"Then get off the line and talk to him." Joe hung up. "This is a mistake, Eve. He'll take it as a sign of weakness."

"I don't care." She picked up her coffee cup and cradled it in her hands. The warmth felt good to her. "I don't want to enter into a battle of wills with the bastard. I just want to buy a little time to save a life." She looked at the telephone. "I suppose I should expect a call from him tonight."

"Yes." Joe stood up and pushed his chair back. "And I want to hear every word. Put him on speaker."

She nodded. "I'd record it but I don't imagine he'll say anything incriminating. You said he was smart."

He nodded curtly. "I wish you'd have been as smart."

"Would you really have let Gonzales die if I hadn't pushed you to tell me about Soldono?"

"What do you think?" He took the plates to the sink. "You know the answer. I don't give a damn about a son of a bitch like Gonzales. Hell, I probably wouldn't have cared if he was a priest instead of a crook. Not if it meant trouble for you." He put the plates into the dishwasher. "Now go in and make yourself comfortable on the couch and wait for the slimeball to call."

"It's the right thing to do, Joe."

Montalvo didn't call.

One hour passed.

Two hours.

Three.

Joe called Soldono's number and got only the voice mail.

Four.

Five.

"Come to bed." Joe pulled her to her feet. "He's playing games with you."

"Why would he do that?"

"How do I know?" He put his arm around her waist and led her toward their room. "But we didn't hear from Soldono either, and he would have called if he hadn't been able to reach Montalvo with the message."

"Why don't you call Soldono again?"

"As soon as I get you tucked into bed."

"You're treating me like a child."

"Not a child." He pushed her down on the bed. "There's nothing childlike about you. Sometimes I wish there were." He lay down beside her and pulled up the covers. "I'd celebrate the child in you. I'd give a party every day with red balloons and firecrackers." He pulled her close. "Now relax and try to sleep. You did what you could and now it's up to Montalvo."