the Black Flame start up again?" According to the file, they had fallen off the authorities' watch list after their leadership had been killed or imprisoned.
Bixente's gaze dropped, his face guilty. "When Elizondo got out of prison. He's the only one of the old leaders who wasn't killed or still in jail. He got everyone who'd been a member back together and collected a few new ones."
"Why did Elizondo think the bombing of the Pasteur Institute was going to help the cause of Basque independence?"
Bixente still did not look up. "They never told me much, especially not Elizondo. But I heard them talking about working for someone who would give them a lot of money to fight again."
"Someone paid them to bomb the Pasteur and kidnap Theacute;regrave;se Chambord?"
"I think so. At least that's what I figured from what I heard." The youth heaved a sigh. "A lot didn't want to do it. If they were going to go into action again, they wanted it to be for FAgrave;iskadi. But Elizondo said it took a lot of money to fight a war, and that's why we lost the first time. If we wanted to fight for Euskadi again, we had to have money. Besides, it'd be good for us to bomb a building in Paris, because many of our people live in France now. That would tell our brothers and sisters across the mountains that we wanted them with us, and we could win."
"Who hired Elizondo to bomb the Pasteur? Why?"
"I don't know. Elizondo said it didn't matter why the bomb was to be planted. It was better that way. It was all for money anyway, for Euskadi, and the less we understood of it, the better. It wasn't our problem. I don't know exactly who he's been doing business with, but I heard a namehellip;the Crescent Shield or something like that. I don't know what it means."
"Did you hear anything about why they kidnapped the woman? Where they've taken her?"
"No, but I think she's somewhere around here. I'm not sure."
"Did any of them say anything about me?" Smith asked.
"I heard Zumaia say you'd killed Jorge in Paris, and they figured you might come to Spain because Jorge had made a mistake. Then Elizondo got word from somebody you might come to Toledo itself. We should be prepared."
"Jorge's gun had the hand-tooled grip?"
"Yes. If you hadn't killed him, Elizondo might've. He wasn't supposed to put our symbol on anything, especially a gun grip. Elizondo wouldn't have known, except that Zumaia told him afterward."
Which meant they had not been worried about him, or maybe even known about him, until he appeared at the scene of Theacute;regrave;se Chambord's kidnapping. He frowned at Bixente, who still had not raised his gaze. His shoulders were slumped.
"How did you recognize me?" Smith asked.
"They sent your photo. I heard them talking. One of our people in Paris saw you or heard about you or followed you. I'm not sure. He's the one who sent the photo." His expression was stricken. "They're planning to kill you. You're too much trouble. I don't know anything more than that. You say you'll release me. Can I go now?"
"Soon. Do you have money?"
Bixente looked up, surprised. "No."
Smith took his wallet from his jacket and handed him one hundred American dollars. "This will get you back to your family."
Bixente took the money and shoved it into his pocket. More of his fear was gone, but his shoulders were still slumped, and guilt filled his face. That was a danger Smith did not want. He might decide to warn his friends.
Smith made his voice hard. "Remember, the bombing and kidnapping were for money only, not for a Basque homeland. And because you didn't take me into that house, you've got a lot more to fear from them than you do from me. If you try to go back to them, they'll suspect you. If they suspect you enough, they'll kill you. You've got to hide for a while."
He swallowed hard. "I'll go into the mountains above my village."
"Good." Smith took nylon rope and electrician's tape from his suitcase. "I'm going to tie you up, but I'll leave the knife behind so you can cut yourself free. This is just to give you some time to think. To see that my advice is good." And to give Smith time to get away, in case Bixente changed his mind and tried to return to the terrorists.
The youth was unhappy with the solution but nodded. Smith