“Yeah, well, Loup’s got an amazing sense of balance.” Pilar examined a sleek, pointed mule in pale beige. “I think for her to have something mess with it’s kinda like someone with perfect pitch having to listen to a tone-deaf singer. Let me see that dress, baby. Yeah, this would work.” She showed Loup the low kitten heel. “Think you could manage?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Pilar.”

She smiled at her. “I like shopping for you. Does this meet with your approval?” she asked Sabine.

“It’s fine.”

“Good,” Pilar said cheerfully. “And I’ll make up for it by getting a pair of nice, high fuck-me heels.”

“Oh, for God’s sake!”

“What? I’m just doing my job. I’m a nymphet-for-hire on this one, right?”

“She has a point,” Loup added.

“It’s just…” Sabine sighed. “Never mind.”

They rehearsed their cover story over a late lunch. It was indeed very much like what Ms. Coxcombe had conceived, only with additional details.

“I need to do more research on being Canadian,” Pilar mused. “Why did Magnus pick Canada, anyway?”

“Your accents say North America,” Sabine said pragmatically. “And you are Canadian because when it came time to acquire passports, those were the relevant connections Mr. Lindberg possessed. Also, no one in their right mind would believe I was traveling with two young American acquaintances. Your country sank into an abyss of paranoia and isolationism from which it has yet to emerge.”

“That reminds me, have you checked the news feeds today?” Loup asked Pilar.

“No, I’ll do it when we get back.”

Sabine blinked. “News feeds?”

“Yeah.” Loup nodded. “I mean, yes. The Outpost thing’s been in the news. Our friend Miguel Garza, he got out.”

“You got him out,” Pilar reminded her. “You won the ticket for him.”

“Yeah, well, he must have done some pretty impressive bullshitting for them to let him go, and then he managed to give them the slip. Anyway, he did an interview with this senator who’s trying to get Congress to hold hearings. The guy who interviewed us in Mexico, Senator Ballantine. And I guess they’ve got Mig stashed away in secret someplace. We’re waiting to see what happens.”

Sabine was quiet a moment. “I see. I haven’t followed much news out of the United States.”

“We don’t all suck, you know.” Loup sighed. “I still wish I knew what happened to Coach Roberts. I told Senator Ballantine to look for him, too, but there hasn’t been any mention in the news. And he was gonna be in more trouble than anyone for training me.”

“Your boxing coach?”

“Yeah. I mean, yes. He wasn’t an Outposter. He was a real U.S. citizen and everything.”

“Why don’t you contact the senator and ask if he knows anything?” Sabine suggested. “He’s a public official; his office number and email address will be on his website.”

Pilar looked at Loup. “We’re idiots.”

“I’m an idiot,” Loup said. “Christophe gave me his private number. It’s on that cell phone Magnus gave me.”

“Yeah, well, I’m the one bragging about being a good researcher.” Pilar smacked her forehead. “Addie would be ashamed of me.”

“You’ve had a lot happening,” Sabine said with unexpected gentleness. “Call when you get back to the hotel. I hope you learn something.”

“I will,” Loup said. “Thank you, Sabine.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Hey, we’re getting pretty good at this civil stuff,” Pilar observed.

Sabine’s mouth twitched in the faintest hint of a nonpoisonous smile. “Do not become too accustomed to it.”

TWENTY-ONE

At the hotel, Loup called Senator Ballantine.

“Hi, sir. This is Loup Garron. From the Santa Olivia Outpost? Yeah, fine, thank you. Pilar and I, we���ve been following the news about Miguel and the hearings. I was wondering if you knew anything about Coach Roberts.” She listened. “Yeah, that’s too bad. I’m sorry. I’m still really glad to hear it.”

Pilar made an inquiring face.

Loup shook her head at her. “About Miguel, does he have a phone number? Could I talk to him?” She listened, wincing. “Uh-huh. I understand. Well, what about us? I’d be willing…” There was a long pause. “No, I understand. Are we in any danger now? Or my cousins?” She listened. “Okay, and if you can arrange it, that would be nice. Is there anything else you can tell me? Any idea what’s happening in Outpost?” She nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Okay, bye.”

“Well?” Pilar said anxiously.

“He found Coach Roberts and he’s okay,” Loup said with relief. “He’s left Outpost for a retirement community in Florida.”

