St Kilda Consulting 01 - Always Time to Die

family watched as a matter of course.
    Armando drank the last of his beer and wiped his mouth carelessly on his hand before he remembered where he was. He grabbed the faded cloth napkin next to his bowl and scrubbed his hand and lips. Once he’d been impatient with Lucia’s efforts to improve his manners and English. Now he knew she was right; if he ever wanted a better, less violent life for his children, they had to be raised to fit in with a culture that was larger than the ancient hispano way of life.
    “What did Duran want?” Armando asked.
    “It wasn’t him, it was Carly who had all the questions,” Lucia said.
    Armando’s face tightened. “About me?”
    “No, no, no!” Lucia said instantly. “About the old times, when the Senator was young and Sylvia still laughed and danced with her husband. About the yearly barbecues and the babies.”
    Armando wasn’t convinced. “And Duran, what did he ask?”
    “Nothing. He nearly fell asleep on the couch. He was keeping a pretty lady company, that’s all.”
    Armando grunted. “What did they want to know about the governor?”
    “Listen to me.” Lucia leaned forward and touched her husband’s face, ensuring his attention. She didn’t want any trouble for Dan or Carly, who had only been doing as Miss Winifred asked. “I talked about nothing more recent than Liza.” As always, Lucia crossed herself when she mentioned the Senator’s tragic daughter.
    “What else did Duran say to you? Think hard, mi esposa .”
    She clenched her hands together and tried not to scream at her husband’s bloodsucking career, a way of life that demanded he trust no one, even his wife.
    “I think he…yes, he asked where Eduardo’s wife is.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I’m raising Eduardo’s nephews.”
    “How did he know that?”
    “Everyone in the pueblo knows and his mother teaches there. It’s not a secret.”
    Armando’s eyes narrowed. It was true, but it wasn’t the only possible truth. “What did you tell him?”
    “What you told me to say if anyone asks. She is in Mexico with the girls.”
    “What did he say to that?”
    “Nothing.”
    “He didn’t ask more questions about her?”
    “No,” Lucia said firmly.
    Armando drummed his fingers on the worn wood table. “What else did he ask about?”
    “Nothing. I talked with Carly and then they left.”
    Lucia wasn’t about to mention the money Dan had given to her. Armando would be furious that she took money from Miss Winifred when his wife wouldn’t accept money from her own husband.
    She couldn’t. To Lucia, every dollar he made dripped violence. She couldn’t change her husband or the nature of his business, but she could refuse to benefit from it.
    Armando relaxed. “Bueno.”
    The phone vibrated against his butt again. He pulled the unit out, checked the window, and knew he had to leave. He turned to his wife.
    “Every time Duran is close to you or your car or your home, you call me.” Armando grabbed her chin in his hand. “I mean it, Lucia. Every damn time.”
    She didn’t doubt it. “I will call you. But what could he do? He’s still recovering from a climbing accident.”
    Armando’s smile reminded Lucia of everything she hated about the drug business.
    “A climbing accident?” he asked, then laughed.
    He was still laughing when he got in the Expedition and slammed the door behind him.
    Lucia stood in the doorway, shivering, knowing that Armando had had something to do with Dan’s injury.

QUINTRELL RANCH
TUESDAY EVENING
23
    MELISSA OPENED THE FRONT DOOR . “ HELLO, DAN , CARLY .” THOUGH SHE HADN ’ T expected either one, she smiled and stepped back to clear the doorway. “Come in. How’s your mother, Dan? Lucia keeps talking about the miracle she’s working with her tutoring.”
    “Mom is like you, always busy, always beautiful.”
    Melissa’s smile broadened. “You be sure to give her a hug from me when you see her. And that handsome father of yours, too.”
    “I’ll do that.”
    The housekeeper turned to Carly. “Winifred said something about your car needing work and you would be staying in town…?”
    “How did she know?” Carly asked before she could think better of it.
    Melissa tried not to laugh. “Blaine was in town running errands for the ranch. He heard about your car getting trashed from the mechanic who heard about it from the tow truck driver. Living in a small town takes getting used to.” Then she shook her head and said irritably, “It’s