"Paradise Gift Shop."

"Alex," Ernesto spoke with more enthusiasm than he liked. "How are you at math problems?"

Alex thought about the current situation. Three assailants, one hand on his gunshot, and seven feet between each of them. They recognized the tactical advantage of their weapons, making it improbable for him to fight... even without Rita at gunpoint. She looked hopefully at the phone Ulan had on speaker. Alex winked at her. "Need help with an IQ test or somethin'?"

Ernesto chuckled. "No, just a fact check. We're looking over evidence of a drug bust last month."

Alex eyed the duffels cluttering his counter. Stolen contraband... it was all too big of a coincidence. So if there's been a robbery, why doesn't he say that?

Benjie, the tall guy, was going tense, while Darna shifted her weight. All while Ulan remained calm and collected; ticking Alex off even more. "What was the take?"

"Around forty kilos of ketamine." Ernesto read off; again, rather casually. "And a few side cases of methadone."

Alex barely had to think about it. "Pretty small scale. If it's a local favorite, the dealer could exploit the price."

That's what they wanted him for, to configure the street value. And the minute I give it, we're dead.

"Ballpark, man?" Ernesto pressed... as did Ulan's gun on Alex's neck. "The more details attached to the file, the more determined a judge will be to keep it off the streets."

That got ironic grins all around. With a steady heartrate, Alex wanted to break all three smug jaws. He held off any concrete answer, until Darna tapped her gun against Rita's temple. The little girl had been watching him, waiting. If he said run, she would. He needed to make sure she got that chance.

Doesn't mean I have to like it. Alex seethed. "Half a million, worst case scenario."

Ernesto whistled. "Thanks, Alex. How about a beer later?"

Alex breathed a laugh out. "Naw, doctor's orders. Only salads and-"

Ulan nudged his graze this time; Alex grabbed it. "Son of a-"

"Alex?"

Ulan glared, hard. He couldn't know about their code words; yet, he did. Whoever he'd been talking to, Alex was going to have a word with them. Alex eased up, breathing through his teeth. "These boxes and, hangers... Ernesto, I'll call you when my inventory's behaving itself."

Ulan clicked the reciever off, leaning an elbow on the counter. "Nice try."

"Try nothing." Alex willed the pain to ease. "They're onto you."

"They're just getting started." Darna eased off Rita, tracing a nail on a snow globe. "While we already have a buy set up."

They had set it up without a price? These kids were way over their head.

"So quit wasting time here." Alex shoved his way from behind the counter. Rita nodded, fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. "My mother is expecting me. She will come looking."

Ulan shrugged at this, gun rising to Alex's forehead. "You've been a big help, DEA."

"Help yourself." Alex stared down the gun, feeling the quiver in his hands and arms. Cold sweat threatened his vision and balance, but he fought that same as the pain. Going on three years and the image of Carpenter's sight kept coming back. It couldn't. "Right now, they're just lookin' for thieves."

"With who's help?" Benjie cocked a brow. Ulan's grin grew. "The detective didn't mention any break-in. Why?"

Alex didn't bother guessing, waiting or the gloating to be over. It was clearly Ulan's favorite part, raising his voice and chin. "Because he's not allowed to. Any cop is only as effective as their search-"

"But when they have to worry about it not looking like a search," Darna concluded, finally letting go of Rita. "Things get overlooked."

Alex squinted between them, wondering what they were hinting at. He beckoned Rita over. "Well, murder won't be one of them-"

A sudden banging on the door cut him off, jolting all guns toward the rattling knob.

}{}{}{}{

"A lot of these names left Ulan behind for college." Kai hung up the phone from her fourth call.

"Smart." Ernesto was polite with his assessment as they climbed out of his car. Kai wasn't being so discrete, her door an octave short of slamming. Four years catering after Ocampo-

"At least one of them's still around." Ernesto jumped onto the walk beside her. Kai stopped her inner rage long enough to knock on the door of the little house across from Ocampo's sister-in-law. Killing several birds with a stone, the calls had been made enroute to- supposedly- Ulan's childhood friend. Ocampo had assured them that his sister-in-law knew nothing; only to phone if Ulan showed back up. Kai didn't see that happening... Ulan's digital footprint had all but vanished two weeks ago. He had prepared for this. And they still didn't know the extent of who they were dealing with. Tech had gotten nothing off the camera footage; only one male and one female.

"Hard to stomach how smart this kid might actually be." Ernesto sighed as the door swung open. They both brandished their badges. "Nimuel Dimaisip?"

The young man, clean-shaven, yet trying too hard for a goatee, nodded. However, said nothing. Kai held up the picture. "When's the last time you spoke with Ulan Ocampo?"

Nimuel sniffed, as though from a bad odor. "I take it he slipped up?"

THAT sounded telling. Kai shrugged in synch with Ernesto. "Big time."

"It's not like he wasn't warned." Nimuel leaned an arm on the door frame. "His mom and uncle never get off his back. But this..."

He hesitated, eyes narrowing at the Ocampo house behind them. He was weighing his loyalties; Kai had seen it cross a thousand criminal faces. How much were they willing to risk? What did they value more, their future or toxic relationships? She often found herself surprised at the depth of illegal blood.

Not this time.

"Ulan wouldn't tell me anything." Nimuel straightened, hands in his pockets. "He's all about hinting, making you think you might be missing out. But he was getting cozy with a Benjie Obillo and some hot biker mama..."

He grinned, eyes on Kai. Nothing in her demeanor changed, waiting. If she needed to punch him, she would; any substitute for Ocampo would do. "Can you give us a description?"

He had more details on the woman then Benjie. Kai used her shorthand, finishing with a partial license for Benjie's car.

"But then, he never gets out." Nimuel went on. "He's been picking Ulan up most every day. Which is normal. You're not Ulan's friend unless you can serve him in some way." "He's being Ulan."

"Has he always been like that?" Ernesto asked. Nimuel scratched the back of his head. "He's being Ulan; always boasting about what he has coming to him. It's not worth it if someone's not noticing you. Most of us just wanted him to shut up."

They thanked him for his time and retreated back toward Ernesto's car. She shook her head. "Narcotics, lots of heat, and a loudmouth. Never a good combination."

"Is anything in this line of work?" Ernesto guessed. "At least we have a partial we can run."

"Texting it to the station now." Kai asserted before joining him inside.