What’s so humorous? ” Christina stated. “Just simply because I don’t communicate Spanish? ” Stranahan acknowledged, “Except for most likely her grandmother, all Maggie’s kin speaks ideal English. excellent. ” “What? ” “Her father teaches physics at Palmetto highschool. Her mom is an operator for Southern Bell. Her sister Consuelo is a felony secretary, and her brother, whats-his-name . . . ” “Tomás. ” “Tommy, yeah,” Stranahan acknowledged. “He’s a senior account govt at Merrill Lynch. ” Christina Marks placed down her beer so decisively that it approximately broke the glass espresso desk. “I sat within the front room, chatting with those humans, and so they simply stared at me and said—” “No hablo English, señora. ” “Exactly. ” “Oldest trick in Miami,” Stranahan acknowledged. “They simply didn’t are looking to speak. Don’t think undesirable, they attempted a similar factor with me. ” “And i assume you recognize Spanish. ” “Enough to lead them to imagine I knew extra. They’re anxious approximately Maggie, really. Been anxious for a while. She’s had a few own difficulties, Maggie has. cash difficulties, too—that a lot i discovered out sooner than her previous woman all started having chest pains. ” “You’re kidding. ” “Second-oldest trick,” Stranahan stated, smiling, “but i used to be performed besides. I truthfully don’t imagine they recognize the place she is. ” Christina Marks complete her beer and received one other from the small lodge fridge. while she sat down back, she kicked off her footwear. “So,” she acknowledged, “you’re prior to us. ” “You and Reynaldo? ” “The crew,” Christina stated, having a look stung. “No, I’m now not sooner than you,” Stranahan acknowledged. “Tell me what Maggie Gonzalez is familiar with approximately Vicky Barletta. ” Christina stated, “I can’t do this. ” “How a lot did you promise to pay? ” back Christina shook her head. “Know what i believe? ” Stranahan acknowledged. “I imagine you and Ray have become the hum task of your lives. ” “Pardon? ” “I imagine Maggie is sucking you off, big-time. ” Christina heard herself announcing, “You could be correct. ” Stranahan softened his tone. “Let me offer you a hypothetical,” he stated. “This Maggie Gonzalez, whom you’ve by no means obvious earlier than, exhibits up in big apple in the future and gives to inform you a sensational tale a few lacking university coed. the way in which she tells it, the lady got here to a bad and ghastly finish. And, comfortably, the best way she tells it can’t ever be confirmed or disproven. Why? since it occurred many years in the past. And the percentages are, Christina, that Victoria Barletta is useless. And the chances are, whoever did it isn’t approximately to return ahead to claim that Reynaldo Flemm bought all of it mistaken whilst he informed the tale on nationwide television. ” Christina Marks leaned ahead. “Fine. All high-quality, with the exception of something. She names names. ” “Maggie does? ” “Yes. She describes precisely the way it occurred and who did it. ” “And those people—” “Person, singular. ” “He? She? ” “He,” Christina stated. “He’s nonetheless alive? ” “Sure is. ” “Here on the town? ” “That’s correct. ” “Jesus,” Stranahan stated. He received up and glued himself one other gin. He dropped a few ice cubes, his arms have been shaking rather a lot. This used to be no longer sturdy, he advised himself, getting so excited used to be certainly no longer reliable.