Make Me

Callahan

I need to make one stop before going

to my wife.

Heathcliff Esmeralda has just been discharged from the hospital. When I arrive at his home, he seems surprised. I don't think he realized knew where he lived but he's quick to check his expression and invite me into the plain, uncared for house.

“You rent it furnished?" I ask although I already know.

“Easier," he says. "Whiskey?" he seems chastened. At least a little. His arm is in a sling, but it's not broken. He's got a soft bandage around it.

"How is it?" I gesture to it.

“Hurts when I move anything. But I have good meds."

He's not taking them though. I can tell from how tightly his face is set.

I take the whiskey he offers and drink a sip only because he drinks from his first and it was poured from the same bottle.

"So. Fernando was in Mexico all along?" he asks.

I nod.

"Didn't your uncle or someone in your organization have intelligence on him?"

“I'm not here to discuss my uncle or our organization, or even Fernando for th