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before I took you off on this ridiculous journey.”
    “When it was a matter of safety, yes, but I don’t think—”
    “I’m not interested in what you think, Maggie. I doubt there’s a single place that’s safe in all of San Pablo right now, what with the elections, and the slums of its capital are probably the worst. You’ll do as I say or I’ll dump you here and let you fend for yourself.”
    “And what makes you think I can’t do just that?”
    “Because you don’t speak the language and you don’t have a gun. And because you may terrorize the bankers in Philadelphia but you aren’t going to frighten a San Pablo pussycat. You’re powerless here, sugar, and you need me. I thought you’d accepted that fact.”
    He didn’t expect her to admit it, and she didn’t. But she stopped arguing, following him into the dimly lit entrance of the hotel without a word.
    “Frazer!” Elena flew from behind the desk, wrapping her sturdy arms around him and pressing him against her overflowing bosom. He kissed her soundly, making it a noisy one to annoy Maggie.
    “We’re looking for a room, love,” he said.
    “Of course you are, you bad boy. Where did you get the little nun? She’s not your type.”
    Fortunately for Maggie’s temper she spoke in her San Pablo Spanish.
    “I’m democratic when it comes to women, sweetheart. I love ‘em all.”
    “Of course you do. You want the honeymoon suite? Nice big bed and a view of the city.”
    “She doesn’t need any view but me,
pequena.
Give me my usual room—that’ll be good enough. And see if Luis can rustle up some dinner for her. I have to go out, but I think it’s better if she stays behind. I don’t want her too tired out for tonight,” he said with a deliberate smirk.
    Elena howled with laughter and swatted him on the arm. “If she is, you just come and find me. I don’t tire so easily.”
    “I remember.”
    “What are you talking about?” Maggie said from beside him, that cranky, constipated expression on her face.
    “Just talking about the weather, sugar.”
    “I thought you were supposed to be talking about my sister.”
    “All in good time. Elena and I are old friends. We have to observe the formalities.”
    “How old a friend is she? She looks younger than I am. And I certainly don’t see anything formal between the two of you,” she grumbled.
    He turned to look at her, his eyes deliberately wide and innocent. “Why, sugar, you sound like you’re jealous.”
    Elena let out a snort of laughter. She leaned closer to Maggie. “You got yourself a lot of man,” she said in English. “You get tired of him, you just send him my way and I’ll take care of him real nice.”
    “Behave yourself, Elena,” he said. “Maggie will think you’re serious.”
    “Have him,” Maggie said. “Be my guest.”
    This was getting past amusing and heading over into dangerous. He took the risk of moving away from them, leaning over the desk to grab the key to his usual room.
    “Why you want that room, Frazer?” Elena had switched back to Spanish. “That bed’s too damned small to have any fun.”
    “Don’t worry your pretty head about it, love. I’m very inventive.” He looked back at Maggie, and an unexpected trace of regret washed over him. She looked exhausted, her skin pale, her brown eyes hollow, even her hair drooped. They hadn’t had much to eat—just some sandwiches Señora Campos had packed for them, and the endless ride in the Jeep even left him feeling a little worn-out. It wouldn’t have been so bad on paved roads, but he’d taken some of the worst roads, and in San Pablo you had to hold on to your seat to make sure you didn’t go flying. Riding in a vehicle was far from a passive occupation.
    “Come on, Maggie,” he said, taking the suitcase from her. He was right—she was too tired to even protest. “We’ll get you settled and then find something to eat.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “Well, you should be. And I’m