"I am the Lamb of G.o.d!" Jesus said. "The Lamb, the Lamb!"

"Not you. Billy, you thought about my offer?"

"You can't keep me here." Billy tried to say it as calmly as he could, but he felt his hands shaking. He really needed another cigarette. "I'm a US citizen. New Zealand can't lock me up because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I want to speak to someone from the American Government or the NRA." Jennifer stared at him.

"What?"

"You're in the Australian Territories, Billy, not New Zealand. Don't you even know which country you're in?"

"I...they flew meright, Australia."

"And I am am the American Government. This is a USA country. I leave you here overnight, that's the best you can do?" the American Government. This is a USA country. I leave you here overnight, that's the best you can do?"

"Uh..."

"I'll come back later."

"No! Wait! Okay, let's talk!"

"No more talking. I've offered you a deal, you say yes or no."

"f.u.c.kers!" Jesus shouted. "The f.u.c.king nnnnn-nnnnn"

"Quiet!" Jennifer said.

"All right," Billy said, feeling hope drain away. "Get me out of here."

She held open the door. He left the cell, feeling like he was sinking deeper and deeper.

"I'm glad you made the right choice, Billy," Jennifer said. "I think we're going to work well together."

"You're going to carry this with you at all times," she said. "Don't leave it where anyone can see it. Don't let anyone pick it up."

"A pack of smokes?"

"There's a bug inside. I can talk back, if you plug headphones into the little jack down at the bottom. When it vibrates, that's me telling you I want to talk. Do you smoke Marlboro?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Don't smoke these."

He stared at them. "Are they drugged?"

"No, Billy, they're cigarettes. But if you finish the pack, there's no reason for you to hold on to the box. If you leave this thing in a trash can somewhere, I will not be happy."

"Right," he said, and licked his lips. He wondered if he could have one of those cigarettes now.

Jennifer eyed him. "Maybe you're not cut out for this."

"I am, really! It's just..." He reached for the pack.

She looked disgusted. "What are you, on one of those high-nic brands?"

"I'm cutting back." He lit one with shaking fingers. The taste was incredible.

"Feel better?"

"Ohhh..." Things were so much better with the smoke. Even Jennifer Government looked cute, in a hard-a.s.s sort of way.

"Now let's get this clear. You get in, you get me some people on tape talking about John Nike and NRA jobs, you get out, and you're in the clear. But if you ditch this device and run back to Mississippi or wherever the h.e.l.l you're from, I'll come after you. I'm the Government, Billy. You can't escape me. Understand?"

"Yes."

She was silent for a moment. Billy sucked on his cigarette.

"He killed fourteen kids. Thought about it, planned it, made it happen. I'm not going to tolerate that. Do you believe me?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "You're booked on a flight to Invercargill, New Zealand, in two hours. Don't mess up."

"You can count on me." His whole body was tingling. In this moment, he really meant it.

33 Cecity

She moved quickly, but even so they caught her outside her office. "Jennifer!"

She looked up. Elise and Calvin were by the watercooler. "Oh, hey, Elise."

"Explain to me why you're in this building."

"I'm just collecting some things to take home"

"Two weeks ago they were st.i.tching your head back together. Now get out of my station."

"You know, I feel really recuperated," Jennifer said. "And I saw the shrink again and he said I'd made real progress toward processing the negative experience and resolving my role within it."

Elise looked at Calvin. "Has she seen the shrink again?"

"Uh," Calvin said.

"Get out," Elise said. "I swear, Jennifer, don't you so much as call in."

"I'm touched by your concern, but"

"Did it sound like I was giving you an option?"

She resisted a sigh. "No."

"Then go home."

"Fine," she said, and turned.

"What do you need to go to your office for?"

"I'm getting my jacket jacket!" she shouted. "Is that all right?"

"I'll drive you home," Calvin said.

"So," she said in the car, "now we've got this arrest warrant"

"Don't even ask."

"What?"

"You're not coming along, Jen."

"That's not what I'm saying," she said, nettled. "That's not even what I meant."

"Oh," Calvin said. "Good."

There was silence.

"So how many agents are you going in with?"

"Depends who's available."

"You'll let me know how it goes?"

He stopped at a light and turned to her. "I will keep you informed, Jen."

"Good. Thanks."

"You know, the break could be good for you. Take some time to step back, cool down, get some perspective. Hang out with Kate."

"I have have perspective," she said. "I have s.h.i.tloads of perspective. That's why I don't want to sit at home while John Nike is still out there. I want him in jail. I want to know that when Kate goes to the shops, n.o.body's going to perspective," she said. "I have s.h.i.tloads of perspective. That's why I don't want to sit at home while John Nike is still out there. I want him in jail. I want to know that when Kate goes to the shops, n.o.body's going to shoot shoot her. That's my perspective." her. That's my perspective."

"Okay, okay," Calvin said. "I get it."

"If you let him get away, I'll be really p.i.s.sed."

"Jen, I am a competent human being."

"I know. I'm sorry." She rubbed her face. She felt frustrated. "Don't take Church Street."

Kate was waiting for the bus at the school gate. "Mommy!"

"Hiya," Jennifer said. "What's that on your face?"

"A sticker. See, it has a star on it."

"Oh yeah."

"How come you're here so early?"

"I'm on vacation."

"Oh, yay!"

"I thought maybe we could go to the park and play soccer. Do you want to do that?"

"And, after, can we go to the dog shelter?"

"It's a bit late tonight, honey. Come on, Calvin's driving us home." She took Kate's hand.

"Alex's dog rolls on its back every time you go near it," Kate said. "It's weird."

"Our dog will be much cooler," Jennifer said.

"Can we go to the shelter tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow or the weekend," Jennifer promised. The codes to Billy's bug were in her pocket. "I have a couple of important things I need to do first, honey."

34 Compet.i.tion