"Anything I can do?" Nancy looked at Sofia for a moment before telling her straight.

"You rely on others and they only let you down." Sofia didn't even pretend she wasn't hurt at the comment.

"This is me though. You trust me though, right?" Nancy didn't answer, she only stared into space with a look of grief on her face. "Okay." She had an idea, it was one she didn't want to use but thought it might help. "I make a few calls, okay?" She pulled out a celluar and dialed a number, leaving Nancy to wallow in sorrow for the moment. "Petya, ??? ???? ??????? Sofie." Her Russian was still fluent even after years in America. "?? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????."

**********************

"Whatever it is, they'll tell you if it's important." Jessie wheeled Sakura away so that she wouldn't be seen evesdropping, or trying to stand. "She's a good woman," she told her, trying to sound convincing. "She's very angry about what happened to you, and wants to see it set right.

**********************

Shaquille Shabazz led Reiko outside the airport where there was a car waiting, well car was perhaps overstating it a little. A thirty year old Bluebird, rust gathering on the outside, the harsh Mexican sun causing the paint to fade

"Nice ride," she said. "This what part of the problem is?"

"It's a little more involved than having you steal vehicles for us." A man climbed out, Reiko immediately spotted the handgun that hung from a shoulder holster. "I'm Carlos Vezuzade. Please, do not be alarmed. This is merely for protection from America's thugs guarding the boarder." Reiko nodded slowly at that, understanding, and took the man in. Solid, slicked back black hair, he looked like an actor she saw on TV.

"I keep being told it's something involved, but the law generally frowns upon kidnapping regardless of how good your cause is." Carlos contemplated her words for a moment.

"Yes," he said finally, "but it is true that neither of us consider the law much when it serves as an impediment." Reiko looked blankly at him before answering.

"Huh?"

"He means laws are made up to prevent us defending ourselves against the invaders," Shabazz explained. Reiko understood that perfectly and looked up at him. Obviously he was black, at a guess Carlos looked Brazillian, she wondered what the two were doing trying to serve the Mexican cause.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I always admired the direct approach." Carlos told her, "and I shall provide a direct answer...justice. A few months ago women had begun disappearing from our villages and towns."

"Vampires?" Shabazz looked at Reiko as though she was nuts, or made a bad joke. Carlos looked as if he had ignored the comment. "Sorry, I just have a real superstition about them."

"In a manner of speaking you are correct. They would disappear for a week, and then are dumped outside of town."

"They're raped," Shabazz told Reiko, "beaten and murdered, before making us deal with them while more women are taken." For the first time in she didn't know how long, Reiko allowed herself to be shocked. She had no idea what to say, she couldn't even think of a reply, except the obvious.

"Who..." she began.

"America's boarder patrols."

**********************

Gassman went over and placed a hand on Vega's shoulder.

"I know," he assured the Spanish ninja, "and Chavo knows. He can tell you more." He went past to crouch by a nearby grave. "You ready, I take you to him."