The dim evening light cast an eerie glow over his features. Giovanni kept repeating to himself that he would ignore him and walk straight to the end of the street, where the bakery—home and business of Señora Guadalupe—was located.

However, Roberto had other plans.

As they passed by the recently arrived travelers, what caught Roberto’s attention were the eyes of one of them.

A pair of blue orbs, shining even under the low light.

The senior sheriff froze in place.

Nil seemed to notice instantly.

The apothecary turned his head and, as if he could feel the weight of that inquisitive gaze, locked eyes with Roberto with a mix of caution and disinterest.

One second of silence.

Two.

Giovanni frowned when he didn’t hear Roberto’s footsteps behind him. He turned to look back at his superior.

—Not coming?

Roberto didn’t answer right away.

He just tilted his head, watching Nil like a hawk that had just spotted prey.

Finally, he exhaled.

—I want to question that man.

Giovanni took a moment to react.

—Nil? —he asked with a blend of disbelief and concern—. Why?

He stepped closer to the senior officer.

Roberto crossed his arms.

—He’s got colored eyes. And now I want to know what he was doing outside the town these past days.

Giovanni felt his jaw tighten.

—He’s the apothecary. He went to San Bartolo to sell medicine. Can we go see Guadalupe now?

—That can wait.

Nil, who had jumped down from the wagon, raised his eyebrows with amusement when he saw them standing across the street.

—Well, well. —He adjusted his hat and walked toward them with his usual carefree stride—. Did you come greet me with a friend of yours, sheriff? Missed me?

Giovanni felt a tick twitch at his temple.

Before he could reply, Roberto interrupted.

—You’re the apothecary, correct?

Nil turned his head slowly toward the senior sheriff and immediately noticed the bronze badge on his shirt—just like the one Giovanni wore. A clear mark of authority.

—Depends... Are you asking as a sheriff or as a patient?

Roberto didn’t react to the jab.

—I have some questions for you.

Nil let out a low chuckle.

—What a welcome. Do you greet all travelers with interrogations, or just me?

Giovanni rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Noé, who had remained silent, cleared his throat.

—Is there something wrong with Nil?

—I don’t know yet —Roberto replied calmly—. But I want to make sure.

Nil looked at him with clear amusement, but inside, alarms were going off.

This man wasn’t like Giovanni.

He wouldn’t let go easily, and something told him that if he slipped up even once, this man would go straight for his throat.

So Nil smiled kindly… and buried the storm inside his head.

—Well then, ask away, dear sheriff. But I’ll warn you... I’m not one for long answers.

Roberto didn’t blink.

—Believe me... I’ve got all the time in the world.

Nil kept the smile on his face, but inside, he analyzed the situation quickly.

Roberto didn’t blink, didn’t smile, didn’t show the slightest reaction.

This man was different from Giovanni.

He didn’t play games.

He left no room for jokes.

And most of all… he wasn’t going to take his eyes off him until he got what he wanted.

Nil had to resist the urge to tense his shoulders.

—Giovanni.

The named man turned toward Roberto.

—Go find Guadalupe. I want to speak with her at the station.

Giovanni frowned.

—Can’t I be present for the questioning?

—It’s not a questioning. —Roberto smiled slightly, the kind of smile worn by a man who knows he's in control—. Just a talk.

Nil heard those words and immediately knew he was lying.

Giovanni didn’t argue further. He just gave Nil one last look, as if silently warning him of something, then turned and walked away with determined steps.

Roberto didn’t follow him with his gaze.

—Noé. —He spoke without taking his eyes off the apothecary—. Take him to the station.

Noé glanced at Nil with a trace of apology in his eyes, but nodded and motioned for him to follow.

Nil let out a dramatic sigh.

—Well, sheriff, I’m flattered you want to get to know me better… but the least you could do is offer me a drink first.

Roberto didn’t react.

Nil smirked to himself.

—No? Cold as ice.

The walk to the station was silent.

Nil could tell Noé wanted to say something, but he didn’t. And though he tried to communicate it with his eyes, Nil couldn’t figure it out.

When they entered the small office, Roberto removed his hat and sat down with the calm of someone backed by more than thirty years of experience.

Noé leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

Nil remained standing.

He had no intention of looking too comfortable in that place.

