that for a couple of weeks, then deposited it in a Chinese bank under an alias. That was the hardest part, but I managed it. It helped to be a lawyer. Anyway, my last step was transferring the money from the Chinese bank to the Seychelles account in Max’s name. Do you see where I’m going with this?”
It takes me about twenty seconds to work it out. “You want Max’s partners to think he’s double-crossing them. That he’s taking money on the side that they don’t know about.”
She nods, still waiting.
“If Max’s partners believe that . . . it won’t just discredit him. They might kill him.”
“They might,” she says. “Someone like Tommy Russo might. But I don’t think it would go that far. I don’t think the others would let that happen.”
Her words sound sincere, but her eyes betray such savage intent that I feel a shudder of revulsion. “I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself.”
“Marshall, I told you I’m desperate. If I execute this plan, Max will lose the protection of his partners. He’d also lose his influence over things like cops and judges. The Poker Club wouldn’t lift a finger to help him with something like my divorce.”
“Maybe not. But the first thing they would do is confront Max with whatever evidence you leaked to them. And Max would deny it.”
“They wouldn’t believe him. The evidence is undeniable. Oh, Blake Donnelly might take up for him. But it would only take a couple of malcontents to create chaos in their ranks. Max would never be trusted again.”
I let her suggestion hang in the air, hoping she’ll recognize the dangers inherent in it. But Jet only watches me, hoping I’ll tell her to put her plan into motion.
“You’re forgetting something,” I tell her. “The Poker Club members might believe Max screwed them. But Max would know he was innocent. And it wouldn’t take him long to work out who had put him into that trap.”
Jet nods like a queen who has already accepted death as the risk of victory in war. “I’m willing to take that chance.”
A wave of apprehension rolls over me. Schemes like this end up getting people killed, or at least locked into prison cells. Instead of arguing with her, I reach out for her wineglass. As I drink the remaining contents, an even more frightening possibility hits me.
“Jet, will you swear you haven’t put this plan in motion already? You haven’t told the Poker Club about this fake Seychelles account, have you?”
She smiles strangely. “It’s not fake.”
“You know what I mean.”
She sighs in what sounds like frustration. “This isn’t an Alfred Hitchcock film. I haven’t done anything, except set up that account. What makes you think I’ve already set it in motion?”
“Sally was murdered last night. How about that? I’m worried the Poker Club might have sent somebody over there to shoot Max, and they got Sally instead.”
“Oh, that’s ridiculous.”
I’m missing something, I can feel it. “Why today, Jet? Why are you suddenly telling me about this setup that was weeks or months in the planning?”
She gets up and retrieves the wine bottle from the counter, then sits beside me and pours another glass. “I didn’t tell you because this was risky to set up. I didn’t want you worrying about me every minute. I also hoped I wouldn’t have to do it. But now . . .”
“Jet, you’ve done a one-eighty on Max since this morning. What changed your mind about your plan?”
She takes a sip of wine, then turns to me and lays both hands on my knees. “Sally’s physician delivered a little bombshell down at the sheriff’s department this afternoon.”
Not wanting to betray my promise to Jack Kirby, I act like I know nothing about this. “What bombshell?”
“According to the doctor, Sally had a terminal illness.”
I try to look appropriately shocked. “And nobody knew about it?”
“Nobody but Dr. Kirby. Sally didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Cancer?” I ask.
Jet shakes her head. “Some kind of blood protein disorder. She had the worst form of it. Terrible prognosis.”
I take another sip of wine and consider how this must have affected Jet’s calculations about Max. “I understand now. Max’s claim that Sally killed herself just became easier to sell to a jury.”
“A hundred times easier.”
“Max thinks he can get acquitted without your help. So he won’t honor any promise to stay out of your divorce.”
“I never said you were slow.”
“I’d say Max’s fate depends on the jury. The crime scene was pretty damning. Max