Electronic Kill Machine

The Sweater

Four days went by before Jim could call his friend and set up a meeting. The police needed a court order so they could wire Jim. That took time.

And then, with a phone call, Jim was told it was time.

So he went down, got wired up, and then returned home and called Weir.

"Jay, can you pick me up? I need to go to the mall to get a sweater."

"Sure. Be right over," Weir said.

Jim was all hooked up. He had several undercover cops ready to follow him and Weir wherever they went.

The game was on.

Scared doesn't even begin to describe how Jim felt. One of the main reasons was that, "One," Jim said, "I know that Jay always carries a gun with him, at the least a knife. He's very, very protective."

The day before the meeting, Jim's dad suggested that he carry his grandfather's gun.

Two guns, Jim knew, made a showdown.

No way.

"I was always too afraid to touch that stuff, anyway," Jim said. "I'm the type to shoot my own foot off."

As Weir was on his way over, Jim sat and thought about the day: Just get him to admit it again and get back home. Get it over with and get out of there.

"But after he picked me up," Jim said. "That's when things got really, really crazy."

And dangerous.