HMMT 2005 U14

Three noncollinear points and a line $\ell$ are given in the plane. Suppose no two of the points lie on a line parallel to $\ell$ (or $\ell$ itself). There are exactly $n$ lines perpendicular to $\ell$ with the following property: the three circles with centers at the given points and tangent to the line all concur at some point. Find all possible values of $n$.