A/N: I hate when I let this much time go between posts. Sorry! Long, busy, hard week!

Nathan wasn't surprised at all that five vehicles were all at the ranch when he got there. He also hadn't been surprised when he had texted them them at 2:30 am and every single one of them had responded. He also hadn't been overly surprised when both Standish and Larabee had called him after the text. Trudging up the steps, he pushed the door open and was greeted by Josiah and a cup of coffee. Nodding his thanks as he shut the door behind him, he looked at the walls. The pictures and video he had taken last night were staring back at him. "Identify anyone yet?"

Vin looked up from his own cup of coffee. His night hadn't been quite as late as Nathan's, but he had spent the majority of the time Nathan was inside the club parked about a block a way in case he needed backup. "A couple thugs tied to the cartel. More than a couple that aren't."

Nathan took a sip. "He spent most of the night in the upstairs bar area as opposed to the dance floor downstairs. Made it a little easier to keep an eye on him." He walked over to where Ezra was standing in front of a picture. "Figure out who she is?"

"Owner's sister..Sophie Balfour. Resided in Chicago until she showed up here. Still owns a condo in Chicago." He looked over at Nathan. "What made you focus on her?"

"I almost didn't. Until I noticed she was watching Joplin almost as much as I was." Nathan glanced back at JD. "Do we know anything about her?"

"She got to town a couple days after her brother was found dead. Made a fortune working for a real estate investment company and has pretty much retired at the age of 32." Ezra glanced back at Buck and JD. "Mr. Dunne is attempting to find additional information without much success."

Nathan nodded and looked back at the picture. "She was definitely the one running the place. Bar tenders and bouncers sought her out more than once." He looked around the room. "Makes a certain amount of sense that she took over the place when her brother died."

"Maybe." Chris walked in from the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee in his hands. "Or, maybe she's interested in finding out who killed her brother which potentially makes her a problem."

Buck looked over at Chris. "Or, maybe she's just as deep into it as her brother was."

Ezra looked back at the picture. "Regardless, I can manage it."

Chris took a sip as he watched Ezra study the pictures. "You're sure the names you're dropping will get enough interest?"

Ezra nodded. "I have done this before…and I have the right mutual acquaintances to get to Joplin and the prospective relationship should be one that he'll have to take it to Reyes." He glanced over at Chris. "So you have the time it'll take me to gain his trust to figure out the rest of it."

Ezra walked into the club, glancing around as he walked through the people massed around the bar on the first floor. Between Nathan's descriptions and JD getting a hold of the building plans he already had a good feel for the layout. He had been in clubs like this before. There were at least a couple in every city he had ever worked a case. They weren't the grungy dive bars that had the smell of stale alcohol. They were always clean and filled with well dressed professionals with too much time and money on their hands. When you peeled back the top layer you saw the people who were there to prey on those well dressed professionals with too much time and money on their hands. Those were the ones that were more than willing to take some of either commodities off their hands. Those were generally the ones he was after and those were generally the ones he professed to be.

Making his way to the stairs in the back he worked his way up the steps. It was still early enough that he could move somewhat freely through the club. The noise from the first floor dissipated as he rose higher. It wasn't gone entirely but you could at least hear a little bit better. The first thing he heard clearly was a female voice.

"Find Joplin and tell him I want to talk to him."

Ezra slowed as he reached the top of the steps. The first thing he saw was one of the men that they had identified as working with the Reyes cartel. He was big, all muscle, and definitely fell more on the enforcement side rather than the brains behind an operation. The next thing he saw was the woman from the pictures. She wasn't necessarily short by any means but standing in front of Reyes' muscle she looked almost minuscule. Ezra found it somewhat amusing that she was standing her ground against a man that would frighten most people just by looking at them. Then, she flinched when the man grabbed her arm. Without a second thought he trotted up the remaining two steps. "Sorry I'm late." The man released her arm and watched him cross the room. Walking directly between her and the man, he winked at her and leaned over, kissing her cheek. "Joplin here yet?"

"What do you want with Joplin."

Ezra turned towards the larger man. "A mutual friend asked me to discuss a certain matter of financial benefit to all parties."

The man's brows creased. "What?"

"Just tell Joplin that Frank Rizzo sends his regards." Ezra watched the tell tale sign of recognition cross the man's face. Turning away dismissively, he gently nudged the woman towards the less crowded area of the room. Once he was sure they wouldn't be heard, he leaned over. "Joplin is not someone you want to play with."

"I'll be fine."

Ezra frowned and turned to look at her. "Trust me, you won't."

Sophie took a step back. "I don't even know you…why on earth would I trust you."

"Then allow me to rectify that. Erik Simpson." He stopped short of offering his hand to her. Joplin's muscle thought they knew each other. "Joplin is dangerous."

"Mr. Simpson, I am very aware of how dangerous Joplin is…"

"I don't think you are." Ezra glanced around the club. It was starting to get more and more crowded which was probably a good thing. "All I'm saying is that you need to stay away from him."

"He's a little hard to stay away from when he thinks he owns the place…which he doesn't." One of the bartenders caught her attention. "And, if you're trying to meet with him, my guess is you're probably not exactly a saint…I'm just not sure if you're better or worse. The fact that you know Frank Rizzo probably means worse." She glanced back at bartender and nodded to indicate she was on her way. "Either way, there's been enough trouble. I don't need more."

Ezra watched her walk away from him and towards the bartender. He really had anticipated being able to judge more about her after meeting her. He still wasn't sure if she was just running the place until she could sell it or if there was more to it. She didn't like Joplin but that could be for a multitude of reasons. She also recognized Rizzo's name. She was from Chicago as was Rizzo. And Rizzo had been in the news on more than one occasion. He was usually really good at figuring out who people were immediately but she currently had him completely perplexed, which meant, she was treated as a suspect. Turning his attention back to the room, he scanned it for Joplin. He didn't have to wait long before he saw the man alight at the top of the stairs.