'It was just like before, when he would send the turistas to me, and then I would . . . you know . . . take them places-'
'Rob and abandon them you mean,' Roman said. 'And then?'
'Well . . . he tells me this time to bring a girl here, to the Casa. He gives me a lot of money, but then he sticks a gun in my face and says, "No mistakes. The girl's name is Kara Savalas." Then, he writes it down for me so that I can not forget it.'
'All right. Now, tell me about the two men-'
'I do not know them! Before tonight I had never laid eyes upon them! They came upon us as we were watching the Casa, and they threatened us, and told us they were now in charge, and put a gun in my hand. At least, the tall one with the scar on his face did. He told us to kill everyone . . .' Ricardo began crying. 'But I could not do it! I could not! As Dios is my witness, Señor Castellan, that is the truth!'
They heard Guiseppe open and close the door. 'I believe you,' Roman said quietly, retrieving the poker from the fire and replacing it in the rack. 'Now, we'll find out what your associate has to say for himself.'
'I'm afraid not,' Guiseppe told him. 'His throat has been cut. He is dead. I heard someone running off as I approached the body.'
'So the other two are now here,' Roman said, stiffening.
'I don't think so,' Guiseppe told him. 'At least, if the two you refer to are here, then there are now three.'
'Why do you say that?' Roman demanded.
'Because this one was small- I thought at first that I had seen a child running off into the forest.'
Roman thought for a long moment. Then abruptly, he took Ricardo by the arm. 'You are coming with me, now, to Port Haven. The rest of you will remain here, bar the doors and windows, and afterwards stay well away from the windows. I am going to the magistrate's house to hand over Ricardo, and then I am going to call a general muster. I will return with a number of troops, whose job it will be to guard the Casa, and then I will turn the guard loose upon the entire island.'
As Roman prepared to leave, Kara could no longer contain herself. Taking him by the arm, she blurted, 'Please, Roman, you're not really going to torture him, are you?'