‘You are learning, gatita. Your instincts are good. You can read people. Sometimes it is necessary to read between the lines.’

‘I thought about killing you for a while.’

‘I not doubt that,’ he said. ‘Because you wanted to stay here?’

‘Yes.’

‘I had a gut feeling I could trust you to make a different choice. You a little wiseass and you got a temper as fiery as chilate de pollo but I knew you wouldn’t betray me.’

‘I still wouldn’t.’

‘Do you still want to stay here?’

‘Yes. I do.’

He shrugged. ‘Then here you stay.’

‘Seriously? Even though I wanted to kill you?’

‘Thought and action. You thought it but you didn’t do it, even though life has given you every opportunity to do so. You have been here three months, you’ve done everything you’ve been told, you have put colour and scent back into my beautiful garden, and despite all Paco’s efforts, you haven’t stabbed him yet even though I know you want to.’

‘Yeah, I do want to do that.’

‘Well, now you have your reward. This is your home. You can stay as long as you wish.’

I couldn’t hold back my smile. ‘Thank you,’ I said as he pulled me into the safest hug. ‘There’s really no catch?’

‘No catch. But I want you to promise me that you will try and curb those… impulses of yours, especially around Paco.’

‘I still think he’s up to something. What if he’s a double agent? Like, he could be working for them and working for you? Didn’t you see Homeland? It could happen, Tenoch.’

‘Why don’t you let me worry about Paco and you worry about yourself, eh? I want you to try for a life without killing. A normal life. Maybe at some point you will want to leave here of your own accord.’

‘Is there such a thing as a “normal life” for a serial killer?’ I asked.

‘If you want it bad enough, yes. I think so.’

After that, the subject of my leaving the Hacienda didn’t come up – Tenoch kept to the contract of providing me with a brand-new passport, backstory and papers for my onward life, but it was tacitly understood that I didn’t have to leave. He trusted me and I cherished that. He even showed me his artillery.

At the back of his office was a wall covered with books. Once all the books and the bookcases were removed, the wooden panels behind became visible. Tenoch gently pressed on the panel in two separate places at the same time and the panel shifted up and out and to the left, revealing behind it a cubbyhole full to the brim with guns, knives, bullets and even hand grenades.