From Chapter One

The garrote closed with terrifying speed, a thick steel strand of wire that almost severed Osorio's head from his hulking body. That's for what you did to my friend, Cristian! thought Captain Muñoz. His powerful hands, possessing almost superhuman strength, jerked the wire even tighter, lifting the chief warrant officer's feet several inches off the ground and causing the wire to slice through Osorio's skin. Blood spurted from the man's carotid artery, spraying Muñoz' gloved hand and the floor below.

The struggling Osorio - his official rank, name, and position were Chief Warrant Officer Gabriel Osorio, Office of Navy Records, Santiago - after one violent attempt to reach for the wire around his neck, gurgled and slumped towards the floor of the warehouse. Muñoz let the body down slowly so that it fell quietly onto the plastic sheet that he had spread on the wood planks. It's done, Muñoz thought, only then realizing the horror of it all. Blood continued to spurt from the severed artery. Grabbing a towel from the canvas bag he had brought with him, he quickly tied it around the man's neck, stemming the flow. I need his uniform's jacket . . . and it can't be covered in blood! Muñoz' plan for revenge, already in play, was proceeding according to schedule.