“That’s nice, baby, but what was that bit about us being in danger?”

“We’re not,” Loup assured her. “Not as long as we stay out of the country. I guess there’s been some kind of undercover investigation, and the Mexican authorities reported that we disappeared after the debriefing.”

“So Magnus was right,” Pilar said. “The interview did get out.”

Loup nodded. “Only to some secret commission, but yeah. Anyway, Coach Roberts refused to let them interview him or talk about it at all. Says it’s a matter of national security.”

“The army got to him.”

“Yeah, I know. But I can’t entirely blame him. He’s an old guy, you know? He did a really brave thing in training me. Maybe that was all he had left in him. I think he just wants to live out the rest of his life in peace.”

“What about Miguel?”

Loup grinned. “Mig’s being a huge pain in the ass and they’re having a hard time keeping him in protective custody. He wants to go party. They’re afraid he’ll get disappeared if they let him go, and they need a live body to testify if they ever get hearings.”

Pilar gave her a suspicious look. “You told him you’d do it, didn’t you?”

“Well… yeah. Pilar, don’t be mad. I’d have to if it was the only way. But he said no, they’ve got Miguel and at least he’s not a GMO who’s considered government property and escaped from a military prison and has a bunch of charges against him.”

“I’m not mad, baby. I know you want to fix things, but we have to be smart about it. Don’t go volunteering for stuff like that unless we’ve talked about it, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Promise?”

“Yes! I promise.”

“Good.” Pilar gave an exasperated sigh. “I mean, Jesus! If they want live bodies, they’ve gotta know where to find them. We left behind a whole town full of ’em, and I don’t think Santa Olivia’s the only Outpost.”

“They’re trying, but the army and the administration aren’t budging. No access, and no one’s talking. That’s all he could tell me. He’s gonna try to set up a supervised phone call with Mig,” Loup added. “They don’t trust him not to try and arrange to give them the slip.”

“Your big hero,” Pilar observed.

She laughed. “He’s still Miguel fucking Garza, you know?”

“Yeah. I’m glad your coach is okay, baby.”

“Me too.”

They left the following morning for the village of Taormina, Sabine driving an expensive rental car. The town’s narrow streets retained a charming medieval feel, but its origins were far older. At Magnus’ request, Sabine took them to see one of its most famous sights, a view overlooking an ancient Greek amphitheater with the sea and Mount Etna in the background. Through the bright autumn air, the distant snowcapped volcano issued plumes of steam.

“Ohmigod.” Pilar stared. “Is that real?”

“I feel like I did the first time we saw the ocean,” Loup said softly. “It’s just so big and so beautiful, you know?”

Pilar caught her hand without thinking. “I know.”

Magnus smiled. “I must admit, there’s a certain pleasure in seeing the world through such unspoiled eyes. Don’t you agree, Sabine?”

She made a noncommittal noise.

“But you are here on a job,” he reminded them. “No holding hands.”

“Sorry!” Pilar let go.

They dined together in relative civility that night in a restaurant with a garden terrace. Sabine confirmed that they had both studied their dossiers thoroughly and walked them through the plan.

“The wedding itself is not a concern,” she said. “No one will profane the sanctity of the church. It is afterward, at the reception at the villa, once the wine begins to flow.” She pointed at Pilar. “When dinner is served, you will be seated at a table beside Pasquale Picco. There will be no other women of interest at the table. Your job is to charm, flatter, and monopolize him. Understood?”

“Sì, signorina.”

“Do not attempt to speak Italian. Your accent is abominable.” Sabine turned to Loup. “I will be seated at a table with Gustavo Vittori. I will manage him throughout the dinner. It is once the formal events have ended that there is the most likelihood of a contretemps.”

“Contretemps?” Loup inquired.

“Trouble,” she said briefly. “He becomes belligerent as he drinks. You and I, we will watch Gustavo. I have experience in these matters. If I sense he is about to make a move, I will signal you.” Her lip curled. “And you will move to intercept and defuse him.”

“Sure,” Loup agreed. “I can do that.”

“It’s not that you’re not more than capable,” Magnus said soothingly to Sabine. “It’s just that should the need arise, it’s my hope that Loup will make such an unexpected impression that it will stun him into compliance.”