"You have?" Pell's voice was weak.
"It shall cost me planty money. I could 'ave tooken you wiz me for ransom—'elluva big ransom—a million dollar, mebbe. But I am not soddid!" He laughed, and rubbed his hands together.
"You aren't going to hold me for ransom?" Pell questioned, relief in his voice.
"No."
"What—what are you doing to do?"
The reply was as swift as an arrow. "Kill you."
Pell did not believe what he heard.
"Kill me?" he repeated, his head on one side, like a bird listening, and pointing to his chest.
"Si." Lopez had never used a politer tone.