Always plenty of work, I said. And how’s the mysterious visitor from Washington trade?

Never better, he said. He held my hand in his just a moment too long. I looked down at it; his knuckles were enlarged, as if he had spent too much time sparring with a concrete wall. He slapped his left hand on the table, and I got a glimpse of his pinkie ring. It was startlingly effeminate, almost an engagement ring. When he finally let go of my hand, he smiled and swiveled his head toward Deborah, although with his sunglasses it was impossible to tell if he was looking at her or just moving his neck around.

Deborah smiled back at him. Dexter was worried about me.

Hey, Chutsky said, what are brothers for?

She glanced at me. Sometimes I wonder, she said.

Why Deborah, you know I’m only watching your back, I said.

Kyle chuckled. Good deal. I got the front, he said, and they both laughed. She reached across and took his hand.

All the hormones and happiness are setting my teeth on edge, I said. Tell me, is anybody actually trying to catch that inhuman monster, or are we just going to sit around and make tragic puns?

Kyle swiveled his head back to me and raised an eyebrow. What’s your interest in this, buddy?

Dexter has a fondness for inhuman monsters, Deborah said. Like a hobby.

A hobby, Kyle said, keeping the sunglasses turned to my face. I think it was supposed to intimidate me, but for all I knew his eyes could be closed. Somehow, I managed not to tremble.

He’s kind of an amateur profiler, Deborah said.

Kyle didn’t move for a moment and I wondered if he had gone to sleep behind his dark lenses. Huh, he finally said, and he leaned back in his chair. Well, what do you think about this guy, Dexter?

Oh, just the basics so far, I said. Somebody with a lot of training in the medical area and in covert activities who came unhinged and needs to make a statement, something to do with Central America. He’ll probably do it again timed for maximum impact, rather than because he feels he has to. So he’s not really a standard serial type of— What? I said. Kyle had lost his laid-back smile and was sitting straight up with his fists clenched.

What do you mean, Central America?