<div style="text-align: center">《 Alvaro》<br/>
<i>Location: Conference room, basement<br/>
Addressing: Hale, guards</i><br/>​</div>Alvaro paid no attention to the woman's pleas and sobs as she was dragged away. Most people reacted that way when they realized they were past the point of no return. Very few accepted it with courage and dignity even though those were the only two things anyone had left once that line was crossed. His attention was on Hale and at the mention of Hale's wife, Alvaro crossed himself with respect and sympathy. Unlike Devera, Hale's wife had been a good woman, a good wife, and a good mother. It was more than a shame that she was no longer with them when women like the one who'd just been dragged out were. He would never understand God's logic and he could only pray to Santa Muerte that those who were taken reaped the rewards they'd earned be it for the good or bad.<br/><br/>"I'd love to see some of her work," he replied with a smile on hearing Almira had returned to painting. "I hope she's inspired more by peace now instead of sadness. And, of course, Ray is welcome any time. He's as good a student as I am a teacher for all that's worth. But to his credit, he reminds me of Arturo, driven and focused. Even if he's older, he can still learn a lot." Alvaro had trained in his craft starting from an early age. While most kids were in school learning spelling and arithmetic, he was learning how to be observant, a lookout, and how to evade authorities. When most kids were heading to high school and honing social and romantic skills, he was honing his skills as a sharpshooter and interrogator. By the time most kids graduated, he was taking lives and torturing information out of enemies; rising up the ladder and getting closer to his best friend who sat as a prince at the top of it.<br/><br/>He wanted to stay longer to talk and catch up as he'd once sat with Jericho years ago. He missed that comradery, but Abendblume was not like Mexico. There were no palatial grounds hidden from the world and constant discretion was always necessary. The place couldn't function otherwise.<br/><br/>He chuckled and pulled himself from the conversation with a knock on the desk. "Alright, I have to pull myself away. I have work to do, but I'll stop by later." he gave a casual wave as he headed out and left the guards with no other impression than that of an artist with a client waiting.<br/><br/>He made his way quickly and discreetly down to the basement level using service corridors and delivery entrances to avoid being seen by the general population. It was his usual route, familiar and unseen. When he arrived, the guards who'd carried Sou stood with her there subdued in their grip outside a heavy locked door. Alvaro whistled lightly as he closed the distance to the door and pulled a large ring of keys from his pocket to unlock it.<br/><br/>"There're some zip ties in the file drawer over there," he instructed the guards. "Bind her arms behind her back and bind her ankles together. There should be some kitchen towels, too. Gag her. I don't want to listen to filth and begging. When that's done, leave her on the floor and go."