The Recovery Agent (Gabriella Rose, #1)

by Janet Evanovich

“Could have knocked me over with a feather,” Mickey said. “We were married for twenty-two years and I never knew she liked girls.” “Everybody knew but you,” Thompson said. “She wore your clothes and smoked cigars.” “They weren’t cigars,” Mickey said. “They were blunts. They were cigar wrappers filled with pot.” “I didn’t know that,” Thompson said. “I guess that’s okay, then.”

“His soldiers are fanatics, and many are fortified with drugs. We do not allow our workers to use drugs.” “Coca leaves?” Gabriela asked. “Of course, that is allowed,” Pepe said. “It is a major food group.”

“Some of the crates are very heavy. We could use Rafer’s help.” “You got it,” Gabriela said. “Call him when you’re ready.” Gabriela disconnected and smiled at Rafer. “Pepe needs muscle.” “That would be me,” Rafer said.

“Remember last night when you asked if this was worth risking lives?” “Yes.” “Can I revise my response?” “No.” “It might have been the beer talking,” Rafer said. “Too late.”

“Dios mio,” Caballo said. Rafer was grinning. “This is going to be a complete cluster—” “If anyone wants to drop out, I’ll understand,” Gabriela said. “Hell, not me,” Rafer said. “I love a good screwup. I’m in.” “Me, too,” Pepe said. “I can screw up good.” “I’m in,” Caballo said. “I will divert the crap out of everything.”

“Nobody is here but us.” “And many snakes,” Caballo said. “Why are there many snakes in this house?” “They’re here because this house belongs to a crazy man,”

“It’s a tunnel.” “Are you kidding me?” Rafer said. “Another freaking tunnel? It isn’t enough that he has half a mountain dug out in Peru.”

flashlights and torches. There was the sound of footsteps on the wood stairs. Red lights flashed in the kitchen window and there was the wop wop of a siren. Gabriela and Rafer went to the side door and looked out. Pepe was driving an EMT truck. “Get in,” he said. “Now, please!” Gabriela and Rafer climbed into the back. Caballo was already there, sitting on a jump seat. A body was on the stretcher, covered with a sheet. Gabriela and Rafer sat on the bench seat alongside the stretcher. “Who is this?” Gabriela asked, looking at the shrouded body. “Supay,” Caballo said. “Excuse me?” Caballo raised the sheet enough to show Gabriela the face. “It’s Supay. We took him.” Rafer gave a bark of laughter. “I love you guys.” “How did you get him into the truck?” Gabriela asked. “He must weigh a ton.” “He was not so heavy,” Caballo said. “He is clearly not solid gold. El Dragón made a cheapskate version, but even so there is some good gold on his outside.” “What are you going to do with him?” Gabriela asked. “Melt him down,” Caballo said. “Pepe has people who can do these things.”

Thank goodness they were finally cruising through the dark, rolling hills of the cemetery. A fitting place for the God of Death. Probably, he wouldn’t be happy to see his likeness melted down and reformed into little gold bars, but these things happen. Life isn’t perfect.

“The God of the Dead saved Scoon,” Rafer said.