“I’m not being judgmental about how Carlos got here, and all you had to do was ask about Marisol. It’s not a secret, but since you two don’t get along, I didn’t think you’d be interested.” An immigration official came on board when they got the doors opened. The man did a short check of the cabin and stamped their passports, allowing them to deplane.

“What about Rodolfo, then?” Tracy grabbed her purse and briefcase. No matter what they were doing, the woman never stopped working.

“He had a son who is a good businessman, and a nephew who was nothing but a moron, yet he didn’t acknowledge Carlos until right before his death. I have Marisol, or I did, but she wasn’t my first choice. None of my other children want to take over the business, though, so what else could I have done?” There was a car by the hangar, and a young man got out and started toward them.

His guard Tomas reached into his coat, but the man put his hands up and smiled. “Señor Delarosa, welcome. Señor Luis wanted me to come and pick you up. He hopes you and Ms. Stegal will be his guests for the time you’re in town. He’d like to introduce you to his wife and have you join the celebration of his new baby.”

“That is cause to celebrate, but we won’t inconvenience his family.” He put his hand on Tracy’s back and waited for her to get into the car. “Could you stop in town? If there is a new baby, we must have a gift.”

The driver promised to wait in the square as he pointed to a jewelry store he knew of in the center of town. “Let’s not take too long,” he told Tracy.

“Why do you think the old man didn’t claim Carlos as his before he died?” Tracy asked, not forgetting their conversation.

“I don’t know, but the only reason I can come up with is to keep him safe. He kept him close but not out front for someone to take a shot at. It’s like Rodolfo taught him the business from the moment he was born, and put Juan out front as his heir almost like an easy target. That might be the reason Juan turned on him in the end even if that was the worst mistake he could’ve made.” He asked the woman in the store where their baby section was, and Tracy chose a rattle and a silver frame they could engrave within the hour. It gave them time to have a cup of coffee.

“That makes sense, and since we have time, tell me about Marisol.” Tracy ordered for them both, and he loved that she paid attention to his likes.