The Big Time

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

" HE'S YOUR LAWYER," BOB McDonough said with a solemn face. "He can do a lot of things."

"Not take my money," Troy said, a gust of laughter escaping him in disbelief. "You can't take someone's money."

"It happens all the time," Agent Williams said, casting a glance at Troy's mom. "People trust their lawyers. They sign what's put in front of them without reading the fine print, and before you know it…"

"I signed something that agreed he could act as Troy's agent," Troy's mom said, staring at her own hands. "But…you're right, I didn't read it very carefully."

"Don't worry," Agent Williams said. "We get this bug planted in that living room, and even if they try something we'll get the money back."

Troy wanted to say that he didn't care about the money, if that was the case, because as disgusted and embarrassed as he was, he still had no wish to destroy his father and no wish to prove that Drew was as bad as Troy's mother believed. Instead, he looked at his gramps, who sometimes had the amazing ability to know Troy's thoughts as well as he knew them himself.

"The money isn't the most important thing," Gramps said, his bright blue eyes locked on Troy's. "Let's focus on the task at hand. Money has a funny way of taking care of itself, and if that's what you're really after-money-you'll never have enough of it anyway. It's like a dog chasing its tail."

"Good," Agent Williams said, "then we all agree? We have your cooperation?"

"Troy?" his mom said. "You're sure?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Dad?" she asked.

"Yes."

"So, we're in," Troy's mom said.

"Our people are already set up," Agent Williams said. "If you're ready, so are we."

"You just want me to take the ladder and climb the wall?" Troy asked.

"Whatever you did Sunday night," Agent Williams said, "do the same thing this evening."

Troy looked out the window and saw that the shadows had grown deeper still. It was truly dusk; the sun had gone down, and only its memory and a final glow remained in the west.

"Let me make him something to eat first," Troy's mom said, sounding so much like a mom that Troy had to smile.

The agents looked at each other. Bob McDonough held up his hands in surrender, and the three men stood up from the table.

"We'll look for you in about an hour," Agent Williams said as they moved toward the door. "And Troy? If you don't get the opportunity to drop it in or near the zebra couch, don't worry. We might get another chance. The thing we don't want to do is let Luther Tolsky know what we're trying to do. That could drive him so deep into cover that it would ruin all the progress we've made. You understand, right?"

"Yes," Troy said. "Absolutely."

Agent Williams held out the quarter, pinched between his thumb and forefinger. Even with a knotted stomach Troy held out his hand, and the agent dropped the coin into his palm.

"Spend it wisely," Agent Williams said.

"Don't worry," Troy said in a whisper. "I will."