"Sounds as if it's something we might use. What's your plan?" asked Ashe.

"Mindy's going to give us an in with Snake," said Susan, "but, at the same time, we need to get her away from him as soon as possible--so he won't associate anything that happens later with her. I'd like to use her to make a controlled buy of an ounce from Snake. She'll bring me along and introduce me, and we'll do a series of buys from him in larger and larger lots, until he's used to it. After a couple of months, we'll take him out behind a large buy and follow up with a search warrant. With luck, he'll be sitting on some weight when we do it."

"Sounds good. What's the situation with the twin brother?"

"Mindy says that Crow is dealing too. The brothers are partners. I think we'll have to sort it out when we get into it a little farther."

"I want you to partner up with Juba and Juan, "said Ashe. "You're the lead on this one--yeah, I think you're ready for it," he said, noting Susan's dubious expression. "You've been working with us for six months, and you've learned a lot about being a dope cop. I knew we weren't wrong when we recruited you from Kusata City patrol. You're ready to work the lead on an investigation."

"Then I'll do it."

"Good." Ashe arranged the papers on his desk. "You know, I haven't been here for all that long myself--only a couple of years. Juan's been here for a year, but Joel, Sasquatch and Juba have worked together for ten years or so."

"I think we make a pretty good team."

"Yeah. So do I."

Ashe inspected the parking lot outside the window.

"Listen--there's something else coming down the pike."

"Oh?"

"We'll need your help. I can't say much more about it right now, but I'll be setting up a time for you to meet with someone in a few days."

"Nothing more?"

"Not yet. We'll let you know. Just a heads up."

"Roger that."

Susan opened the door, and walked back into the main office.

"It's a go?" asked Juba. The rest of them had watched Susan's meeting with Mindy through the one-way glass in the interview room.

"It is. It'll be you and Juan with me. Ashe wants me to be the lead on it. Any problem?"

"None. It's about time. You're ready."

"Thanks."

"So which one is the evil twin?" asked Joel.

"They both are," observed Sasquatch. "Snake and Crow are identical?"

"That's the story."

"Might make for some fun times on surveillance if they really look alike."

"It might."

"Does this alleged axe murder sound familiar at all?"

"Not really.", said Juba. "There haven't been any bodies in rugs turn up in the river--which may or may not mean anything. And if we do find a body, which twin do we charge with it? I mean--supposing they really look alike."

"Did you know I had a twin?" asked Sasquatch. "There used to be two of us, but one of us drowned in the bathtub when we were a year old. To this day, I don't know whether the one that drowned was me or my brother."

Ashe heard this last remark when he came out of the office.

"Mark Twain. You stole that line from Mark Twain. He's good to steal from if you don't get caught."

"Prince and the Pauper?"

"No, I don't think so. I think it's from Life on the Mississippi."

"No, 'Prince and the Pauper'. I think that's what we should call this case."

"Done."

It was agreed. Prince and the Pauper would be the unofficial name of the investigation into the doings of the evil twins, Snake and Crow.