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they’re saying a pickup rolled over near the Sacramento River and the driver who was killed was carrying an invasive fish. They’re quoting Fish and Game but the type of fish is unidentified. Was it pike, Lieutenant, and am I credible now?’
    ‘We’ve been talking for three weeks, Matt. What have you given me?’
    ‘Were they northern pike?’
    ‘I don’t know. You’re the first person to call me about it. I’m driving back from up north. Where did this happen?’
    ‘I didn’t get that. I came into the room too late. I heard the last half of the report and I’m surprised you don’t know. How come you don’t? Doesn’t your department communicate? They’re saying this happened this morning.’
    ‘Was it ENTR?’
    ‘If it’s northern pike it’s them.’
    ‘Let’s meet tomorrow.’
    ‘I’m not sure I can do that. I’ve got to check.’
    ‘Go ahead and check, I’ll stay on the phone. Who else have you talked with about this pike project?’
    ‘My wife.’
    ‘Anyone else?’
    ‘No, the risks are considerable to my career. I’m looking at my schedule now. Tomorrow isn’t going to work and I need some assurances first. I need protection and I don’t mean from physical harm. I saw what happened to Nora Beloit who used to work at ENTR. She quit and took ENTR contacts to her new job. They sued her. They got her fired from the new job and then attacked her credibility as a scientist for two years as she tried to go back into academia. You can Google her name and see where they left it. She can’t get hired anywhere now. I saw her about six months ago and she looks ten years older. I don’t want to end up like that.’
    ‘If you deliver, we’ll back you up.’
    ‘Get the head of your department to call me and put it in writing and I’ll deliver enough information to find the hatcheries. Get him to call me.’
    ‘He’s going to want to know what you’ve done for us.’
    ‘It’s what I
will
do for you that matters.’
    ‘You’ve told me there are two secret hatcheries in Washington, two in Oregon, and three here, and that the ultimate goal is water reallocation. You say they’re looking ten years down the road and trying to eliminate a slew of future lawsuits by introducing a fish species that’ll wipe out the salmon, trout, smelt, and all the natives. Maybe if it were in a theater I might watch it for a while, but no one I work with is going to believe that without a lot more information.’
    Hauser’s voice hardened.
    ‘You’re not going to believe it because you can’t picture it. Get your chief to call me.’
    ‘I need a face-to-face with you first, Matt. I need proof. Let’s meet tomorrow.’
    ‘Less than five minutes ago I told you I can’t.’
    ‘Then Saturday.’
    ‘I can’t do that either.’
    ‘Monday.’
    ‘I’m booked all next week. Get your chief to call me.’
    ‘All right, I’ll see what I can do and thanks for all your help.’
    Marquez killed the connection and switched the phone to vibrate. It was a gamble, but Hauser was a high-strung guy and manipulative and had to be nervous after today. But Hauser didn’t call back during the rest of the drive home. He did call later in the night when Marquez was in bed with his wife Katherine and his phone was on a nightstand.
    The phone vibrated as the call came and it was enough to wake Marquez. He looked at the screen but didn’t answer it. Hauser called again a few minutes later and again after half an hour and Katherine asked sleepily, ‘Who keeps doing that?’
    ‘A source that is trying to play it two ways.’
    ‘Why are they doing that?’
    ‘That’s what I’m trying to figure out.’
    ‘Can it wait until morning?’
    Not really
, he thought and picked up the phone.
    ‘Now what are you doing?’
    ‘Texting him.’
    ‘Seriously?’
    She rolled away from him and Marquez typed, ‘You’re in or you’re out.’
    ‘I’m in.’
    ‘Then help us.’
    ‘I’m trying to.’
    ‘Take the chance.’
    ‘I