
    â€œIt’s been done,” Coltrane said soothingly. Indeed, it had. The Justice Department investigations of Jackson Dean Meyer’s covert business practices had gone from one investigator to an entire team. And Meyer hadn’t the faintest idea how little time he had left.
    â€œI don’t want to waste my energies distracted by inconsequentials,” he said.
    Inconsequentials like your children, Coltrane thought, but didn’t say it out loud. There was a limit to how much leeway Jackson Meyer would give him. The man was convinced he needed Coltrane for all his little schemes to fall into place, but he needed his sense of omnipotence even more.
    Meyer was going to find out that his trust in both Coltrane and in his own invulnerability were sadly misplaced. And while it would be the icing on the cake for him to lose his children at the same time, it hadn’t taken Coltrane long to realize Meyer had really lost them years ago.
    â€œAll right, boss,” he drawled. He was the only person who called Meyer “boss,” the only one who could get away with that faintly mocking tone. “I’ll sleep with your daughter. Hell, I’ll sleep with both your daughters, but I draw the line at your son.”
    Meyer chuckled humorlessly. “He’d be too easy for you. And you keep away from Rachel-Ann. She’s fragile right now, and I don’t want you interfering with her. She won’t be a problem—she’s never been any trouble to me, unlike the other two. My fault for marrying their mother. You just keep Jilly busy until this deal is finished. Then you can dump her. You know it’ll be worth your while.”
    It was a good thing Meyer couldn’t see the slow smile that curved Coltrane’s mouth. “That’s what I like about