Read Online Sooner or Later by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page A

promised.
    “But how?”
    Anna glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Wait here and I will bring my uncle.”
    “Your uncle?” In Zarcero, Letty had found, every citizen of the country seemed related in one way or another.
    Anna smiled for the first time. “He is a man who knows many things.”
    She slipped away. Discouraged, Letty sat down in the dirt. No more than a minute had passed when Murphy, in a display of anger, stalked across the roadway. Slapping his hat against his thigh, Ramirez stormed to the jeep and drove off.
    Joining Letty in the shade, Murphy slumped down next to her and draped his wrists over his knees. “I don’t trust that son of a bitch. He’d sell his grandmother’s liver without giving the matter a second thought.”
    “Ramón?” she asked casually.
    He pinned her with his glare. “How’d you know his name?”
    “How could I have missed it? You were arguing loud enough to alert the Canadian Mounties.”
    Murphy ran his hand along the back of his neck. “Getting into Zarcero isn’t going to be any picnic.”
    “I didn’t expect it would.”
    “Ramirez suggests we wait a couple of days….”
    “No,” she responded emphatically, “we don’t have that kind of time.”
    “Listen, I don’t like this any better than you do. It’s a pain in the ass, but we don’t have a choice.”
    “I might have found someone who can help,” she said.
    If she hadn’t garnered his full attention earlier, Letty had it now.
    “What do you mean?”
    “The young woman who was here earlier told me about her uncle. Apparently he has connections.”
    “An uncle? We’re supposed to trust some girl’s uncle?”
    “I’d rather put my life in his hands than rely on your man. I’d like to remind you, I’m paying top dollar for your expertise. The next time we need someone, I suggest you check out their credentials.”
    To her surprise, Murphy tossed back his head and laughed out loud. “You want me to check their credentials? Now I know why I let you come along. For comic relief.”
    She ignored his humor, especially since it was at her expense.
    Fifteen minutes later Anna returned with her uncle. The old man looked to be in his seventies. He was barely able to walk, his gait was slow and measured. A large straw hat shaded his face from the sun.
    “I’m Carlos,” he whispered in a voice that sounded surprisingly young. “I understand you are on an important mission?”
    “Yes,” Letty responded eagerly.
    Murphy said nothing, but his eyes rounded with surprise when he realized she was fluent in Spanish.
    “Come, my niece has been remiss in not offering you refreshments.”
    Encouraged, Letty stood and brushed the dirt from her backside.
    The older gentleman’s eyes bored into her. “Margherita is sleeping comfortably for the first time in two days.”
    Murphy scowled and glanced at Letty, not understanding. Letty didn’t bother to enlighten him. If Murphy learned of her knowledge with herbs, he might put two and two together. It wouldn’t take much for him to figure out the cause of his memory lapse.
    Once inside the old man’s dilapidated house, Carlos offered them canned juice. Before the old man could serve the refreshment, Murphy pulled him aside and started asking questions. Once again he ignored Letty as if she had no interest in the discussion.
    The two men spoke in a low murmur. She noticed that Murphy did most of the talking. His body language told her that he found the terms to be more to his liking, and he nodded a couple of times.
    Only once did he glance her way. He frowned before responding to Carlos’s inquiry.
    Letty was tired of being left out of the conversation, particularly one that pertained to her and rescuing Luke. She was strongly tempted to speak her mind, but soon the two men appeared to come to some agreement.
    Carlos nodded and left, leaving Letty and Murphy alone in the tiny house.
    “What’s happening?” she asked.
    “Carlos has a boat by