Pablo was on the east side of New Orleans, and from his description not much of the area had been rebuilt or even touched after the storm. That had made it a perfect place for drug dealers to squat and carry on their business with very little police interference. The flooded-out houses had also become a haven for users to squat in and get high, ignoring the mold-ridden interiors, and the only way they moved to the next place was when the stench of death became overwhelming.

“Forget about that for now, and get back here. I have an appointment with someone else in an hour, and I don’t have time to mess with something that small.” The street was fairly deserted, and the only person he saw walking around was the mailman. The guy appeared miserable enough to make him believe he really was a postal worker.

“I know, señor, but you should call. The man, he sound mad.”

“Call back and tell him to give me two hours.”

His father came in as he was finishing his call and sat in one of the leather chairs. The house had come furnished, and the antiques and high-quality furniture made him want to buy the place. The luxury was something he thought he deserved. It wasn’t going to take him much time before he’d have so much money he would have to think of new ways to spend it.

“Problems?” his father asked when he ended the call.

“Pablo is worked up about some nobody that called. I hope he’ll learn that we can’t bow down to anyone.” He had an important meeting in an hour, and he really needed to calm down before the guy got there. To do that he needed that teak box that he’d inherited from Gracelia. There was no way he was going to do that in front of his father, so he poured himself a drink instead. “He does good work, but Pablo is a nervous little guy.”

“Don’t put him down too much,” his father said, shaking his head when he went for another drink. “You’ll need people around you that you can count on.”

“Why don’t you call him and take care of this?” The excuse would get his father out of the house until he was done with his day. “Once you’re finished, we’ll meet for dinner.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me here?” He appeared hesitant to go.