Milton’s legs were outstretched, and she was standing just a little way beyond his feet. He wondered whether he would be able to sweep her to the floor. If he could do that, perhaps he could get to her before Thorsson got to him.

He needed to bring her just a little closer.

“I could work for you,” he said.

She snorted. “Do you think I am a fool?”

“You wouldn’t want someone inside their operation? I could do that for you.”

“A desperate man will say anything to save his life. I couldn’t possibly trust you. You could lead them to me again.”

“Not if you pay me enough,” Milton said. “I can be bought.”

Thorsson shook his head. “That would be a bad—”

“Be quiet,” she snapped, cutting him off. “I do not need advice on what to do in a situation like this.” She stabbed a finger down at Milton. “Because of you,” she said, “I have lost one of our most productive kitchens. Because of you, I have lost more than a thousand keys of cocaine. Do you know how much that has cost me, Señor Milton? Millions of dollars. Millions. Because of you.”

Milton inched forward just a little. “You pay me enough,” he said, “and I’ll do anything you need. You want a warning when the Americans come after you again? I can do that.”

She ignored him. “I was dragged out of the jungle like a petty thief. They drugged me. They would have taken me to America and they would have convicted me. Maybe I would have spent the rest of my life in prison. Maybe they would have killed me.” She shrugged. “All of it—it is your fault, Señor Milton. There is nothing that you could offer me that would make up for the inconvenience that you have caused.”

“You want me to take someone out? You want to make a point to them? I have access to them. They trust me. I can do that. Ask him.” He nodded at Thorsson, using the motion as a blind to shuffle another inch closer to her. “He’ll tell you. I’ve killed before. Many times.”

She shook her head. “No. There will be no deal between us.”

Milton’s stomach plunged as she stepped back. She turned and made her way across the room to the door.

“What do you want me to do?” Thorsson asked her.

She stopped. “They need to know that there are consequences for their actions,” she said. “We’ll make an example out of him. Kill him and hang his body from a bridge. We will let him instruct them in the error of their ways.”

100