“Nah, I’m not lost. I’m looking for a few of my friends, who I think may have come through here.”

The man gave a lopsided smile. One of his front teeth was missing. He smelled heavily of cigar smoke and stale sweat. A lock of black hair dangled past his eyes. “What would friends of yours be doing way out here? This is hardly party central.”

Danny held his gaze. “Three young women and one man, all college kids from the States.”

The man shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so.”

Danny addressed the barman. “What about you? You remember seeing them? Three girls, one boy. One girl is Mexican descent. The boy looks Italian; the other two girls are white. One blond, one a little darker.”

The barman looked to the man at Danny’s side but said nothing.

“What’s wrong?” asked Danny. “This guy got you on a leash? These kids have disappeared and I need to find them.”

The man poked Danny’s shoulder with a stiffened finger. “He’s never seen them. They were never here. There’s nothing here for you.”

“How do you know they weren’t here? I haven’t showed you a picture of them yet.” Danny kept his voice to a low and non-aggressive tone.

The barman looked first at Danny then at the man. “Rodrigo?”

Rodrigo shot the barman a brief warning look.

Danny turned to face Rodrigo, the edge of his hand resting lightly on the surface of the bar. “You the man here, Rodrigo?”

“Sí, I’m the man. It’s time for you to leave.”

“Hey, take it easy. I’m willing to pay for information. I don’t want any trouble.”

The muscles in Rodrigo’s face twitched. “You got money? How much?”

“That depends on what you can tell me about my friends. Did they pass through this way or not?”

“Maybe they did. Tres chicas, un chico, eh?”

Danny blinked slow and easy, repressing the urge to slam Rodrigo’s face into the bar. “They’re college kids. I think they were down here looking at the ruins near Chacchoben. You know where they are?”

“Show me your money,” said Rodrigo.

Danny reached into his front hip pocket and pulled out a roll of US twenties. “They’re yours if you can tell me something worthwhile.”

Rodrigo smiled as he tilted his head to one side. “I have another idea. What if me and my friends tell you nothing, kick your ass, and take your money anyway?”

Danny returned the smile before he spoke again.