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"If I had a naht be able to help you" Esteban’s sudden tension said ere on thin ice If he worked for Montoya, we ht, outnuunned Guys like these hired on hoever paid best

I sensed Chance’s increased focus We needed luck now amble on it?

"Montoya," he said finally

"No shit" Esteban appeared relieved and took a sip of his Patrón to cover that "Looks like we can do some business See, I work for Escobarwell, way down the food chain, but I hear he’s always happy about anything that fucks up a Montoya"

That seemed to imply there was o, whose nairl Otherwise, I didn’t follow; nor did Chance by his expression So we both sat and waited for Chuch to respond

"Rivals, huh?" he grunted

Esteban nodded "I-35, ah for ether Escobar and Montoya headed up rival cartels, and that was great news for us If this guy didn’t knohere we could find the son of a bitch who had Min, he ht tell us who did

I was impressed, but not surprised, that Chance sat quiet all this ti Handsoo, but nope, not so ood deal for you, mano If we mess hiet our cards punched, you know nothing about it Should we talk terms?"

For the first time, Esteban asked about us No introductions had been o forithout knowing all the factors in play "Slow your roll, cuz Who’re your silent partners?"

"Friends," Chuch said without hesitation "They got my back in this"

Chance didn’t leave it there "Montoya tookfor hiuy orked for the highest bidder wouldn’t give a shit about that Not so Esteban narrowed his eyes and sla looks from the other patrons He crossed himself and then spat as if to ward off a curse

"Mierda," he swore "Only sons of bitches go after woet to us"

I decided not to counter his assuainst anyone other than Min It seenation If he found out Chance’s hts of Hell, he ht lose sympathy

"True" Chuch finished his beer, and I noticed he’d been nursing the saht, probably to keep hiet you to send a question up the food chain for us?"

"One K for my time," Esteban said "I’d do it for free, butyou know"

"No probleave a half sht out of his pocket "I’ll leave you "

"It’ll take tiet you a list of their coure out where he’s taken her"

"Can do," Chance said

He’d dowse the list for us And if that didn’t work, Booke ht be able to scout them Surely he could tell us where she was For the first time, I didn’t feel hopeless With Montoya’s pet warlock blown to shit, we had a real shot, assue salvation for Min, then reak vengeance, closure for Chance I preferred the former, but I’d take the latter

Esteban was still staring at Chance with an odd, haunted look in his dark eyes "It happened to ht a rosary from his pocket "This is all I have left They never found a body, justthis" By the pain I saw graven on his face, she never would’ve left it behind if she had a choice It looked like a faazed at the antique silver necklace with a ht be able to touch it and give him an answer Chuch offered a nearly imperceptible nod Men orked for the cartels would have seen s over the years, most of them weirder or more horrific than what I did

"May I see it?" I held out a hand, bracing myself I kneould be bad

Beside me, Chance tensed, but Chuch checked him Esteban seemed surprised but he passed it over nonetheless A deep breath prepared me as best I could, and then I dropped the natural focus that preventedan object

Pain searedwaves My vision flickered and spiraled inward, du uish as the man reared above her I sensed her desperate desire to live while the agony of live wires sizzled in uish of my mother’s death si, the rosary on the table

"What the?" Esteban took the necklace like it was a snake, staring at it in bewilderment "Is she okay? Should I call a doctor?"

Chance was already getting some ice for my palm He knew the drill I hoped he had the balm somewhere in his pocket, as this had been a bad one