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“Thank you.” I felt my eyes water at how kind he was.
“Carlos.” He smiled. “Not many people come in and talk to me.” His posture stiffened, and I knew I was about to have company. “The pimps don’t like phones in the room,” he whispered, “but if you look in the closet in the back behind the towels, you’ll find one that plugs into the wall.”
“You’re a good man, Carlos. Thank you.” I snagged the key and stepped back as the driver of the truck walked through the door.
“Evening,” Carlos greeted him. “Heard you’re looking for some rooms.”
“Sí.” He glared at me. Carlos handed him a key, and I noticed it was for room 408. I appreciated that he put them a few doors down from me. “We’re looking for someone.”
Carlos nodded. “Like I told the lady here, I know what room she was in, but that’s about it. She paid cash for two nights but only stayed one. I’m not in this business to ask questions. I just rent the rooms.”
The driver grunted and looked around. “You know what happens to people who lie to me?” He leaned forward and grabbed the front of Carlos’ shirt.
“Hey!” I stepped in to try to diffuse the situation. “I’m the one sent to ask the questions, and I’m doing it.” I glared at him and held up the key to the room. “Let me do my job. Stay out of it.”
The man’s face flashed with something evil, and I swallowed hard but kept my eyes glued on his. He let go of Carlos then reached out and grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. I caught a glimpse of Carlos’ terrified expression as we went by the stained window toward room 402.
“Let go!” I tried to wiggle, but he was strong. He nearly broke my finger when he snagged the key out of my hand to open the door. He tossed it on the table in the corner of the room and pushed me down on the bed.
I cringed at the spores that would have shot up from my impact on the mattress. I’d probably get an STD from the comforter. I could be a germaphobe if I allowed myself, but that kind of thinking didn’t work for someone in my profession.
He opened all the drawers, then the bathroom cabinet, but when he opened the closet I internally panicked. I needed that phone.
“I need to eat,” I blurted just as he was about to pull the towels down. “If you want me to do this, I will need to eat.”
He cursed and slammed the closet door. “Stay here.” He headed outside, and a moment later returned with a half bottle of tequila. “Eat.” He chucked it at my feet then slammed the door behind him. I rushed to the window and watched him pull a chair over to my door. Then he dragged his half-drunk partner out of the back seat, and I heard him curse at him and point to the chair. The guy stumbled over and sat in it. I continued to watch until the driver grabbed his bag and went inside the room Carlos had given them. One look at the drunk in the chair with his head now slumped onto his chest and I knew it was safe to find that phone.
I raced over to the closet, pulled the towels down, and felt around for the phone. My fingers snagged a cord, and I pulled hard and caught both the base and the receiver before it hit the filthy carpet.
For safety precautions, I turned on the shower and sink faucet for some white noise. I plugged it into the wall and nearly sobbed when I heard the dial tone. It rang and rang until I finally heard the asshole’s voice. I started the timer on my watch.
“Can you speak freely?”
“Not for long.”
“Go.”
“Bruno Perez is alive.” I waited for a response, but nothing. “He found me and wants me to find some murdered woman’s baby. Whatever the hell it’s all about, I’m in the thick of it.”
“Location?”
“Mexico City. I’m in some dive motel?—”
“Who’s the woman?” He hated when I gave too many details.
“Her name was Talya Canos. There’s something about this baby that’s got a lot of people interested.”
“As in Jerry Canos’ daughter?”
I shrugged like he could see me. “I don’t know a lot about who’s who in the Canos family. You know I work the southern part of Mexico.” I wouldn’t pretend I knew information that I didn’t.
“I’ll look into it. Check in when you can, and get a phone.”
I rolled my eyes but knew we had only a couple of seconds left before we could be traced. “’Cause that’s easy.”
“Nicole?”
“Yeah?”