'We could check the bar first,' Catalina suggested. She and Sully were sat at the table, a pot of coffee between them, as they tried to work out where they might find the barman. The sun was only just cresting the horizon and the kitchen was lit with a faint, cool light.

Sully considered her proposition, taking a thoughtful draw from his cigar. It might give them a lead considering Lagorio had given no clues as to where he and his men were hiding out. But it wasn't exactly off the beaten track.

'Is there somewhere quieter, out of the way?'

'There are a few abandoned farmhouses,' she replied, 'near where we went shooting. No one really goes there – some believe bad spirits live in them.' That seemed more likely than the bar or anywhere else in the centre of town.

'Wouldn't hurt to take a look.'

They each rose from their seats in quick succession.

'Cat,' Sully put his hand on her shoulder, 'I can't promise that we're gonna find him.' She nodded with understanding, albeit with a rueful smile on her face.

'Sí, but I would rather try than do nothing.' Catalina may have been naïve, but she was no coward.

It was a good attitude to have, but from his experience, Sully knew sometimes it was easier and safer to just walk away.

A few minutes later the pair were on the road that headed out of town. The day was still cool as the sun had not fully risen, but it was already possible to see the waves of heat on the horizon.

They reached a junction in the road, where two narrower paths branched off from the main road. Both were overgrown and unused, however the foliage on the left road had been completely crushed by tyres.

'Looks like your hunch was right,' Sully said, as they followed the tracks.

'I hope so,' Catalina muttered.

She'd brought her gun with her, not that she'd told Sully. The metal felt uncomfortable against her back, which only reminded her how unskilled she was with the weapon. It may have been a bad idea, but Catalina had gone with her gut instinct.

However, in the back of her mind a seed of anger was starting to grow. She wanted Lagorio to get the exact same treatment he had dealt on Mateo.

'Well would ya' look at that.'

Catalina marginally missed bumping into Sully, as he stopped just ahead of her. She looked up ahead, her eyes catching sight of two black cars, which were definitely out of place next to the derelict buildings of the farm.

She scowled at the thought of Mateo being held in one of the buildings and was quickly reminded of the weapon tucked into her belt.

Sully surveyed the area, calculating how many men were inside those walls, what they were armed with, how many he'd have to shoot. With only two cars Lagorio would only have a handful of men for sure. However, Catalina was a novice; even with her level-headedness she was likely to lose her nerve. But he'd promised he'd help.

Sully threw down his burnt out cigar and readied his pistol. 'Come on.'

x

There were more men than Sully had accounted for. It wasn't long till he and Catalina had a ring of ten guns aimed at their heads. With much protest Catalina was forced to walk to the barn, while Sully was escorted to the farmhouse.

He was instructed to sit in an old chair in the living room, his gun on a nearby table, while Lagorio's men stood watch. Lagorio revealed himself a moment later and stood before Sully with an undeniable look of scorn.

It was a grand difference from their first meeting. Lagorio had been surrounded by the comforts and expensive belongings of his Italian office. He was completely out of place in such a derelict building.

Lagorio was in by no means an imposing man; his build was slimmer than Sully's although he may have been the same height. His dark, greying hair was the only hint at how old he actually was, as his olive face appeared quite young, although it was currently fixed with an angry glare.

'Mr. Sullivan.'

'Lagorio.'

The businessman had more confidence in person, especially now he looked like the bigger man. He didn't intimidate Sully in the slightest; the armed men lining the back wall were another story entirely.

'The sooner we sort this out the sooner I can get out of this place.' Lagorio looked about his surroundings with disgust.

'Not much to discuss,' Sully replied, draping an arm over the back of the chair. 'I thought I made myself clear on the phone.'

Lagorio leaned in. 'The terms have changed.' Every man disengaged the safety on his gun. Sully could feel all five barrels pointed directly at his head. He didn't flinch. He couldn't let Lagorio see him falter; although Sully's brain was working quickly trying to think of a way out of this. Hell, he'd had been in trickier situations than this before. The amateurs hadn't even thought to tie him up.

x

'Mateo!'

The bartender was the first thing Catalina spotted when she entered the barn. Her tone was a mixture of joy and concern. She couldn't tell if he was alive or not. His shirt was stained with fresh and old blood and his head hung forward limply.

'Mateo!' she called again, despite one of the two men ordering her to shut up. This time the bartender raised his head, revealing bruises and cuts all over his face. Relief came to his features when he saw Catalina.

'Sit,' the same man as before motioned to an empty chair.

Catalina glared at him, but sat anyway. The barn was desolate, except for a few rotting crates and scattered blades of hay. 'Estás bien?' she whispered.

Mateo nodded weakly. 'Como me encontraste?'

'Silenzio,' the other guard, who stood closer to Mateo, snapped, reinforcing his words with a harsh kick to Mateo's leg. Catalina snarled at the guard, clenching her fists. The men hadn't been smart enough to check her for weapons. If she was quick she might be able to shoot one or two. But what good would that do?

'Un amigo,' she continued, once the guard had turned his back. Mateo's brow contorted in confusion. 'El hombre de la barra,' Catalina clarified. 'El Americano.' She hoped Sully had found a way out of his own predicament, as she was trying to work out a way of hers. She'd found Mateo, now they just had to get back to town.


Translations:

Estás bien? - Are you okay?

Como me encontraste? - How did you find me?

Un amigo - A friend

El hombre de la barra. El Americano. - The man from the bar. The American.