Or his friend either, for that matter."
"Quepasa?"Doc asked.
The others fell abruptly silent, surprised that he spoke Spanish. Apparently Juan was more surprised than anyone.
He whipped his head around and glared at Doc. Undeterred by the smoldering eyes, Doc posed the question a second time.
"Nada, "Juan muttered beneath his breath.
Then Doc just stood there and exchanged glowers with the Mexican. "Well?" Tiel prompted.
"Well, what? That's the extent of my Spanish vocabulary except for hello, good-bye, please, thank you, and shit.
None apply to this particular situation."
"Why'd you jump him?" Ronnie asked the Mexican man. "What's the matter with you?"
Donna said, "He's a nutcase, that's what. Knew it the minute I laid eyes on him."
Juan answered in Spanish, but Ronnie impatiently shook his head. "I can't understand you. Just take that tape off his mouth. Do it!" he ordered when Juan failed to obey immediately. Ronnie made himself understood by pantomiming peeling the tape off Cain, who was listening and watching the proceedings with round, wide, fearful eyes.
The Mexican leaned down, pinched up a corner of the tape, and ripped it off the agent's lips. He yelped in pain, then shouted, "You son of a bitch!"
Juan actually seemed pleased with himself. He glanced at his partner and they both laughed, as though amused by the federal agent's embarrassment and discomfort.
"You're all going to jail. Every damn last one of you."
Cain looked balefully at Tiel. "Especially you. You're to blame for the fix we're in."
"Me?"
"You impeded a federal officer and prevented him from performing his duty."
"I prevented you from needlessly taking a human life just so you could earn your spurs, or get your rocks off, or whatever it was that motivated you to come in here and further complicate an already complicated situation.
Under the same set of circumstances I would clobber you again."
His hostile gaze moved from one hostage to the other, eventually landing on the Mexican who had attacked him.
"I don't understand. What the hell is wrong with you people?"
He nodded toward Ronnie. "He's the enemy, not me."
"We're only trying to keep this standoff from ending in disaster," Doc said.
"The only way that's going to happen is with a full surrender and the release of the hostages. It's a Bureau policy not to negotiate."
"We heard it already from Galloway," Tiel told him.
"If Galloway thinks I'm dead-"
"We assured him you aren't."
The agent sneered at Ronnie. "What makes you think he would believe you?"
"Because I confirmed it," Tiel said.
Doc, who'd returned his attention to Sabra, said, "I need another package of diapers."