THE HELIOS RAIN

Castez fired a rapid Spanish reply. The interpreter wiped his face with a drenched handkerchief in the air-conditioned room. “Señor Castez offers substantial sharing of the profits with every group you mentioned. His people in Juarez and Monterrey will be generous.”

“Tell him no. Money is not the issue. There is to be no organized drug trade in San Antonio. He will have to contend with us, the police and the U.S. military.”

Castez stood up. The interpreter translated the angry Spanish diatribe. “Señor Castez does not want to use force but he can and will try to frustrate any opposition to his business here in San Antonio.”

“Remind Senior Castez he is powerless at this point in time. I have tried to give him a message of our non-violent but strong opposition to his intentions. Have him come outside and look at his car.”

Castez’s face became red with the last message. The group adjourned to the front porch. Grange stayed with Castez as Ferdie went to the parked Lincolns. Ferdie went around their limos and immediately disappeared inside one of the cars as Collins took his place. A ring of Grange’s armed men kept the Castez hoods at a distance blocking their line of sight during the exchange. Grange gave a thumbs-down signal to Collins.

Collins turned Castez’s Cadillac limousine onto its roof and stood looking at the group on the porch.

“He is but one of many such men in this city who will stand in your way, Señor Castez.” Grange pointed to his team.

Castez listened to his sweat-drenched underling and in a normal voice gave his final words. “I must confer with my superiors. I will give you our final decision tomorrow.”

Grange gave another signal to Collins.

Collins went to the front bumper of the overturned Cadillac and stood it straight up. He counted ten to himself and pushed the Cadillac onto the front yard crushing a line of bougainvillea bushes. The Cadillac lay upturned like a dying animal with its feet in the air. It made metallic groaning noises as gravity pulled on its vital parts in the unnatural position.