Her face took on some sort of knowing glow, and Rae's matched it. Nosy women. He pushed back in his chair and stood to refill his coffee mug. The coffee had just finished brewing when Marisa disconnected the call.

"He said he'll do it. He's leaving the city now."

Brady, Rae, and Sam joined them around the bar.

"How did he sound?" Nate asked. "Like he was helping because you used Ramón's name, or—"

"Actually, Ramón contacted him a few days ago and told him to expect my call. He also said that Ramón told him he owed me a great debt because of my service to his town and that Julio should do whatever I asked." She shook her head as if she couldn't understand the man's attitude, but Nate got it. Wherever she went, Marisa would be a blessing.

"Julio sounded"—she tilted her head to think—"honored. And eager to please."

"Good news," Rae said.

"Not only that." Marisa shifted to face her. "But I'd sort of expected him to sound like a thug. He's one of Ramón's colleagues, and Ramón is... Well, he's well respected, but he's a criminal." She turned to Nate. "You know what I mean?"

"I do."

"But Julio sounded educated. In fact, he answered in English, and his accent was nearly perfect. We just spoke in Spanish because I offered."

"Drug dealers need lawyers and accountants, too," Brady said.

Rae gave him a look that had him clamping his mouth shut. She turned to Marisa. "I'm glad he's going to help."

"He said he'd call back as soon as he was finished." She handed the phone back to Nate.

He made sure the ringer was on and slid it in his pocket. "Now we wait."

Nate could see by the anguish in Marisa's face that the last thing she wanted to do was wait for Julio to call back. "How about we take a walk?"

"But if he calls back—"

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and wiggled it. "It works outside, too."

"Let me just get some shoes on."

To be polite, Nate turned to his friends. "Anyone else?"

Sam and Rae shared a look and smiled. "You two go ahead," Rae said. Seemed they thought there was something romantic going on between Marisa and him. Not likely. Not ever.

He turned to Brady, who shook his head. "I have work to do."

Marisa returned wearing the jacket and shoes Rae had loaned her. "Thanks again for the clothes."

"Don't mention it. Least I could do."

"I don't think so. I think you have all done far more than anybody could have asked."

Rae joined Marisa by the bedroom door. "I know how hard it is to have to depend on others in a situation like this. Just know, we wouldn't be anywhere else."