Intentionally withholding information that he’d consider sensitive? I’d count on it. What seems to be missing?”

I told him what Jaz said about recent trouble between the gang and the Cabal.

“Dustups?” he repeated.

“Encounters, altercations—”

“I know what you mean, but I have no idea what they mean. Sure there are dustups. All the time. Always have been. They’ll pull a job that gets too much attention or gets too close to our operations, and we’ll flex our muscles, give their chain a tug, and remind them they are on a chain, operating in this city with the Cabal’s permission.”

“Has there been an increase in those sorts of encounters?”

“If there has been, I’d know about it. All security alerts come to me.”

Troy promised to investigate further and I trusted he would. I was also inclined to believe him when he said that a sudden increase in Cabal-gang problems wouldn’t be the kind of thing Benicio would keep from me. Yet, as I knew from experience, just because something doesn’t cross Benicio’s radar didn’t mean it wasn’t being done by a Cabal employee, using Cabal resources and the Cabal name. I’d have to work on Jaz some more.

TROY LEFT FIRST. I presumed he was watching my exit, but knew better than to look for him as I hailed a cab. I’d just given the driver my address when my cell phone rang, the gang one Rodriguez had given me.

“Faith? It’s Jaz. I didn’t get you up, did I?”

I checked my watch. I couldn’t remember the last time I hadn’t been up by ten—awake, showered, dressed, done breakfast and moving on with my day. Being in the gang, though, meant late nights and, probably, late mornings. Like being back in college. Well, being back in college for the kind of kids who skipped morning classes and stayed out at the bars all night, which hadn’t been me.

“No, I’m awake.”

“Good, good. You took off last night before I got a chance to ask your plans for today. I figured, being new in town, maybe you’d like some company. We have to be at the Rider by three, but—”

“Three? I thought it was five—oh, you mean you and Sonny.”

“No…” A moment’s pause, then, “Shit. Guy hasn’t called you yet, has he? Better keep this quick, then, or I’ll get hell for tying up the line. Short version is, you’re in.”

“In?”

“On the job tonight. The one I mentioned. I talked to Guy last night, told him how well you did.”

“Great. Thank you.”

A laugh. “While I’d love to claim credit, I don’t have that kind of pull. Once he saw what you could do—

that mind-reading stuff—he decided we could use you on the job. He was just double-checking with me, making sure everything went okay. So, you’re in, but before that, I was wondering if you had lunch plans.”

I didn’t. We agreed to meet at the club.

HOPE: PLANS

At one, a cab dropped me off at Easy Rider. I was about to ring the side bell when a voice called from behind me.

“Hold up, Faith. I got it.”

Footsteps thundered down the sidewalk. I turned to see Rodriguez jogging toward me, waving his key.

Rodriguez was the youngest member, no more than twenty. An average-looking guy, but there was a sweetness about him that made me want to fix him up with someone’s little sister. Maybe it was the shy smile or the hair that flopped in his eyes or the big dark eyes that dipped away the moment they touched mine. When he’d given me my phone yesterday, he’d taken me through everything step-by-step, patient but never condescending, explaining everything in simple English—a far cry from most tech support guys I’d dealt with.

“Guy will give you a key soon enough,” he said as he unlocked the door. “Until then, if no one answers the bell, ring Guy’s office phone. The number’s on your speed dial. He’s usually in by noon.”

He held the door open, then darted past me to the security panel and punched in a code.

“Even when someone’s already here, this will be armed, and Guy expects you to rearm it after you come inside.”

“Got it.”

“Ask him for the code later. He should give you that, even if you don’t have a key.” He pressed the last button, then paused before shutting the panel. “That reminds me. You have some experience with alarm systems, right? Ex-boyfriend thief or something?”

I nodded.

“If you’ve got a second, would you mind taking a look at something? Jaz and Sonny ran into a system on a job last week that totally stumped them. It’s not anything I’ve ever seen and I can’t find schematics on the Web.

They did some sketches for me.”

“I’ll take a look. If it’s new and high-tech, I’ve probably seen it, but almost certainly can’t crack it.”

“No, that’s fine. Just looking for an ID.”

We’d gone three steps when his cell phone rang. He checked the number, hesitated, then motioned for me to wait.

“Did it come?” he asked as he answered. A pause, then he shifted his weight, one hand shoved into his pocket. “Okay, I’m ready. What does it say?” Another pause. Then a sharp laugh. “Haven’t opened it? Are you trying to kill me, Nina? Come on, come on.” A rueful look at me, then his eyes widened. “¡Qué fuerte! Seriously?

Okay, okay. I gotta go. We’ll talk tonight.”

He hung up, grinning. “That was my sister. My college acceptance letter was late, and I was sure that meant I hadn’t made it and…” His color rose. “And you have no idea what I’m talking about and I’m babbling like a moron. Sorry.”

“No, that’s great. You got in, I take it. Which college?”

The grin sparked again. “California Institute of Technology.”

“Caltech? Wow. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. I have to make a few calls. Oh, about that security system, are you going to be around later?”

“As far as I know. We’ll look at it then.”

He pointed me toward the front rooms. He’d just scampered off when the side door opened again. Bianca. I waited to walk with her.

As we cut through the dimly lit back rooms, she asked whether I’d been comfortable doing a job with Jaz and Sonny. From her tone, I gathered she hadn’t been comfortable with it—a new recruit sent out with the next two newest members. I assured her everything had gone fine.