He checked his watch. 6:15. Less than an hour and his relief should be coming and he could go home and sleep. His plan to catch Diaz had not paid off. The Palladium had been eerily silent and the black SUV had not come by Naldo’s house during the night. Most of the crowd was gone by the time Rafe returned, and he recognized the few cars that drove by. Josie had brought him a container of coffee on her way to open the Matador and he poured another cup before opening the car windows. The crisp morning air washed over him. He loved that clean, natural scent of pine trees, so different from the grimy stench of LA traffic. Rosy streams of sunlight streaked the sky above the rim of the mesa to the east. The streets were quiet, except for a faint tapping behind him. It grew louder and he glanced in the mirror. A lone runner jogged down the street and he jerked up, nearly spilling his coffee. At first he thought it might be Lottie. Then he realized it was her daughter. Cere stopped in front of the house.
