She walked over and began inspecting the rows of bottles. “This is a pretty well-stocked little bar,” she said, impressed. She noticed one bottle in particular and picked it up. “Korbellian whiskey!” she exclaimed. “I haven’t had any of this in, oh, it must be five years!” She poured herself a glass and took a quick swallow. “He’s got good taste, I’ll give him that.”

“I consider that a great compliment,” said a voice from the dining room doorway, and they all turned to see Santiago standing there.

“Well?” said Cain, looking at him.

Santiago walked across the room to where Virtue was standing, glass in hand.

“Tell the Angel I’ll be there.” he said.

“You’re crazy!” exploded Cain.

“Nevertheless, that’s my decision.” He turned back to Virtue. “If you’ll wait in the vehicle that brought you, I’ll have one of my men take you back to town. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to tell him to blindfold you again.”

“And my camera?”

“It will be returned to you after we’ve destroyed whatever it recorded here.”

Virtue finished her whiskey and walked to the door. “Cain’s right, you know.”

“Thank you for your opinion,” said Santiago, dismissing her.

She shrugged and left the house. Santiago nodded to Silent Annie, who went off to find a driver.

“You can’t do it!” said Cain.

Santiago smiled. “Are you giving me orders, Sebastian?”

“She as much as said that the whole thing is a setup,” continued Cain. “If you really feel you’ve got to give the Angel a crack at you, stay here at the house, and at least make him work for it.”

“To what purpose?” asked Santiago. “If he truly intends to kill me, why let him kill all of you as well? He’s good enough to do just that, you know.”

“He won’t kill me,” promised Cain.

“Even you, Sebastian,” said Santiago. “I’ve followed his career as closely as I have your own. I don’t mean to hurt your pride, but you haven’t got a chance against him.”

“If that’s true, then you’ve got even less of a chance,” said Cain as Silent Annie rejoined them.

“If he wants to kill me,” said Santiago. “There’s a chance that he only wants to talk.”

“There’s two chances—slim and none.”

“Then,” said Santiago calmly, “perhaps he’ll discover that it’s harder to kill me than he thinks.”

“You’re just flesh and blood like anyone else,” said Cain.

“No, Sebastian,” said Santiago. “I may be flesh and blood, but I am also myth and mystery and legend.”

“It won’t do you any good.”

“It has before.”

“You’ve never faced anyone like the Angel before,” said Cain.