Keeping alert, he looked around for Beatrice and found he was alone. She probably ran out the door in frustration and was waiting for him in the street. Then he thought of that creep clavio. What if she ran into him?

“What you look for is not here,” the voice in the dark murmured. “But there will be more revelations to come. These will aid you in your quest.”

“Who is Lucille?” asked Rocky.

“You will discover that if you already haven’t.”

“Is my friend Hector safe?”

“He is as long as you don’t tarry. You must find a substitute to redeem him.”

“How do you know all this?”

A light dimly lit the face of a skull on a skeletal torso. It seemed to be suspended in the blackness. The eyes glowed red and faded to pink and then back to red. “Does this answer your question?” You might be able to solve your problem with Arango Mota. But you must hurry. A skeletal hand appeared and waved Rocky away. “Now go.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“I cannot tell you. Finding him is part of your trial.”

“Anything is possible,” said Rocky. “Can I trust Beatrice?”

“She is a woman who has murdered. What can I say?”

“Did she work here with you and the establishment?”

“For those questions you already possess the answers.”

“You’re correct.”

“Then go.”

“One more question. Did you love Lucille?”

“With every feeling I possess.”

“She’s still a beautiful woman.”

“I know.”

“Beautiful,” Rocky repeated.

“I wish you well when you walk out of here.”

“Thank you.”

Rocky turned away and walked to the door. It opened without him touching it. He walked into the street. He saw Beatrice against the opposite wall. Clavio Aiella pushed against her. He held a hunting knife with a curved blade.

“Arongo gave you to me,” he laughed. “You are mine to do with as I wish.”

“I’m not going to be your slave,” Beatrice yelled. “You go to hell.”

“If I do, I’m taking you with me.” He grabbed her arm to pull her to him.

She hit him with her fist and grabbed his arm that held the knife. “I may stick that in you myself,” she screamed. She spun Clavio around and hit him again.

Clavio was agile. He wrenched his arm away from Beatrice’s grip and cut at her and missed.

She pulled a long metal pen from her hair. Rocky watched in fascination. This might be a good learning experience. He was also learning something about the woman who was his back in Tecate. She was obviously more than she was letting on.

Clavio saw Rocky. His face was filled with anger. “You gonna let her do what you were supposed to do.”

“Hey partner, you called the shot. You gotta live or die with it. I think it may be the latter.”

“Clavio lunged forward, to meet a fist full of hair pen.”

“Aheeeeee, he screamed. He sliced Beatrice’s arm with his blade.

“You little bastard, I’m bleeding.”

He leaped out at her swinging the blade, but missed. His arm was extended. Beatrice grabbed it, throwing her body against it. It snapped at the joint of the elbow. She gave him several elbows in his face, grabbed his knife and   gave him several quick jabs to his chest. He fell limp on the pavement.

“You still want me now, Clavio?” Beatrice screamed and kicked at the bleeding body.

Clavio was still alive, but bleeding. His body fluid filled the pavement cracks around his body. Rocky was impressed. He had a lot of blood for a little guy.

“I may want to cut his dick off,” hissed Beatrice.

“No Beatrice, you’ve done your work. Let‘s take ourselves somewhere else and find Arongo.”

“Oh Rocky, I feel so shamed that you had to watch what I had to do.”

“That’s okay. It told me a lot about you. You don’t have any more hair pins do you?”

“No I don’t sweetheart.”

“Rocky wondered.”

 

 

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