“This guy who’s coming is the nervous type too, and he’ll feel more comfortable if we don’t have a crowd here. I’ll be okay, and we have enough people in the house that nothing is going to happen to me.” He was glad when his dad stood and nodded. He waited until he saw the car carrying his dad pull away before he unlocked the safe in the bedroom and opened the box full of coke.

Pablo was good about filling it once they were on the northern side of the border and never spoke of it. He checked himself in the mirror once he was done to make sure there was no powder left on his face. The kick was immediate, and it was almost like the world had regained its color and beauty. This was the best thing Gracelia had introduced him to and the reason he’d kept her box. It was the only thing that would tie them together, and the only thing worth remembering.

“Señor Rhodes,” the guard who’d been on post in the kitchen said, “your guest is early, but he asked if you’re ready.”

“Send him up.” He took a deep breath and held it to get a grip on his nerves. The man who followed the guard in was tall and bulky, and his face held traces of redness usually associated with someone who’d been drinking for years. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Mead. It’s good to meet you.”

Colin Mead stared at his hand before shaking it. “I’m not sure what you’ve heard about me, but I don’t talk to people I don’t know. How about you tell me what’s on your mind.” Mead sat down and stared at him like he was trying to decide the best way to kill him for taking up his valuable time.

“My home is in Cabo San Lucas, and I’m in a delicate business that could use your expertise to get my merchandise over the border. Once it’s across, I’ll need transport to New York, Chicago, Tampa, Phoenix, Seattle, and here. If that’s something you can do, we’ll talk numbers.” He opened the humidor on the coffee table and offered Colin a cigar, but he waved him off.

“First of all, tell me how you got my name. I’m only in town for the day and have a few clients to see.”