'Your father the arms merchant,' Captain Rodriguez said. It was not a question, but almost a threat, an accusation.
Kara's eyes fell, and she said in a small voice, 'Yes.'
'And that is all that you can tell me about him.' Not a question, but sarcasm.
'Yes.' She was suddenly thankful for Roman's warm hand on hers, and wanted to hide herself in his arms.
'Señorita,' the Captain said, and his voice was not kind, 'this man,' he tapped the portrait for emphasis, 'is wanted for arms smuggling in Mexico, the Caribbean, in Latin America and in Indochina. His only connexion to New York is through organised crime. He is wanted for illegal arms dealing, murder, extortion, arson; his name is linked to a number of assassinations . . .
'What you have inadvertently told me is that he is financed and supplied by your father, who is no doubt complicit in his doings-'
Kara frowned at this. 'No, my father would not knowingly take the sort of risks you've mention. My brother, if what you say is true, is acting on his own without my father's knowledge.'
'It what you say is true, Señorita,' the Captain said, 'then it would appear that you somehow make it possible for your brother to be found out, if only by your father, which would explain why he wants you silenced. No?'
Kara considered this in silence for several long moments as Maria gave her a cup of coffee. At last, she shook her head. 'I don't know what to think, about my father or my brother, or the both of them together, but I do know this much: my father is a very wealthy, very conservative man, and he maintains a very high social profile. He belongs to a strata of society that includes the law, politicians, bankers, and all sorts of influential, powerful men. Gun running and breaking the law of the land is something he would never do, because he would never do anything that would put his fortune at risk. He is a monster, yes, but he operates within the law of the land, always. My brother, on the other hand . . . I do not know. I really don't know much about him.'
The Captain gave her a long look. At last, he said, 'Your brother is known to the authorities, Señorita, and the name Savalas along with him. And your father, when he arrives, will discover this fact for himself when he is brought in for questioning on the matter. Do you not see how this looks?'