Mal brought it up at dinner. Pushed his plate away an’ stood up.

Jayne had pushed his plate away a while back. The doc had cooked. Tasted like moldy buttcrack.

“Lot of you probably noticed we ain’t been paid yet. Likely think it strange, since we just finished a job.”

Mal crossed his arms and started pacin’ at the head of the table.

Jayne saw somethin’ move outa the corner of his eye. He glanced across the table.

Kayle was sittin’ with her arms folded, lookin’ bugged. The doc was rubbin’ his arm with an “I-just-got-hit-by-a-girl” look on his face.

Jane smiled an’ turned back ta Mal.

“Turns out the backer for the job ain’t keen on the idea of partin’ with his money. Can’t say I blame him on principle, but I aint too keen on not gettin’ paid, either. So one of us is gonna have ta give. Ain’t gonna be me.”

Zoe spoke up. “The backer has security. At least two girls at the door to check for weapons.”

She shot Jayne a look.

He cleared his throat an’ got real interested in the mess on his plate.

“’Bout a dozen men with guns, besides.”

Mal stopped pacin’. Stood with his arms crossed, lookin’ around at everyone. “Now, we don’t know where our money is. For all we know, this guy could be the type ta keep everythin’ in the bank. And knowin’ where our money is is somethin’ that could come in handy when we have ta take it.”

“Man like that ain’t likely ta be sharin’ that kind of information with just anyone, though. Ain’t likely ta be makin’ all his goons prive to it, neither.”

Mal nodded at Zoe, then looked around at the rest of the crew. “So what we need is an insider. We need someone ta get in there and get through his shields. Get inta his circle. Become trusted enough ta be let in on his secrets.”

“Or get him vulnerable enough to let ‘em slip.”

“We need someone ta get to know this guy real intimate-like.”

Took Jayne a second ta realize Mal an’ Zoe was both lookin’ at Inara.

Seemed ta take her a second ta realize it, too.

“Oh.”

“Figure there ain