you like, Iâll go after him and beat him senseless, itâs no trouble.â
âDonât waste your time.â She ground out her cigarette in the ashtray. âI thought youâd abandoned me for the general.â
âDo I look stupid?â Guzmán asked. He saw her expression. âWhat are you laughing at?â
Magdalena put her hand on his. âIâm not laughing at you, Comandante . Iâm enjoying myself.â
Guzmán looked at her for a moment. âSo am I.â
Three hours later, Guzmán and Magdalena were still at their table amid a circle of empty glasses, talking. The staff watched them, wishing they would leave.
âDo you have plans for tomorrow, Comandante ?â
He nodded. âIâm going up to the guardia civil barracks in Oroitz. My corporal and I have some work to do up there before I can go back to Madrid. How about you?â
âIâm taking my father up to our hunting lodge tomorrow morning. Itâs not far from Oroitz, perhaps youâd like to call in? You can say hello to him.â
âIâm sure heâd like that. Last time I saw him, I almost ordered my men to shoot him.â
âReally?â She gave him an amused smile. âWhy is he still alive then?â
âItâs simple. My men disobeyed me.â
She breathed out smoke. âYouâd have done the world a favour, believe me.â She gave him a long look. âI really would be grateful if youâd drop by, I could use some support.â
âIn that case, I will,â Guzmán said. âAs long as he behaves himself.â As they went out into the courtyard, the scar-faced legionnaire and the rest of Melladoâs bodyguards emerged from the shadows.
Scar-face broke the silence. âCan I have a word, sir?â
âGo ahead,â Magdalena said to Guzmán. âIâve got my car parked out front.â
He raised an eyebrow. âA woman with a car?â
âI know.â Magdalena laughed. âWhatever next? Iâll wait for you on the drive.â The sound of her heels faded away down the path.
âWhat can I do for you, soldier?â Guzmán asked.
Scar-face tossed his cigarette to the ground. âOver here.â He went to the darkened alcove at the end of the cloister. âI seen you this evening.â The legionnaireâs stale breath soured the air. âChatting to that puta while the general was speaking. Both of you laughing at him.â
Guzmán felt a familiar sensation. A flame held to a fuse. âWhat did you just say?â
Scar-face grinned, his broken teeth glinting in the faint light of the courtyard. âYou heard. The general thinks youâre his friend. We think different.â
ââWeâ?â Guzmán repeated. He heard a soft noise behind him and turned. âYou brought your pals,â he said, giving the big shadowy figures a look of contempt.
âWe look after the general,â Scar-face said. âAnd if you donât behave properly with him, weâll break every fucking bone in your body.â
Guzmán gritted his teeth. âYouâre out of line, Private.â
âDonât try and pull rank,â Scar-face muttered. âJust watch it in future, or weâll come calling.â He spat onto the cobbles. âBut first, weâll call on that blonde you were with.â
Guzmán walked away through the cloisters, hearing their laughter behind him. Four veteran legionnaires would be difficult to take on, even for him, he reflected, standing at the entrance to the mansion. A vein in his temple throbbed.
Magdalena was leaning on one of the Grecian pillars by the entrance, a fox fur stole draped round her shoulders. She exhaled a pale cloud of smoke. âIâll give you a lift to your hotel if youâre ready.â
A red blur swept across his vision. The fuse sparking into flame.
âI think I left something
J. S. Cooper, Helen Cooper