The Key To Micah's Heart (Hell Yeah!) by Sable Hunter, Ryan O'Leary

to find out your mother might be a prostitute.
    “However after you returned, I received some additional information.”
    Everyone leaned forward, fully invested in the mission.
    “The last word we got from the PI was that my mother has left Tampico and moved to Juarez.”
    “Damn.” Micah muttered. “Frying pan to the fire.”
    Noah stood, going to look out the window. “Exactly. We don’t know why she moved.”
    “I hope it wasn’t because we were asking too many questions,” Jet observed in a worried tone.
    “I don’t think so.” Noah returned to his chair. “All you did was verify what we already suspected.”
    “So, what can we do?” Micah asked. “I have a cop friend in El Paso by the name of Santiago. He’s former intelligence and knows the situation in Juarez well.”
    “That would be great,” Jacob said. “We won’t turn down any help. Noah is understandably anxious to get started. But…”
    “I know, I know.” Noah held up both hands. “We can’t go half-cocked, but this is my mother. And if what Roscoe and Vance are saying is true, she’s made some pretty powerful enemies.”
    “What do you mean?” Kyle asked as he turned his UT class ring band around and around on his finger. Micah knew he did this when he was anxious. Any talk of Mexico always brought back memories for Thunderbird. He’d fallen in love with Hannah before he’d found out she was an illegal. Fighting her battles for her had given him a whole different perspective on immigration and issues across the border. 
    “Apparently, she’s doing her best to undermine the prostitution rings funded by the cartels. We think she’s running something akin to a half-way house or an underground railroad saving every girl she can.”
    “I’d say that was good news,” Micah observed. Noah gave him a questioning glance. Micah stated what he thought was the obvious. “This woman is not only your mother, she’s someone you can be proud of McCoy. She’s a hero.”
    His words seemed to soothe Noah. The meeting wasn’t over, but for the rest of the time they worked together to formulate a plan to locate Sofia and bring her home.
     
    Angel Rubio…
     
    “Angel Rubio! Angel Rubio! Is that you?”
    The woman’s feeble voice called to Sofia from inside the dimly lit courtyard. She pulled the red mantilla closer to her face and looked up and down the street. Maybe she hadn’t been followed. After changing buses three times and following a circuitous route, if someone was on her trail, she’d know it soon enough. As she’d told Mateo this morning, everyone died sometimes. Some died from something and the lucky ones died for something.
    If she were called upon to give her life in the quest to save the lost girls of Mexico, so be it.
    Sofia stood near the stone wall for a few more moments, studying every shadow. When she was satisfied no one was lurking in the darkness, she entered the small dwelling of Senora Estevez. “I am here. How may I help you?”
    The older woman made her welcome, fluttering around to offer Sofia refreshments. When she finally sat on the edge of a padded rocker, she began with a sad story that was only too familiar. “My granddaughter is missing. She is a good girl. We’ve never had any trouble with her.” Senora Estevez wiped her eyes with the edge of an embroidered handkerchief. “Lupe is beautiful. She’s a virgin. If someone took her, it was against her will. Will you help me find her?”
    “Of course, I’ll certainly try. Do you have a photograph?” Sofia asked gently.
    After toddling to the next room and back, Senora Estevez handed her a faded Polaroid. “See how pretty?”
    Gazing at the happy face, the big brown eyes, the long dark hair, Sofia nodded. Lupe fit the description of ninety-nine percent of the lost ones. Poor. Pretty. Vulnerable.
    “I will do what I can.” The title of Angel Rubio sat heavily on Sofia’s shoulders. “You can do something for me, Senora.”
    “What is