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orange-carrot juice. “We don’t need him stinking up Mexican soil.” He sat back with a smile and wiped his mouth. “Be sure to send my condolences to the Vaught family through the American Embassy. It’s important to maintain good relations with our neighbors.”
    â€œI will,” Oscar said. “I’ve already sent them to the embassy itself.Should we expect problems concerning the three federal policemen that Vaught killed?” He tapped the edition of El Universal . “They’re on the front page today.”
    Serrano shrugged, picking up his knife and fork. “That’s Captain Espinosa’s problem.” Espinosa was the Federale captain who had turned Vaught over to the detectives working for Ruvalcaba. “He’s got people inside the city police. He’s a true professional, that one, a man I can count on—like you.”
    A thin smile spread across Oscar’s lips, and he wondered for perhaps the thousandth time what would happen if Serrano ever found out he was gay. I’d probably disappear too , he told himself, making a mental note to increase his vigilance.
    â€œWill the project in Toluca still be going forward?” he asked. Serrano and Ruvalcaba had been trying to turn the town, located southwest of Mexico City, into a trafficking hub for the past six months.
    â€œYes, of course,” Serrano said, cutting off a piece of steak. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
    â€œWell, I thought you might want to postpone it because of all that’s happened here.”
    Serrano stabbed his fork into the piece of meat and pointed at Oscar with it. “I’ll tell you this, Oscar. That chief of police in Toluca is a brave man; a true Mexican with very large huevos , but he is another fool. Why can’t he see which way things are going in this country and go with them? Because I tell you this, my friend, sooner or later, those stupid gringos in the North are going to see there is no way to win this useless war. Then marijuana will become legal, and all of this” —he waved his free hand at the estancia—“all of this money, it goes away. This kind of business cannot last forever. So why doesn’t this policeman in Toluca accept Ruvalcaba’s offer now to secure himself a future? Why does he throw his life away so uselessly? I will tell you why: it is because he is a fool. A brave fool, but a fool.”
    He poked the meat into his mouth and chewed as he spoke. “We all want a stronger Mexico. Me more than anyone. I am a true patriot; a man of my country. But this strength cannot come withoutmoney. And am I not generous with my money? Do I not give back to the people? This idiot policeman could do the same”—Serrano stabbed a finger against the side of his head in frustration—“but he is too stubborn to listen! No, this brave man , he is going to rebuild the country all by himself, like Pancho Villa reborn. Well, Pancho Villa was gunned down in the dirt like a dog, my friend, and this Toluca man is no better than him.”
    â€œLazaro!” the young woman called from the pool. “When are you coming to swim, my love?”
    He smiled and held out his hands. “Later, mi amor !” He turned to look at Oscar. “Do you see? I am not even finished eating, and she wants me to go in swimming already. Like I have no other responsibilities besides swimming with a dog that pisses in my pool.” He shook his head and went back to cutting his steak. “Fools, Oscar. I am surrounded by fools.”

10
    MALBUN SKI LODGE, LIECHTENSTEIN
    13:00 HOURS
    Gil was still asleep in bed when he heard a knock at the door. He sat up and took a Parkerized subcompact Springfield .45 pistol from the nightstand drawer, glancing at the clock. Lena hadn’t left until well after six in the morning.
    He slipped naked from the bed and went to have a look through the peephole. Seeing Lena, he unlocked the