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Sully’s voice began to deflate.
    “Yes.”
    “That could be a problem.”
    “I’d really hate to see you miss out on this opportunity, Sully, being Maggie’s brother and all. Is there any way you could borrow it from someone?” Lucas asked. “Or take an equity loan against your house?”
    “I’ve already mortgaged my house to the hilt. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but a few more bad months at the golf course I own and I may be in danger of losing that.”
    “Maybe you could take it from the retirement account or something?”
    “The retirement account? You mean the city’s or mine personally?” Sully’s eyebrow quirked with suspicion.
    “I mean yours personally,” Lucas replied. The truth was, though, he didn’t really care which account it came from, as long as it came. But since you mentioned the city retirement account…
    “I don’t have that much in there anymore, not since my wife got sick.”
    “Well then, since you brought up the city retirement account, perhaps you could borrow from it without anyone knowing. I could help you resell your condos quickly, even before they’re finished, and put the money back in. No one would be the wiser,” Lucas suggested, “and you’d make a tidy profit.”
    If Sully got the money from city funds, it would actually give Lucas more leverage. He liked that.
    “No, I couldn’t do that,” Sully said, shaking his head. “I’d be breaking the law and I could wind up in jail.”
    “Not if you were careful and got the money back into the accounts before anyone noticed it was missing.” Lucas used a warm even tone, putting his hand on Sully’s shoulder. His studies in the art of persuasion over the years had taught him that placing a gentle but firm hand on someone’s shoulder created an atmosphere of confidence and care. Lucas gave a gentle pat, then shrugged his shoulders as if it didn’t matter to him. “It’s something to consider, Sully.”
    Sully gazed at the artist’s conception of the beautiful condos once more and shook his head. “I don’t think I could do that,” he said in a small voice.
    “Yes,” Lucas said, nodding his head rhythmically, “I think you can.”
    Come on, stay with me, Sully.
    “It would help you tremendously.” Lucas continued to nod. His hand still rested on Sully’s shoulder and he controlled his voice to sound warm and caring. Was he succeeding in turning him?
    He sensed that if he pushed too hard at this point, Sully might put up his defenses, so he backed off. “You don’t need to decide right now. Take a day or two to make up your mind and let me know. Consider what it could mean for you, Sully,” Lucas began to gather up his presentation, “and your sweet wife, Carolyn.” He was hitting where Sully was most vulnerable—his wife.
    Now play the fear-of-loss card. “We have a presentation at the Hilton Hotel tomorrow night. I expect these condo units to sell out quickly, so let me know before then. I’m warning you, Sully, the window on this opportunity will be closing fast.”
    “Okay.”
    As Lucas stacked the papers, Sully was still eyeing the renderings, as if he was under their spell.
    “I’ll let you know.”
    Lucas slipped the spreadsheets into his briefcase, then slid the renderings into a large leather portfolio. “I wouldn’t have suggested this special deal to you if you weren’t Maggie’s brother. She means the world to me, Sully. She’s worried about you. So I’m just trying to be the good guy here and help you out. You understand that, don’t you?” Lucas nodded and tried to catch the mayor’s gaze, but he turned and walked back to his desk.
    “I know,” Sully muttered. His eyes were lowered and he fidgeted, rearranging papers and pens on his desk. “I could really use that money—it’s just that I could get in a boatload of trouble if I got caught.”
    “No pressure,” Lucas said evenly. Now give him the I-know-what-you’re-going-through line. “I know what it