"When you say understanding, I take it that you're being liberal," he says, as he makes quick, idle work of stacking the cards into a deck. "She seems the type of dame to drive a hard deal."

It's true. She's smart for being cautious, and Jackson's a fool for being so loose-lipped, but part of being Homer Jackson is being careless and brazen. When you're forced to deal with something you want no part in -- in this case, turf wars -- one tends to make a joke of it.

"What are the terms?"