Manuel didn't know how to answer. This wasn't some oral exam at the university, defending his thesis. The wrong answer could get that trigger pulled. He dissembles. "I've heard of it."

"All you have to do," Forty said, "is tell us who's behind it. We know it comes from Jurez. You tell us who, we'll pay you very well. You don't, we kill you. It's that simple. Go."

"I can't do it on this computer."

"Why not?"

"It's a piece of shit."

Forty laughed. "What do you need?"

Manuel gave him a list of hardware and software and Forty sent his guys out to get it. When they got back, Manuel assembled the hardware, downloaded the programs he needed, and went to work.

Now he sits at the computer and hacks for his life.

- "What do you mean?" Pablo asks Victoria over the phone.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" she answers, sounding aggrieved. "I have work, Pablo-stories to file-and can't come until tomorrow, at the earliest. You and Mateo can meet us in El Paso."

Pablo thinks he might throw up. "Mateo can't come to Jurez."

"Why not?"

"It's not safe."

"You pick him up at the airport and go straight over to the U.S.," Victoria says. "Ernesto and I will meet you there. I don't see the problem."

"The problem is that Mateo can't come to Jurez."

"He's dying to see you," Victoria says. "When I told him it would be another day or two he threw a fit, and he can throw a fit these days, believe me."

"For God's sake, Victoria, just tell him no."

"Too late," Victoria says. "Emilia is putting him on a flight now."

"Stop her."

"Aeromexico 765. He gets in at 8:10. Be there."

She clicks off.

It will be all right, it will be all right, Pablo tells himself. Ana goes with you to pick up Mateo and you drive straight across the border. But the airport is on the southern edge of the city, a long drive down the 45 and back.

He looks over.

Ana's not at her desk.

Pablo leaves the office and crosses the street to the coffee shop. Ana is at the counter, smoking a cigarette and banging away on her laptop. She closes it when she sees him come in.

"Okay," Pablo says, "are you coming with us?"

"If you really think it's a good idea."

"Yes," Pablo says. "Go home right now and pack your things. Then we're going out to Gonzlez to pick up Mateo. There's been a change of plans."

He tells her about Victoria.

Ana says, "Listen, I'm just okay with Mateo. I don't know about seeing Victoria and her new man. I mean, the whole 'exes meet' scene-"

"You've known Victoria for years."

"Exactly," Ana says. "Look, you go do your thing with the Ice Maiden and I'll meet you and Mateo when you're done."

"No."

"No?"

"Ana, come with me now," Pablo says. "We'll get Mateo and go to El Paso tonight?"

"Tonight? What's the hurry?"

"Ana."

"Pablo."

They stare at each other.

"We're leaving tonight," Pablo says. "Please. Just do this for me."

"I'll tell you what," Ana says. "I'm a woman, in case you don't recall. I need a little more time to pack. You go get Mateo, then swing by my place, I'll be ready and we'll go."

"Okay, but be ready."

"Okay, Pablo."

"I have to go talk to scar," Pablo says. "I'll meet you at your place and we'll go, okay?"

"As previously stated, okay."

Pablo walks out of the coffee shop.

Chuy watches him cross the street.

- Pablo knocks on scar's door.

"Come in!" scar is sitting in his office, his bad leg propped up on a stool, his cane leaning against the desk.

"scar, I need a few personal days."

"All right, Pablo. When?"

"Now. Tonight."

"Tonight?" scar asks.

"It's a family matter."

"I'm sorry," scar says. "Is Mateo all right?"

"He's fine. He's coming to Jurez. I'm going to take him away on a small holiday."

"Usually, a little more notice would be appreciated," scar says.

"I'm sorry. I am."

"Well, don't be too sorry," scar says. "An excess of contrition is bad for the digestion. A small joke, Pablo-you look like your best friend just died."

Pablo stands there.

"Is there something else?" scar asks.

"I just wanted," Pablo stammers, "to thank you."

"It's a small thing."

"No, I mean for everything," Pablo says. "For everything you taught me, and...for being who you are."

El Bho blinks at him. "Well, thank you, Pablo. That's very gracious."

Pablo nods, turns, and leaves.

- Manuel sits back from the keyboard.

"I've got it," he says.

The address from which 80 percent of the Esta Vida articles have been posted. The rest were posted from the offices of El Peridico or a coffee shop just across the street.

Forty calls Ramn and gives him the address.

- Pablo drives down the 45 to Abraham Gonzlez International Airport.

The trip takes only twenty minutes but feels like forever, and he also has the sense that he's being followed. Paranoia again, he tells himself. Shake it. They gave you a couple of weeks. Please God, he thinks as he parks in the short-term lot and walks into the terminal, for once let Aeromexico be on time.

"Papi!"

Mateo has grown.

He looks skinny now. Not underfed, by any means, but his body is in the process of becoming lanky like his mother's. Pablo picks him up and swings him around. "M'ijo! Sonrisa de mi alma!"

The smile of my soul.

"Are we going on a holiday?" Mateo asks.

"Yes, we are."

"Can I go down the waterslide?!"

"As many times as you want," Pablo says.

"I'm not too small?"

"If I'm not too fat."

"You're not fat, Papi."

"You are a very kind boy, m'ijo." He takes Mateo's bag, slings it over his shoulder, then takes his son's hand and starts to walk out of the terminal. "How was your flight?"

"I had a Coke. Don't tell."

"Don't worry."

They walk outside.

The night is warm and close. Pablo throws Mateo's bag into the backseat, then opens the passenger door and straps him into his seat.

"Papi, your car is a mess!" Mateo laughs.

"You can help me clean it when we get to El Paso."

"When are we going?"

"When?! Now!"

"Now!?" He's delighted. Little boys so rarely hear the word "now." Usually, it's "later" or "we'll see."

"Right now," Pablo says, sliding behind the wheel. "We're going to go pick up Ta Ana first. She's coming with us. I hope that's okay."

Mateo looks very serious. "Is Ta Ana your girlfriend?"

"Well, she's a girl," Pablo says, "and she's my friend. Are you hungry? Did they give you anything to eat on the flight?"

"Is she?" Mateo asks.

He's a reporter's son, Pablo thinks as he starts the car and pulls out of the lot.

- The car, a silver Navigator, pulls up in front of Pablo and stops.

Pablo hits the brakes.