Page 74 of Ransom
"Los Lunas."
"My uncle did a stretch at Estancia."
"Sorry to hear it."
"He said the food was bad."
"It was."
The Cruz kid nodded, satisfied, like the introduction was now complete on terms he understood. He dropped onto the bench two seats from Joe and started in on his eggs. Mateo took the seat between them without being asked. He stuck his hand across the table at Joe.
"Mateo."
Joe shook it once and let go.
The other boys filled in around them, plates coming down, chairs scraping, somebody at the far end of the table arguing with the kid next to him about whether a horse named Pancake had thrown a shoe yesterday or the day before. Sierra dropped a wooden spoon flat on the counter with a crack that ended the argument without anybody having to look up.
My phone buzzed against my thigh. Then again. Then a third time, in a sustained stutter that meant the chat was already on fire.
I tilted the phone up just enough to read.
Cruz
new guy looks like he lost a fight with a hay baler
Mateo
he's sitting two feet from you
Cruz
AND
Linc
who is he
Cruz
idk but boss is staring at him like he wants to either hug him or shoot him
Cruz
maybe both
Cruz
I'm shipping it
Mateo
cruz STOP
Linc
name?
Cruz
