51
By the time we reach the bank, it's already gone three. I sit in the pickup with the remaining money and wait.
Collins isn't long. He returns after twenty minutes. Comes walking around the corner a new man. He walks lighter, head up and shoulders relaxed. An uncontrollable grin on his face. He jumps back in the pickup and closes the driver door. Looks across at me.
"Well, how did it go?" I say.
"I can't believe it," he says. "It's all over."
"Withers bought it?"
"Hook, line and sinker," Collins says. "The guy had no choice. Loretta made the transfer and backdated it to last night like you suggested."
"And what did she tell Withers?"
"Exactly what you told her to say. That the systems mustn't have shown it 'till today. Server error, now fixed. He checked the records, but it's the
