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“Right,” said Eli. “Because Jack McCoy always gets what he wants.”

“Right,” Jack said again, trying to catch up. “You said that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Why are you here?”

“I have a plan.”

Dale gently cleared his throat.

“Sorry,” Jack amended, “we have a plan. Dale’s here too. He’s also dead as of this morning.”

Eli glanced from the elderly woman on one cushion to the empty spot on the other.

“Fucking hell.”

“Yeah,” Jack agreed.

“Dale’s dead?”

“Yeah,” Jack repeated.

“How?”

“Roy Winston,” Dale offered. Jack repeated it and Eli let out a sigh.

“Okay,” said Eli. “Get out of my house.”

“I’m not lying to you, dude,” said Jack.

“I know,” said Eli. “It all adds up exactly right. Now get out of my house.”

“Eli—”

“I’m done with your schemes, Jack. I’ve been done with them. You being dead doesn’t change that.” Eli walked to the door and ripped it open.

Jack rose to meet Eli’s eye level, temporarily forgetting his new height. “But—”

“Does Savannah know about Dale?”

“What?”

“Does Sav know Dale’s dead?” Eli asked again, propping the door open with his shoulder.

“I dunno,” said Jack.

Eli’s fist was at his mouth again. “No, of course you don’t. You’re just focused on what matters, like always, huh, McCoy? Go. I have some calls to make.”

Jack’s mouth hung open for a moment, catching dust particles. How had things gone upside down so quickly? Eli actually believed Jack and Dale were there in 3A, but for some reason he refused to help. Jack felt more confused than Eli seemed to be by the whole situation, which made very little sense under the circumstances.

“Hey, Jackie,” Dale piped up from beside him, pulling Jack from his befuddlement. “Can you get Eli to tell Sav I’m okay? I don’t want her worrying about me, you know? Thinkin’ I’m burning in God’s basement or nothin’.”

Jack looked back up at Eli. “Message from Dale,” he said through all the things he wanted to say. “Tell Sav he’s all right.”

“Don’t involve me in this,” Eli said. “Any of it.”

Jack could feel Dale deflate beside him. He couldn’t bring himself to look. Instead he gave a tight nod and walked out the open door.

• • •