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Locsin understood and dropped the assault rifle to the ground below He subtly looked down and gestured for two of hisThen he held up one hand, then the other, as he climbed up onto the roof

“I just want to talk,” he said

“No, you want to kill ’s mutual”

Locsin began to sloalk toward him “I don’t want to kill you, Mr Cabrillo You’re already dead, but you just don’t realize it You’re a multo, which in my culture is a spirit that has come back from the dead to finish unfinished business Except I kno to banish you back to the underworld”

“Please,” Cabrillo scoffed, “you’re a coues to be wiped out”

Locsin smiled “Well, at least one individual”

Cabrillo must have heard the men beloho had circled around because he turned and ducked just before bullets raked the roof’s edge

Locsin used the distraction to sprint toward Cabrillo Locsin hit hiut with his shoulder, and Cabrillo went doith a woof of air The tube went skittering across the roof, teetering on the edge

Cabrillo was fast, backhanding Locsin in the jaw Pain or no pain, the bloas strong enough to knock Locsin over

He shrugged it off and jumped to his feet Cabrillo was already up in a defensive stance used by practitioners of the Israeli coa Locsin, however, was skilled in the Philippine national sport of Arnis, particularly the mano a mano, empty-handed component, which considers the hands and feet as weapons to be wielded

They exchanged blohile they searched each other for weaknesses, though Locsin was feeling stronger by the minute even without food to refuel hi partner but not a real match

Then Cabrillo jabbed with one hand while launching a hayht Locsin by surprise The strike to the side of his head o down Instead, he spun in a roundhouse kick and smacked Cabrillo in the back

He staggered to the side but came back al this, and he was a Cabrillo could take

• • •

JUAN WASN’T GOING to last ive Locsin the satisfaction of seeing hih for Gomez to arrive