“And how come you got earrings in your face?”

Poppy glanced in the mirror again. She barely noticed the diamond stud in her left nostril and the fine silver ring through her right eyebrow anymore. Nobody she hung out with gave them a second thought. Hell, most people she hung out with were pierced a lot more than her. A lot more.

But they did make her stick out in the straight world. She’d never minded that before. Liked to flaunt it, in fact. Thumbing her nose at all the uptights.

But the last thing she wanted now was to stick out. The rings had to go.

But not all of them.

“Want to see another?” She pulled up her shirt and showed Katie her pierced belly button. “What you think of that one?” Katie made a face.

“Eeeuuuuw! How come—?”

“That’s enough questions for now. Let’s go get us a room.”

“We’re staying here?” Her eyes lit up. “Oh, goody! I hope the bed’s got Magic Fingers!” And Poppy did something she’d thought she might never do again. She smiled.

14

“I think we’ve got trouble.” Alien Gold had said he was calling from a parking lot in Falls Church. His words made Carlos’s back muscles bunch.

“Tell me.”

“Nothing doing at his house. We drove by twice and didn’t see anything unusual. But it looks like the shit’s hit the fan at the second address.” The Falls Church house. Carlos squeezed his eyes shut. He knew it!

“What has happened?”

“Cops all over the place. Looks like it might have been a raid or something. Couldn’t get a good look.”

“Our friend’s car… the Jeep?”

“Couldn’t tell you. I mean, what with all the squad cars, the ambulances, the EMS trucks, who could see? We passed by and did a typical rubbernecking thing, but the cops on the street kept us moving. Did see a body, though.”

“Was it?”

“Couldn’t tell. Wrapped head to toe in a sheet and rolling toward the meat wagon.” Mierda! This could be disastrous. But he could not let Gold or Llosa know he was upset.

“Return immediately. We must make plans.” He hung up and drummed his fingers on his belly. He had contacts down at D.C. police headquarters. He would contact them and find out exactly what had happened in the Falls Church house.

Worst case scenario was that MacLaglen was dead. That meant his treacherous little tape would soon be on its way to numerous federal agencies. And that meant that Carlos would be on his way to the private airport where he kept his new Gulfstream V.

MacLaglen alive and in custody would be almost as bad. MacLaglen had a lot of pride, but he would be facing grievous charges. How long before he struck a deal to give up the one who had hired him? Carlos guessed he’d last about a day. MacLaglen in custody would also prompt a hurried trip to the airport.

But what about Maria? If Carlos had to run, he’d never be able to return. He might never see his Maria again. So she’d have to come with him—like it or not. He’d have Llosa grab the perra and drag her out to the plane.

But where could he go? Colombia would be the safest as far as extradition was concerned, but extradition was only one of his worries.

After all, he had failed. Either through his damned tape or his confession, MacLaglen would expose a plot by the drug cartel to assassinate President Winston. Attempts to put la compania out of business, either by a frontal assault or by legalizing its product, would intensify.

Somehow he couldn’t see Emilio Rojas welcoming him with open arms. He might have to find a new home. He’d worry about where later.

He looked up the number to the airport. Best to call and make sure his jet was fueled and ready to go.

15

“Whoops, there’s some news,” Poppy said. “Leave it there for a minute.”

“I don’t like news,” Katie said.

She had the remote pointed at the motel TV, her thumb poised over the button. She’d been in the middle of channel surfing when Poppy spotted the word HEADLINES on one of the D.C. stations.

“It’s only for like a minute, honey bunch. I just want to hear something.” Poppy leaned forward, listening. The big story seemed to be President Winston’s sudden admission to Bethesda Naval Hospital—“for a check-up before leaving for Europe next week.”

“Look, it’s Uncle Tom,” Katie said.

“Right, honey bunch. Just let me listen a sec, okay.” This super-straight-looking babe—Heather Something—who looked like she’d never had a beer, let alone a joint, came on and started plugging legalized drugs.

“Look what we’ve done by educating people about the perils of smoking. In the 1950s the average American consumed thirteen pounds of tobacco per year. The per capita consumption is now down to seven pounds a year and falling. Yet tobacco is legally available. The exact opposite trend has occurred with illegal narcotics. The conclusion is obvious: We can address the problems and focus public education on a legal addictive substance far more effectively than on an illegal one. Using antismoking campaigns as a model, there’s no reason we can’t cut U.S. consumption of legalised drugs by an equal percentage.”

Great, Poppy thought. Just when I’m like getting off the stuff.

The newswoman went on to read stories about protests against the President’s drug decriminalization proposal and closed with a tape of the Reverend Bobby Whitcomb calling down Holy Fire upon the head of President Winston.

Damn. Not a word about a double murder in Falls Church.

Maybe she’d been wrong—maybe no one had called the cops. That meant Paulie could still be lying there, and would keep on lying there until the landlord came looking for his rent check or somebody reported the stink.

Poppy couldn’t bear the thought of that. If she didn’t hear something by tomorrow, she’d phone in a “tip” to the Falls Church fuzz. Of course, maybe the murder of two nobodies couldn’t like compete with all the stuff the President was doing.

“Okay,” she said. “Hit that button to your heart’s content.”

But the channel didn’t switch. Poppy looked over and saw big tears rolling down Katie’s cheeks. She moved closer and put her arms around her.

“Whatsamatter, little Katie?”

“I want to go ho-home,” she said.

Poppy held her tighter. “I know you do, honey.” But I don’t want to let you go, she thought. Paulie’s gone and you’re all I’ve got now.

But she knew she had to. She just had to figure out a way to get her back where she belonged without like landing herself in a jail cell.

Poppy gave Katie another squeeze. But maybe she could keep her a little while longer. Just until— She stiffened as a terrifying thought struck her. The cops wouldn’t be the only ones looking for Katie. As soon as the people Mac had been working for found out he was dead and his precious “package” missing, they’d be out looking for Katie too.

And me.

No choice. For Katie’s sake. Poppy was going to have to get her back home tonight. Suddenly, Poppy wanted to cry.

She couldn’t believe how attached she’d become to this little girl. Like she’d filled an empty place within her, an emptiness she never even knew she had. And when Katie was gone, Poppy knew she’d leave an even bigger empty place, so big it might swallow her up.

Dammit, she thought, stop thinking of yourself for once. Katie doesn’t belong with you, and she’ll only get hurt or killed if she stays. Whoever’s after us will be looking for this pierced-up gal towing a little girl. We’ll both be better off if we split up.

“You know what?” she said as brightly as she could. “We’re gonna make your wish come true. We’re gonna figure out a way to get you back to your Daddy.” Katie straightened and looked at her.

“Really? I’m going home?”

“Yes, baby. You’re going home.”

Katie threw her arms around her and squeezed. “Oh, thank you, thank you!”