“A little.” She walked into the kitchen, opened a cabinet to retrieve the bottle and two glasses. “You really going to drink any of this?”

Shig’s smile was enigmatic. “If you would be so kind, might you pour just a tiny splash? Enough to barely wet the bottom of the glass? If that’s the vintage I think it is, I heard that Inga only opened it because the last batch was so poor. That this rye is too good to waste.”

She did as he asked, extending the glass, pouring a couple of fingers for herself. God knew, she’d earned it. She studied him, her suspicious side rising. “Shig? You got some ulterior motive?”

He studied the glass, his dark brown eyes thoughtful. “Always. But let us get back to Dek.”

“Ah! Worried that I’m feeling like a jilted schoolgirl?”

“Are you?”

She pursed her lips. Studied the brown liquid. “Why are you bringing this up?”

Shig gave her that all-knowing smile. “I worry about you. You, Talina, Yvette, Raya. You are each, in your own way, important to me. I would have you know that this, too, shall pass. If you need anything from—”

“How about a bulletproof vest?” the angry voice asked from the bedroom hallway.

Kalico wheeled, startled to see Tadeki Ozawa—dirty and unkempt—step out. The big five-shot revolver that he held was one of Frank Freund’s locally made fifty-caliber pieces. The explosive bullet it shot packed enough punch to stop a quetzal. It would burst a human body as if it were a balloon.

“Tadeki? Put that down.” Kalico dropped a hand to her pistol butt. Dear God, could she draw fast enough, shoot the guy before he pulled the trigger?

“You just let her die,” Tadeki said, verging on tears. His hand was trembling. “You murdered her! And for what? Wealth? We were having a baby, you heartless slit! She was the love of my life, and you let her die in the darkness. Wouldn’t even try save her.”

Kalico nerved herself, stood resolute, trying desperately to figure a way to . . .

“Might I be of service?” Shig asked softly, sliding off the bar stool and placing himself between Tadeki and Kalico.

“Stay put, you son of a bitch!” Tadeki cried. “You’re just like her. One of the rulers. All of you, you just use us for what we can give you.”

“I have nothing,” Shig said amiably. “Anything I own, you are welcome to it.”

“Shig, step back,” Kalico ordered, trying to push him to the side.

“Are you out of your toilet-sucking mind?” Tadeki thundered. “I’m tired of being used by the likes of you. The Corporation? Port Authority? You and your money? Buy this, buy that? Pay for this? You hear me, you pus-sucking fuck? My wife and child are dead! I’m owed. Die with Aguila. And rot in hell.”