“Morning,” she whispered groggily as she reached for the phone. Of course, it was Tanisha. “Hold on a sec,” she said to the cat. “I’m sure there’s some major drama that needs to be straightened out.” She yanked the phone from its charger and placed it against her ear. The digital readout on her clock read 7:15. Her first client of the day, the only one this morning, was scheduled for nine. Plenty of time to get ready.

But she could have used a little more sleep.

“Hello?” she said.

“Morning. Sorry to call so early.”

“It’s later than the last time.” As St. Ives hopped off the bed, Brianna threw off the covers, then crossed the room and drew back the curtain on the French door. She pushed it open a sliver in order to let the cat out. “What’s up?” She hoped it was more important than a nightmare.

“Have you heard from Enrique?”

St. Ives trotted through the open doorway to the sun-dappled garden. Shadows shifted across the flagstones and a squirrel in a high branch scolded.

“Enrique?” Brianna said around a yawn. “No, why?”

“He called me last night and you know he’s got a temper.”

That much was true. “And he called you, why?” Slowly the cobwebs in her mind were disappearing. She made her way to the kitchen.

“He was really upset about Selma’s daughters. Well, everyone was, I think, except maybe Desmond or Milo. Geez, those guys are made of stone. And if Roger had been there, he’d be the same. Trust me, that guy’s a piece of work. But then they all are, aren’t they? Men!”

Even in her blurry state, Brianna could envision Tanisha pursing her lips and shaking her head.

“So you were talking about Enrique?” In the kitchen, Brianna opened a cupboard, saw that the canister of ground coffee was about empty, and found a half-full bag of beans.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m tellin’ you, this really got to him, y’ know. Probably because of not ever really knowing what happened to Juan. The disappearance thing really bothers him.”

“I think it’s getting to all of us.”

“Good point. I know that’s what my dream was all about the night before. Anyway,” Tanisha continued as Brianna filled the coffee grinder with fragrant French Roast beans, “Enrique, he called me last night, after I got Selma home, and the guy’s all like Dog the Bounty Hunter rogue, wanting to get together some of the group and do the vigilante thing. You know, find this guy himself.”

“With guns drawn, I suppose.”

“He’s into that.”