Page 86 of Reno

“Sam would love to see them.”

“I think Baker’s going to take him to the racetrack and let him drive it,” Goose said. “Sounds like it, anyway.”

“He’d talk about that until the day he died,” I said.

“Who’s dying now?” a gravelly voice asked from behind me.

A massive hand reached over my shoulder and picked up my fork. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was, but I did, nevertheless.

Wearing his worn leather vest over faded overalls, Bama stood behind me with his sunglasses stretched over the top of his bandana. “Don’t say I never did anything for you.” He reached around me and pierced a piece of octopus with my fork. After poking it in his mouth and chewing a few times, he grinned an ear to ear smile. “Damn, that’s good. You were right, Kid.”

I laughed. “Cold day in hell, huh?”

He reached around me and poked another piece. “Stranger things have happened, I suppose.”

While Bama continued to eat my plate of octopus one piece at a time, Reno talked to my mother and father about his recently deceased friend, Porter. I scanned the group of people and took pause.

US citizen or not, at that moment in time, my life was nothing short of perfect.

32

Reno

Baker’s office was where he spent most of his mornings. Relaxing to his favorite music while keeping the company’s paperwork in order was the extent of his daily activities. I sat across from him at his desk, getting my Monday morning briefing.

“Write up in the San Diego Tribune was pretty damned good.” Baker slid the folded day-old newspaper to the edge of his desk. “Crip’s Ol’ Lady did a damned good job on it.”

“Haven’t read it yet.”

“Cop’s getting some award for bravery. They didn’t name him, though.”

“He ought to get a medal pinned to his chest,” I said with a dry laugh. “He got shot in the line of duty.”

“That was shitty of you,” he said. “Can’t believe you did that.”

“Couldn’t take a chance on letting Alacrán escape. If he did, we’d never find him again.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “True.”

“I’ve got a question,” I said. “Carma said she had no idea you guys were coming. Said you just showed up at her parents’ house. How’d you know where to go?”

“Tito did a location on her phone. That satellite triangulation shit. Goose figured it was best that she not know. He remembered you said none of them drive, so he was afraid they might freak out and try and run if they knew they were in danger. If there were people out looking for them, it wouldn’t have ended well.”

“Should have figured it was Tito,” I said with a laugh. “That little fucker can do anything on a computer.”

“Pretty much,” he agreed.

“Happy to have your money back?” I asked.

“It’s not mine, it’s ours,” he responded. “Crip called this morning. Said the cop told him there were no leads on the bank job, and that he could consider the investigation closed. Guess there’s some type of insurance they have on thefts like that, and they need the cops to make a statement before the insurance provider pays off. He was making that statement today. Said the money’s free and clear. Now that El Alacrán’s captured, we can launder it and divide it up. It’ll make a nice mid-year bonus for sure.”

“I can sure use it,” I said.

“Going to go to Vegas and gamble your ass off?” he asked. “Hit the craps table? Poker room? Disappear for another month?”

I flipped him my middle finger. “No.”

“What’s the plan?”