“Come on.” Without waiting for her, Jonas sprinted through the crowd. Dodging, weaving and shoving when she had to, Liz dashed after him.

The woman had barely gotten out to the street when Jonas caught up to her. “What are you running away from?” he demanded. His fingers dug into her arms as he held her back against a wall.

“Por favor, no comprendo,” she murmured and shook like a leaf.

“Oh yes, I think you do.” With his fingers bruising her arms, Jonas towered over her until she nearly squeaked in fear. “What do you know about my brother?”

“Jonas.” Appalled, Liz stepped between them. “If this is the way you intend to behave, you’ll do without my help.” She turned away from him and touched the woman’s shoulder. “Lo siento mucho,” she began, apologizing for Jonas. “He’s lost his brother. His brother, Jerry Sharpe. Did you know him?”

She looked at Liz and whispered. “He has Jerry’s face. But he’s dead—I saw in the papers.”

“This is Jerry’s brother, Jonas. We’d like to talk to you.”

As Liz had, the woman had already sensed the difference between Jonas and the man she’d known. She’d never have cowered away from Jerry for the simple reason that she’d known herself to be stronger and more clever. The man looming over her now was a different matter.

“I don’t know anything.”

“Por favor. Just a few minutes.”

“Tell her I’ll make it worth her while,” Jonas added before she could refuse again. Without waiting for Liz to translate, he reached for his wallet and took out a bill. He saw fear change to speculation.

“A few minutes,” she agreed, but pointed to an outdoor café. “There.”

Jonas ordered two coffees and a glass of wine. “Ask her her name,” he told Liz.

“I speak English.” The woman took out a long, slim cigarette and tapped it on the tabletop. “I’m Erika. Jerry and I were friends.” More relaxed, she smiled at Jonas. “You know, good friends.”

“Yes, I know.”

“He was very good-looking,” she added, then caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “Lots of fun.”

“How long did you know him?”

“A couple of weeks. I was sorry when I heard he was dead.”

“Murdered,” Jonas stated.

Erika took a deep drink of wine. “Do you think it was because of the money?”

Every muscle in his body tensed. Quickly, he shot Liz a warning look before she could speak. “I don’t know—it looks that way. How much did he tell you about it?”