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said.
    â€œIt does, doesn’t it?”
    Fuller reached into the cardboard box and took out a set of chain restraints, then shoved the box down the table toward Jesse. “Your clothes are in there,” he said. “Get dressed; you and I are going to take a helicopter ride.”

CHAPTER

3
    J esse had trouble climbing the stairs to the roof, because of the chains. Fuller helped him.
    â€œI’m sorry about the rig, but I’ve got my orders,” Fuller said.
    As they stepped through the door onto the roof the helicopter started up with a whine, drowning out Jesse’s question. Fuller helped him into the machine, fastened his seat belt, then took the facing seat. He clamped a headset on Jesse, then put one on himself.
    Jesse reached for the switch that isolated the passenger compartment intercom from the pilot, then adjusted his microphone. “What’s going on, Kip?” he asked. The dull whine of the two turboprop engines made conversation noisy, even with the headset on.
    â€œThere’s not a lot I can tell you,” Fuller said. “Barker will explain.”
    â€œDan Barker?” Jesse asked, surprised. Barker had been his last superior on the South Florida Task Force. They had never liked each other. “What the hell does he want with me?”
    â€œBarker is no longer DEA; he’s a deputy assistantattorney general now, and he took me with him to Justice. He’s in charge of a new special task force.”
    â€œWhat kind of task force?”
    â€œBarker will explain.” Fuller looked out the window; he seemed embarrassed.
    â€œHow’ve you and Arlene been, Kip?”
    â€œWe’ve both been very well,” Fuller replied. “Arlene likes living in Washington; she says she needs a place with seasons.” Fuller smiled. “There’s more good news: Arlene is pregnant.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful, and after trying so long. Always happens when you least expect it.”
    â€œThanks,” Fuller said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.” Then he looked embarrassed again. “Jesse, you look like absolute hell. What’s been going on?”
    â€œCons don’t like ex-cops,” he said.
    â€œThe assistant warden said you’d been in a lot of fights.”
    â€œI didn’t start any of them.”
    Fuller looked out the window again. “I tried to get them to put you inside under another name, so nobody would know. Barker killed that little effort. I’m sorry, Jesse; I did what I could.”
    â€œI appreciate that, Kip,” Jesse replied.
    â€œIf this thing today doesn’t work out, I’ll try to get you moved to Leavenworth and work up a new identity. Now that I’m at Justice I have a little more clout, and maybe I can do it without Barker hearing about it.”
    Jesse leaned forward in his seat. “Kip, was it Barker who hung me out to dry?”
    Fuller shook his head. “I honestly don’t know, Jesse. I combed through all the paper on your case, all the depositions and testimony, and I couldn’t find a thing to hang on him. Certainly, he was in a position to do it, but so were half a dozen other people. I’m damned if I could ever find a motive.”
    Jesse sat back. “Kip, there’s something I never told you, something important.”
    â€œWhat’s that, Jesse?”
    â€œI wasn’t entirely innocent.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, exactly?”
    â€œI was going to steal the evidence money; Bobby was going to help me. Beth’s medical bills were out of sight, and my only other alternative was bankruptcy. I wish I’d taken that route now, but it was something to do with the way my old man brought me up. A man who couldn’t pay his bills was worse than dirt to him, and bankruptcy was the worst possible shame. I even went to see a lawyer about it, but I just couldn’t do it. Then Bobby, who was the sweetest guy I