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"But we’ll settle for a name Find out who supplied the AK to Skarda, and we’ll take it from there"

"Why me?" I asked "I don’t have any undercover experience You have agents who are trained for this sort of thing, who actually like this sort of thing Why would you--wait athis conversation? I’ood one"

"Operative words being ‘used to be’" The expression on their faces toldthe case off the books, aren’t you? It’s a black bag job You don’t want anyone in Justice to know about it You’re afraid there’ll be a leak, that sos will start up again and everyone will be eet fired"

"That won’t happen if we recover the guns," Bullert said

"If, brother If"

"McKenzie, it’s not just about our reputation," Bullert said "Every ti the Mexican border, people, especially politicians, they start screalike that up here? With Canada? Do you want to see a fence along the Rainy River, the Great Lakes, the St Lawrence Seaway?"

"It would be one frickin’ long fence," I said

"You knohat I’ about"

"Yes, I do" I turned in my chair to face Harry "What does this have to do with you? You’re not ATF"

"I asked him for help," Bullert said "I asked Harry if he knew someone we could depend on, someone we could trust Heat Harry when I said, "I’ to have to thank hiuns, too," Harry said "Before sos there have been along the Mexican border tied to ATF guns? This seeet them back"

"You don’t really believe that, do you?"

Harry shrugged

"Will you do it, McKenzie?" Bullert asked "Will you help us?"

It took about three seconds to decide I leaned back in the chair again and spread my hands wide, palms up

"Hell no," I said

’Course, that was then Noas sitting on a deck in the North Woods overlooking a lake I could barely see in the dark I felt movement behind me and turned ure step out White T-shirt, white shorts--even in the dark I could tell they orn by a wo," I said

There was a startled intake of breath before the figure eased cautiously toward me