“Don’t worry about her, amigo. El Pero took care of it.”

“El Pero took care of it?”

“Si, El Pero and my driver,” Big Al said with a shrug, with a nod toward the man who had driven them to the brothel. “They take care of his girl the same night he take our money. After that, Berto and Eduardo go to Canada and take care of him. You tell Señor Damien no problema.”

Jack felt like someone had knocked the wind out of him. He’d known the odds of Lily being alive were remote, but he had still held out hope. For a brief instant he allowed himself the fantasy of grabbing a gun from a bodyguard and killing Big Al, El Pero, and the driver.

“You okay, Jack?”

“Yes,” replied Jack, trying to sound upbeat, while in his heart he wondered how and when he should break the news to Lily’s mom.

“Good,” said Big Al. “Now it is time to be happy. Señoritas! I bring my special friend back.”

Jack sat on an overstuffed leather chair while Big Al sat on a sofa beside him. Two prostitutes sat on either side of Big Al again, while a third sat on his lap. Within seconds, a young prostitute sat on Jack’s lap.

“Pura vida! Yes, Jack?” said Big Al as he raised a glass of tequila, before pausing and saying, “Pure life!”

“Yes, pure video!” replied Jack, raising his bottle of Corona in response.

Big Al smiled over Jack’s mispronunciation and took another gulp of tequila.

Jack’s brain was still numbed over the discovery of Lily’s murder and he took a long swallow of beer, but coughed when he felt the prostitute slowly run her hand up his thigh and lightly squeeze his penis.

“Chile grande!” she exclaimed, to the laughter of the other prostitutes.

Jack forced a smile and asked her if she would bring him another beer. When she got off his lap, he stared at Big Al. So you’re one of the untouchables … safe here in Mexico. You have no idea how bad I would like to put a bullet between your wretched evil eyes …

“I think she likes you,” said Big Al, looking at the young prostitute who went to get Jack a beer. “You like her, yes?” he added, with a nod of his head for Jack to take her upstairs.

“She’s very pretty,” replied Jack. I hate you so much… Fuck it, quit fantasizing and do what I can to get the others …

Jack smiled and said, “There is one small favour I wanted to ask you.”

“Anything, amigo.”

“There is a bar in El Paso called The Old Warehouse. I have been told by one of my bosses I must go to it. He said it is a lot of fun. He said the place is huge. Apparently they teach country dancing and sometimes have beauty contests there.”

“The Old Warehouse?” replied Big Al.

“The Old Warehouse,” said the prostitute beside him. “I have been there. I did not win.”

“I would offend my boss if I did not go,” continued Jack, “but it would be no fun to go by myself. I was thinking about tomorrow night.”

“I am sorry, Señor Jack. I cannot go to El Paso.”

“No, I understand, but I thought perhaps a few of your men who speak English could come with me. I really like El Pero. He seems like a guy who likes to have fun. Also Berto and Eduardo look like they know how to have a good time. Maybe have your driver take us so we can all drink?”

“For El Pero, Berto, and Eduardo to go to El Paso is not a problem. I will tell them, but the driver, he is only for me. Eduardo does not drink much. He will be okay to drive.”

Jack was happy enough to get the three he did and knew not to push it any further. He smiled. “Maybe they could meet me there around eight tomorrow night at the entrance.”

“Yes, yes, I will tell them,” said Big Al, looking toward the bar.

“I can tell them,” said Jack, getting up quickly as the young woman returned. She handed him his beer and wrapped her arm around his waist as he walked over to El Pero.

El Pero was delighted he had been picked for another night of fun.

See how much fun it is tomorrow night when I find an excuse to get you alone and show me where her body is, you fat piece of shit….

El Pero called Berto and Eduardo over and told them they had also been picked by Señor Jack to party with him tomorrow night. Their smiles said they were looking forward to it.

Jack smiled with them and stood talking idly for a few minutes while the prostitute vied for his attention.

Jack’s plan was to claim he was tired, feeling ill, and had to leave, but Big Al had other ideas.

“Señor Jack! Come!” ordered Big Al. “I have an idea. Everyone a picture. Everyone!” He pushed one prostitute away from him on the sofa and had Jack sit beside him. Except for a few people who were using the rooms on the second floor, everyone else crowded around to get in the picture.

Jack smiled and posed with Big Al, who gave a toast and said, “To new amigos and a golden future.”

As Jack was about to clink to the toast, Big Al said, “Wait! Not yet.” He yelled something in Spanish too fast for Jack to understand. The message became clear when most of the prostitutes exposed their breasts and leaned in to smile for the picture.

As soon as the photo was taken, Jack received permission to take a few pictures himself, making sure he included some of the bodyguards … particularly the one who helped El Pero take care of Lily.

When Jack put his camera away, he told Big Al he was tired and needed to go.

“But you have not taken a puta yet,” said Big Al, somewhat suspiciously.

“They’re beautiful, but I have had very little sleep and am feeling a little sick,” replied Jack, rubbing his stomach for emphasis.

“I paid much money for this,” growled Big Al. It was obvious any façade of politeness had vanished with the number of drinks he had consumed. “You are a big, tough biker … I think you should like to fuck women? At least one before you go,” he added, menacingly.

“Put it this way,” said Jack, “the last time I slept with a hooker, the condom broke. After that, my cock turned green and black. I thought it was going to fall off. The guys were calling me the rotten pickle. ”

Big Al look surprised, but then laughed and said, “That is very funny. I am sorry for you, but it sounds funny.”

“It is something I will not do again,” said Jack, looking down at the crotch of his pants and shaking his head as if recalling the incident.

“These girls see a doctor. He says they are all clean,” noted Big Al.

“That’s what I was told last time.”

In reality, Jack knew that, with the exception of AIDS, members of Satans Wrath looked at catching venereal disease like most people would look at catching the common cold. The look, however, on Big Al’s face said his suspicions were somewhat alleviated.

“Okay, no problem I understand,” said Big Al, getting up. “Puta not for you. We will go outside and I’ll tell my men.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“No problem,” said Big Al, with a sideways glance at Jack that left him feeling unsettled.

Big Al yelled to a couple of his men who joined them, along with El Pero, as they stepped outside. Big Al then went over and spoke to one of the bodyguards, who nodded.

Jack felt relieved, thinking Big Al was getting him a ride back to El Paso, but it was short-lived.

“That one is pretty, yes, Jack?” yelled Big Al, pointing at a young Mexican couple in a car creeping forward in a line of traffic.

Jack glanced at the young couple. They were talking and laughing about something. The woman had long black hair and flashed a beautiful smile … until a look of terror engrossed her face.

Before Jack could respond, the bodyguards surrounded the car with their weapons pointing at the young man. He stopped the car and seconds later, El Pero dragged the screaming woman by her hair from the car. The terrified husband was told to drive or he would never see her alive again. He started to get out of the car when a bodyguard put a gun to his temple.