IT TOOK ME thirty minutes to walk back to the motel. The area was still very much empty except for a few parked cars and a couple of occupants standing outside their rooms. I walked to my door, and as I removed my key, I saw a silver streak from the corner of my eye. Vargas whipped the Focus into a parking spot a few spaces from my room.
I placed the key back in my pocket and walked to the passenger side. As I approached, he buzzed down the window.
“Good morning,” Vargas said with a smile.
“Morning. You already have something lined up for me?” I asked.
Vargas shook his head. “Not yet, but soon. Hop in. Let’s go for a ride.”
“To where?”
Vargas hunched his shoulders. “Just somewhere we can talk over a cup of coffee.”
I shrugged. “Okay,” I said, while opening the door and sliding into
