When she got out of the van with the others, a sicario stepped up, demanded the handbags of the three women, and dumped their contents on the ground. There came a shout. A huge man strode across the street and berated the bag-spiller in colorful language, the burden of which was that the Templos did not abuse women, the Templos protected women, and he made the man pick up everything and give the bag back to Statch. He apologized to the señorita, nodding politely to her, smiled at Pepa and Lourdes, shook hands with the priest, and walked away. Statch turned to her father, who had approached in the trail of the big man, and said, “Dad, what the hell is going on? Who are these people?” “They’re Templos. You just met El Gordo, the jefe thereof. As for what’s going on, I’m afraid that you and Lourdes are being kidnapped.” “What!” “Yeah, El Gordo wants his guns. Don’t worry, I don’t think he means to hurt either of you.” “What if he doesn’t get his guns?” “I’ll pay a ransom.
