Page 150 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

The man continued. “I once watched a man burn to death. It was the worst thing I ever saw.”

Suárez shut his eyes tightly as if he could drive his wife’s screams out of his mind.

“They roughed you up pretty badly. Those Army guys are realpendejos. They shouldn’t have done that to you.”

“Myabuelahits harder than that major of yours.”

The man squinted. “Looks like he knocked out a couple of teeth. We can fix that. What did you do to make him so angry?”

“The pig said my people killed his father and brother.”

“Did they?”

Suárez shrugged. “Does it matter who or when or why? We’re all in the same charnel house. Nobody gets out of here alive.”

The man leaned back. “So you’re a philosopher.”

“And you’re Colombian intelligence.”

“Emilio Cabral.”

“Is that what your mother calls you?”

Cabral shook his head with a grin. He was dealing with a real pro. And fearless.

“My mother calls me a lot of things.”

“What is it you want from me, Señor Cabral?”

Cabral dropped his smoldering cigarette to the floor and crushed it beneath his shoe.

“You know the drill. Names. Places. Dates. These FARC cockroaches you worked with need to be exterminated.”

“Those ‘cockroaches’ are my comrades.”

Cabral laughed. “Comrades? You? A rich college kid? With an IQ off the charts? I don’t think so. You’re only playing revolutionary hero so you have permission to kill.”

Suárez leaned forward. “I believe in the revolution.”

“You don’t believe in anything. I’ve read your dossier. You’re godless. Soulless. Like a wolf. You’ve tasted blood. Lots of blood. All you want is more. That’s all.”

“Go to hell.”

“You misunderstand, Vladimir. I admire you. I can use you.”

Suárez raised an eyebrow, confused.

“I can get you out. Put you back in the hunt.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have a talent in high demand. I can take advantage of that. Discreetly, of course. I’ll put you in deep with one of the cartels. You’ll help us break the back of those animals from the inside.”

“But only if I give you the names of my FARC comrades first.”

“They threaten the government.”

“I don’t care about the government.”