“If you were in business with these people, why did Mendoza and Gomer beat you up?”

“We weren’t in business, then. Those assholes were trying to rob me, just like you thought. Then Azzara came around to lean on me, making all these bullshit threats, La Eme this, La Eme that, and that’s when I got the idea.”

“Azzara.”

“Yeah. I was in business with drug traffickers for years, and all traffickers have the same problems. I laid it out for him. Here’s what I can do for you, but here’s what you gotta do for me.”

“Make the Bolivians back off.”

“Yeah.”

Rainey took a moment, then shook his head.

“That’s how bad they hate me, those fuckers. Now they got a war with this Baja cartel, and they don’t even give a shit.”

Pike cut him off.

“Play her last message.”

Dru’s third and final message was more desperate. Her voice showed the mounting stress as she gulped shallow breaths, and Pike could hear her fear.

“Stop it now, Willie, you hear? You must call me at six o’clock. I’m begging you. Please get this done. You know how to get it done. You don’t call, he says he’ll kill me.”

Her call abruptly ended.

None of them spoke for a moment, then Rainey stared at Pike.

“You asked why I called you. When she says, get this done, you know how to get this done. She’s telling me to call you. That’s when I called.”

Pike didn’t understand.

Rainey frowned, showing a weakness in his eyes that told Pike he was embarrassed.

“When this started with the bangers and you waded in, she told me you were the kind of guy who could get stuff done. She liked that.”

Pike studied him until Rainey looked away, then Pike took the phone. He checked the time. Ten minutes before six. Time was running out.

Pike said, “Does she have a sister?”

“What?”

“Rose. She has two brothers. Does she have a sister?”

Rainey squinted like Pike was speaking in code.

“No. What does that have to do with anything?”

Cole said, “Where’s the cash?”

“I got a storage space up in Van Nuys. You want it, it’s yours. All three-forty-two.”

Cole glanced at Pike.

“This time of day, that’s two hours, there and back. No good.”

“We don’t need it.”

Rainey shifted, looking from Cole to Pike.

“What are we going to do?”

“The Bolivian, the one who wants you dead. What’s his name?”

“Jesus, it’s a cartel. It’s a whole bunch of guys.”

Cole leaned forward and tapped Rainey’s head.

“Think. Who did you rip off? Who’s the alpha male?”

“It’s gotta be Hugo Joaquin. He was runnin’ it. Who gives a shit? What are we going to do?”

Pike checked the time. Three minutes. He had what he needed.

“I’m ready.”