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ever knew, brought up the evidence locker and what was in it.”
    â€œThat doesn’t sound like Bobby Dunn,” Fuller said. “He was the straightest arrow I ever saw.”
    Jesse nodded. “I know he was. And when he brought it up he made it sound, I don’t know…almost like I was entitled to the money. He even volunteered to move the cash from the locker to the car, while I was upstairs in a meeting. He said nobody would ever suspect him, and he was right; nobody ever did.”
    â€œWhat about the coke and Bobby’s death?” Fuller asked.
    â€œI had nothing to do with either one,” Jesse replied. “What I think happened is, when Bobby went to the evidence locker for the money, he got caught by somebody and that somebody cleaned everything out of the locker and stuffed some of it into my trunk, then shot Bobby and put him in there. There was about a million and a half more in that locker, and a ton of coke.”
    â€œAnd they nailed you for all of it,” Fuller said.
    â€œThey did. And somebody walked away with the rest of the money and the drugs and never got caught.I always thought my best chance was that the guy would do something stupid and get nailed. But he didn’t; whoever he was he played it very smart. Barker is that smart.”
    â€œHe is,” Fuller said, “but I always thought it was one of the other agents. I never had a line on who, though.”
    They rode in silence for a few minutes, then Jesse asked the question he had wanted to ask all along. “Did you ever get a line on Carrie?”
    Fuller shook his head. “I tried again when I knew I was going to see you, but it was the same as when I wrote to you last year. I got hold of the woman in charge of the adoption agency a couple of days ago, tried to use a little Justice clout, but she wouldn’t budge. All she said was that the people were very nice, ideal adoptive parents. She said Carrie was very happy, and that if you knew the people, you’d be pleased. I hope that helps some.”
    Jesse nodded. “Some. I just wish I could write to her and that she could write to me. There’s so much I want to tell her, and if I could hear from her then at least I’d know something about how she was being brought up.”
    â€œCarrie’s young, Jess, and she’ll adapt very quickly. I know it’s hard for you, but I really think you should try to put that out of your mind. There’s absolutely nothing to be done about it. Believe me, I tried everything.”
    Jesse looked out the window and saw an airport. “Where are we going, Kip?”
    â€œThat’s Fulton County Airport; the locals call it Charlie Brown. We’re going to a meeting there.”
    â€œWith Barker?”
    Fuller nodded.
    â€œAny advice, Kip?”
    Fuller looked uncomfortable, but he seemed to bethinking about it. Finally, he looked up. “Barker needs you pretty bad. You’re not in much of a position to negotiate, but you might remember that.” He looked out the window again. “I won’t be able to help you, Jess; remember that, too.”
    The helicopter was hovering over the tarmac outside what looked like an office building. Finally it set down, and the pilot cut the engines. Fuller helped Jesse out of the aircraft and across the tarmac to a door at the end of the building, then up a flight of stairs.
    Finally, Fuller opened a door and ushered Jesse into a conference room. A soft drink machine sat in a corner beside a coffee pot. Sitting at the table was the man Jesse held responsible for his incarceration and the loss of his daughter, the man he hated most in the world.
    â€œHello, Jesse,” Barker said.
    â€œHello, Dan.” Barker was the epitome of civil service smoothness, Jesse thought.
    â€œHave a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee or a cold drink?”
    â€œSome coffee, please.”
    Fuller went to the coffee pot. “Black, as I