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“Stay here,” I told Eer door

“No I’ her door “I’m in this as deep as you, Mike I don’t care what happens next I’m responsible”

“No, you’re not,” I said, reaching across her and sla to lose, Emily If you want to help me, I need you to stay and just sit here”

“But, Mike —” she was saying as I got out and shut the door

Diaz had already told me that they were set up downstairs Around back, I pulled open a rusty sliding door and entered a , pine-paneled room with a stone fireplace Diaz looked up fro chair in front of the fireplace, sarette He was dressed head to toe in black Beside hiainst the hearth’s river stone, were two AR-15s

“What’s the story?” I said, shaking his hand

“He’s in there,” Diaz said, pointing his cigarette at the closed door behind hi out his front door Talk about not knohat hit you”

“What does he know so far?”

Diaz blew a s

“We told hia cartel, and I think he’s fallen for it He also thinks we have his faht before you arrived, I got creative and convinced hi to make a call and turn his wife HIV positive He started with the orks then, boy Broke like a glass has that can hit a nerve”

Diaz was putting the cigarette out on the sole of his boot when the door behind hi a ski mask stepped out I stood there with a very puzzled look on my face as the man peeled off the mask It was Detective Bassman

“Wow! You’re in on this, too?” I said as I shook histo be able to pay you back for what you’re doing for me Either of you”

“No proble a smile “My pleasure, believe me I think he’s ready to talk to us now”

Diaz handed me a ski mask

“Let’s do th