Just then, the guard finished making his way through the crowd. He bent over María and yanked her up by the collar. She grunted as she stood and then pretended to stumble to one side. As soon as she was out of the way, Juan raised his gun, pointed at the soldier's thigh, and fired. The guard shrieked and staggered backward on a spray of blood. His gun dropped to the floor and one of the prisoners snatched it up. Regaining her balance, María unholstered her own weapon and turned toward the captain.

But the captain had already drawn his own weapon. He fired two rounds, one of which struck María in the left side. She twisted in pain and her own shot went wide. She landed on the man who had picked up the gun. Her hat tumbled off and her hair spilled out.

Juan rose as María fell. "ĄAsesino!" Juan shouted. "Assassin!"

Before he could fire, a bullet struck him in the left shoulder. He twisted as he fell, his arms flying outward. His gun went spinning along the floor toward the hallway. The captain picked it up as he stalked toward them. The man who had fired, the other soldier standing guard at the throne room, came forward.

"Stay at your post!" the captain yelled.

The crowd of prisoners began to murmur loudly and the guards unholstered their weapons. Suddenly, the throne room door opened. General Amadori's personal aide. Major General Antonio Aguirre, stepped out. He was holding a 9mm automatic, which looked only slightly less intimidating than his scowl. The tall, lean, broad shouldered man took a moment to look around the room.

"Is there a problem. Captain Infiesta?" he asked.

"No, sir," the captain replied. "Not any longer."

"Who is he?" Aguirre asked, pointing the gun toward the man he'd shot.

He pointed to María. "Her accomplice," he said.

Aguirre's dark eyes settled on the woman. "Who is she?"

"I believe she's a spy," the captain informed him.

María stood unsteadily. "I am not… a spy. Major General,"" she insisted. She was clutching her side just below her ribs and leaning into the wound. It was bloody and it throbbed hotly. "I am María Corneja from Interpol. I came here with information for the general. Instead of listening to me, this man had me beaten." She raised a hand weakly and gestured toward the captain.

"I will listen to you," said the major general. "Talk."

"No," María said. "Not here-"

"Here and now," Aguirre said curtly.

María shut her eyes for a moment. "I'm dizzy," she said truthfully. "Can I sit down somewhere?"

"Certainly," Aguirre said. His scowl remained fixed. "Captain-take her and her accomplice outside. Let her talk and then conclude your business with her."

"Yes, sir," the captain said.