Jason's sneakers crunched sand as he walked toward the far end, Soul Patch falling in behind. The sound of their passage echoed in the closed space, scuffing back mingled with the faint rumble of cars above. His shirt went cold and clammy. Keep it easy, he thought. Get him off balance.

"You know," Jason said, voice light, "I like the Cadillac myself."

"What?"

"Saw your necklace, is all."

Suddenly, he heard voices. For a minute, he was relieved. Then two girls turned from the ramp to the hallway, their voices young, college freshmen maybe, laughing like the whole world was their keg party. Soul Patch stiffened at the sight of them.

Jason's fingers tingled. One thing when it was just him on the line; this was responsibility he didn't need. He had to keep the situation under control. "Yup. Beautiful vehicles." Dry tongue forcing the words. "I got a '72 Eldorado. Convertible."

"Shit, one of those old boats? I don't roll that way."

"What do you like, the Escalade?"

"I'm black, I gotta drive an Escalade?"

"I don't know," Jason said. The girls were ten feet away. "Just guessing."

"Man, I got me a XLR."

Jason looked over his shoulder. "No shit?"

"Leather interior and a DVD in the dash."

He nodded, trying to ignore the tension in his muscles. "Nice." The girls drew parallel, and Jason clenched to jump if Soul Patch even looked their direction. But the blonde and brunette passed smooth-faced and oblivious. Jason let out a relieved breath, walked another dozen feet, out of earshot, and then stopped. Enough. "Listen, I've only got twenty bucks on me."

"So?"

"So, take it." He started to reach, froze when Soul Patch shook his head slow.

"Son, I wanted your money, you think you'd still have it?"

"What do you want?"