Brodie turned the airboat back toward the farm, then let the engine idle and climbed down from the stick.

Jenner lay close to Deb on the floor, Tarver watching, pistol in hand. Tarver was getting antsy, peering toward the farm, prodding Brodie about when they could leave, when they could just get the fuck out of there.

Deb shook her head and whispered, “It’ll be okay, Jenner. Just wait, it’ll be all right, you’ll see. We just need a little more time.”

Brodie squatted next to them.

“Okay, doc. Let’s just do this. And let’s save some time—we both know how this is going to go. I’ll ask you some questions, you either answer or you don’t. If you don’t answer, I hurt you, or maybe her, until you answer. In the end, you’ll answer—trust me on this.”

“What’s in it for us?”

Brodie shook his head. “Enough. You know how this is going to play out—it’s a question of whether or not there’s pain.”

Jenner nodded. “Okay. No pain.”

“Good. We’ve all had enough of that.” Brodie spat into the dark water. “Who did you tell, and what have you told them? Call anyone in Port Fontaine?”

Jenner shook his head. “I called a friend in New York, he’s bringing in the DEA.”

Brodie sat back and grinned. “Avoid the locals, smart. I mean, don’t think the feds aren’t for sale, but, yeah, you can buy a hick cop for the price of a doughnut and a pack of smokes.”

He looked at the girl. She was lying close to Jenner, eyes closed.

“Sorry about your ranger friend, doc. I’ll make it quick.”

He looked at Jenner again. “Okay, the one last thing—there was some money, Craine gave you some money—I don’t suppose…”

“He took it back.”

“Yeah, figured he would, that fucker. The rich get richer, eh, doctor?” He glanced over to Tarver and nodded, then looked back at Jenner. “Anything else I should know?”

And at that moment the night turned into day.