A short time later, they slowly drove past a row of buildings. Most were homes, with about half of them in darkness. Others had a few lights on, including the occasional porch light.

Some noise and a bustling of activity came from one building in the centre of the block with an Aguila sign above the door. The street had no sidewalks, but a few people could be seen walking along the edges of the road. Just past the bar, the road turned to dirt. The Land Rover slowed and turned onto a single-lane bridge that spanned a creek, marking the entrance to a driveway.

The dirt driveway led up to a modest two-storey building. They parked and Jack walked around the villa. With the exception of a small mango grove behind the home, there were few trees for protection. A short distance away from the side of the villa was a small shed where some of Ramirez’s men waited. It was a perfect place for an ambush.

“What do you think, my friends?” asked Ramirez.

Damien smiled and slapped Ramirez on the back and said, “I like it. You have done well!”

“Good. When it is over, I will have my men pile the bodies like a monument. It will be a symbol for those who cross me!”

Damien smiled and said, “I think your competition will get the message.”

“We will go to the plaza now,” replied Ramirez.

“I would like to stay here,” said Damien. “If one of your men would lend me a gun, I would like to be here when Carlos arrives.”

“But it is not your fight,” said Ramirez, looking puzzled. “It is me he wishes to kill! Besides, it is too dangerous. Carlos will enter the villa, and then my men will switch on the lights when they climb the staircase. There will be much shooting.”

“It was me he insulted,” replied Damien, “when he told me to risk Laura’s life. I consider it a matter of honour to take part in his execution. I hope he sees my face when he dies.”

Ramirez stared intently at Damien but did not respond.

“I could hide out here, under the bridge,” said Damien. “If Carlos tries to run back, then I will be waiting.”

Ramirez relented, shrugging his shoulders and said, “As you wish!”

“Speaking of shooting,” interjected Jack, “should I be forced to go with Carlos into the villa, let your men know that as soon as the lights go on, this gringo will drop to the floor. They’ll have about two seconds of surprise to shoot everyone standing. Make sure they know who I am!”

Ramirez chuckled and said, “Don’t worry. I will tell them not to shoot you!” He then spoke with his men and Jack watched as Damien was handed a snub-nosed, five-shot .38-calibre revolver.

“It is all that is available,” said Ramirez. “It will not penetrate Carlos’s car, but maybe if any of Carlos’s men escape you will find a use for it.”

Jack pondered over Damien’s unexpected decision as he and Laura were driven back to the centre of the city. A true survivor. If things go wrong he has a chance to escape.

Twenty minutes later, Ramirez ordered his driver to park in an alley before turning to Jack and saying, “Walk to the end of the street. You will see the steeple. It is only two blocks away. A couple of my men will be watching.”

Jack nodded.

“Do not worry,” said Ramirez. “If you must go with him inside the villa, my men have been told not to shoot the gringo.”

“If Carlos knows that it is a trap, it will not be necessary for me to worry about your men,” replied Jack.

“By the time that happens, Carlos will be dead. He must trust you, or he wouldn’t have asked you to carry out this mission. I am sure that you will be permitted to remain outside. Perhaps you could wait in the bar down the street.”

Jack nodded silently.

“You seem troubled,” said Ramirez, looking at him closely. “Perhaps there is something I do not know about? Between you and Carlos?”

Jack shook his head and said, “I’m just the cautious type.” He then glanced at Laura and said, “If need be, apologize to Natasha for me, will you?”

Jack saw the Mercedes parked between two vans in front of the church. As he approached, four men surrounded him. Jack recognized two of the men and felt the dampness spread down his shirt. They were the ones he robbed outside of the Spotted Owl Motel. Hope they don’t recognize my voice.

“With me, señor!”

Jack felt the barrel of a gun nudge his kidneys. He tried to smile and nodded politely as he followed. The side door of the van opened and a sharp jab from the barrel told him to step inside.

The search was thorough and did not take long. One of the men took Jack’s cellphone, then he was allowed to dress himself before being hustled out of the van. He was then brought to the Mercedes, where the rear door opened on the passenger side and he was shoved inside.

“I am Carlos,” said the short, squat man sitting beside him. He wore a green beret and a light jacket that was open to expose a pot-belly.

Thoughts of Charlie flashed across Jack’s mind. He thought of Holly and the terror that Danny and Susan were still living with. Wonder if I could grab his throat and squeeze the life out of him.

Carlos’s eyes peered at him from under the beret. Jack knew that his hatred showed, but for a brief moment he didn’t care.

Carlos barked out a command in Spanish and a burly man sitting in the seat in front of him turned to face him, while reaching into his waistband. At the same time, the driver reached into his shoulder holster while staring at Jack through the rear-view mirror.

“You have my money?” snapped Jack, pointing his finger at Carlos.

“You do not talk at me in such manner!” roared Carlos.

Jack stared back. He knew his actions were not professional. I’m supposed to make this guy like me, or at least not appear as a threat. He sat back and looked down in submission.

Carlos appeared to relax and then said, “After Damien is dead, you will be paid.” He gestured to the two men in the front and said, “You tell my men to drive to Damien now! They come back from Canada. They speak English good.”

Jack glanced quickly at the two men and then said, “I will tell you how to find the place when you let me out of the car. I do not have a gun. It would be dangerous for me to go with you.”

“You will tell me now or you will die!”

“If I die, then...”

“Then my men will wait for Damien on the road to the airport,” countered Carlos. “He leaves tomorrow. I can wait.”

Jack looked around him. I feel like I’m in the middle of a movie. It’s all so surreal. I may never see Natasha again ... Carlos might win.

“Talk my men now!” ordered Carlos.

When the small convoy consisting of Carlos’s Mercedes, three vans, and two SUVs drove past the tiny bar with the Aguila sign, Jack pointed to the end of the street and gave directions into the villa.

Carlos immediately ordered the convoy to park down a side street while one SUV left to check out the area around the villa.

Muted light from a nearby home illuminated the men’s faces in the car. Carlos accepted a call on his cell and then looked suspiciously at Jack and said, “There is a Jeep in front of villa. Is that Jeep belong to Damien?”

“I think he borrowed it from whoever he hired to kill you.”

“That Jeep, it look like a Jeep belong to man I were at war with.”

“You’re joking!”

“I am no joking!”

“Maybe tonight is not such a good idea. Is this man dangerous? The one whose Jeep —”

“Enough! I think maybe you know this man!”

“I don’t. I know your reputation. I am not stupid enough to do anything to make you angry!”

Carlos stared at Jack for a moment and then said, “We will wait here until Damien is got by my men.”