............Rana................

Although she hated to admit it, the following days with Sands and the Mariachi were some of the best in her life. Perhaps it was because she was no longer alone, or maybe it was staying in one place for so long. The coastal town was great. The first few days were spent living in the house but after visiting the beach Rana became more bold and started going out. She never liked to leave the two men alone in each others company for too long, but in her wanderings she found a music store that had cheap pirated American music, and a book shop. She bought two, long novels and around fifteen new cd's, for the price of two albums. Neither men seemed angry at each other when she came home, which made her suspicious of whether or not El followed her. He was always wearing his boots when she arrived home, but she didn't question it.

On one day all three were sitting on the lounge room couch. No one speaking, El strumming on his guitar and Sands deep in thought. Rana sat there, then decided to get them all out the house. "Let's go get some food" she suggested. El looked up at her and Sands twitched the corner of his mouth. "Come on, I'm sick of eating packet food. I need some good cooked meat". El seemed to accept the idea, but Sands cocked his head.

"Who's paying?" he asked.

"Bags not me!" she instantly added.

Sands followed with "Ditto". El looked at them both, momentarily confused.

Sands was grinning in his slouched position and Rana's eyes were twinkling. He sighed and shook his head, a faint smile clinging to his face.

"Okay" he said resignedly.

"Well, suddenly I feel famished", Sands said, bouncing to his feet. El stood and put down his guitar regretfully, grabbing the car keys and following the other two to the door. "You know, I haven't had lobster in a while..." Sands said wickedly as Rana pushed him out the door, El shook his head in despair.

There was a fight at the car, Sands and Rana bickered for the front seat. Sands saying he was older and deserved it more, and Rana playing the card of chivalry and reminding Sands that she was the female. After a brief shoving match Sands pushed her hard away, then got in the car and slammed the door as she threw herself against the window and called him a jerk. He laughed at her from the other side of the glass and she got in the back grumbling.

However the mood was light. The car was and old double carriage ute. It had four seats and the typical ute tray. It was red, rusted and had a working radio.

They ended up at a relatively clean looking restaurant; The Hairy Spaniard. The food was not that good, but still better than what El cooked so all three ate quite a bit. Sands consuming the most, until he looked like he would be sick. Then he asked for desert and both Rana and El had told him no, and headed home.
Due to Sands over eating the bill was rather large, when El was given it he had glared at Sands across the restaurant and Sands had grinned in smug satisfaction despite feeling so ill, as if he knew El was glaring at him. They rolled home at about ten, got out and went back to their apartment. When they got to the door they froze. "What?" Sands whispered.

The door had been jimmied open. El pulled his gun, as did Sands. Rana gripped a throwing knife from her belt. El kicked the door open and rushed in. Everything was as it should be. It appeared nothing had changed or been moved. However all three were extremely wary after that, hardly sleeping and generally feeling flighty.

The next morning they decided on leaving. El suggested they go back to the town he usually lived in. Sands refused.

"Then where?" he asked. Rana thought.

"Culiacan" she said finally. Both men looked at her, well El did, Sands turned his head in her direction.

"I have unfinished business" she added. El looked at her suspiciously.

"You heard that Sanchez is there" he accused.

Rana affected an air of innocence. "I may have heard one or two thing whilst shopping. Besides, as far as I'm concerned Sanchez has it coming".

"You've met this man before?" El asked seriously.

Rana nodded. "It was Sanchez who did the questioning". There was silence.

El looked unhappy at the idea.

"Why'd you leave home El?" Rana asked suddenly. The Mariachi looked at her in surprise. "You didn't just turn up in the town we were in on vacation, so what were you doing?"

El was silent. "I was after Sanchez" he admitted.

"Sands?" she asked looking at the silent CIA agent.

"I have a person I'd like to waste" he admitted, smiling in a sickening way. Rana nodded.

"Then it's settled, we go to Culiacan".

Next chapter is the last one.