—Alright. —Roberto rested his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers together—. Tell me, apothecary, what were you doing these past days in San Bartolo?

Nil tilted his head casually.

—Oh, the usual. Saving lives, selling medicine, charming the old ladies…

Noé let out a short laugh before covering his mouth.

Roberto didn’t even blink.

—Speak seriously.

Nil clicked his tongue.

—So impatient. But alright, if you insist…

He took a seat in the chair across from the desk but remained upright, not leaning back against the chair.

—A week ago, Don Jacinto, one of my clients from San Bartolo, came looking for me. Several people over there needed medicine. I traveled with Don Jacinto and Noé to treat some sick folks, prepare remedies, and then came back in the wagon with Noé.

Roberto tilted his head slightly.

—That’s all?

Nil looked at him with feigned surprise.

—Well, sheriff, it sounds like you expected me to say something else… but I’m not sure what you want to hear.

Roberto held his gaze for several seconds.

Nil didn’t blink.

But then, Roberto changed strategies.

—I hadn’t seen you around here before. When did you arrive?

Nil paused briefly, just for a split second.

—Not long ago. Maybe about a month.

—And where did you live before?

Nil blinked slowly.

—I don’t have a fixed home. I travel from town to town.

—Are you from Mexico?

Nil tilted his head mockingly.

—What’s with the question, sheriff?

Roberto didn’t move.

—Blue eyes aren’t common around here.

Nil let out a low chuckle.

—Well, I guess God made a mistake when he put me together.

Roberto didn’t smile.

—Do you have family?

Nil lowered his gaze for a moment.

Just a fraction of a second.

But Roberto caught it.

—None worth mentioning.

Giovanni had arrived at the station just a few minutes earlier and now stood silently by the door, unable to hide his slight sense of admiration.

Nil didn’t falter. He didn’t lose his composure.

If he was feeling cornered, he didn’t show it.

Finally, Roberto leaned slightly forward.

—Don’t stray too far, apothecary.

His tone was calm, but the warning in his words was crystal clear.

—If you do… I’ll come looking for you.

Nil kept his smile.

—Terrifying. Now I really won’t be able to sleep.

Roberto didn’t smile.

Nil held his gaze for a few seconds longer before pushing his chair back and walking calmly toward the door.

—Well, it’s been a pleasure. If you ever want to have a real conversation… I’d recommend offering me a couple of drinks first.

Giovanni watched him closely as Nil passed by.

Nil noticed the stare and gave him a wink.

—Relax, Sheriff. I haven’t been locked up… yet.

And with that, he left the station as if he hadn’t just been under the eye of a predator.

Giovanni, however, didn’t feel nearly as at ease.

Because for the first time, he saw an expression on Roberto’s face that he didn’t like one bit.

And he knew Nil had just landed in the sights of a man who rarely missed.

—Sheriff —called Roberto from the office—. Bring in Mrs. Guadalupe.

The named woman stood up from one of the chairs in the common room and walked into the office.

—Good evening —said Guadalupe, but Roberto didn’t answer. He simply gestured for her to take the seat Nil had just vacated.

—I was told you filed a report after returning from San Bartolo. Could you give me more details?

The woman looked at Giovanni, a little intimidated—after all, Sheriff Roberto was quite imposing. Giovanni gave her a steady look and nodded.

—Well, I was coming back with my pa from San Bartolo when some folks stopped us. They were scared and begged us to give them a ride to the nearest town because they’d just been robbed. —Were there any injuries? —asked the older man.

Guadalupe shook her head. —Did they tell you how it happened?

She shook her head again. —All I know is that they were headed to Iguala when a gang blocked their path.

The sheriff nodded again. —Do you know what the gang members looked like?

Guadalupe looked up at the ceiling for a moment, trying to remember. —Well, I guess like your typical bandits—faces covered and all. But I do remember the one who seemed to be the leader. He was different.

—Different how?

—He had light-colored eyes. Gray. And a scar over one of them, though I don’t remember which.

<<Gray eyes, huh?>> thought the sheriff.

—Alright, that’s all. Thank you for your time. Noé, or Rafael, whoever’s available, escort the lady home. It’s late, and it’s not safe for a woman to be out alone at night.

Both Rafael and Noé looked at Giovanni, waiting for approval. Giovanni nodded and gestured toward the door while looking at Rafael.

—You go. Noé’s probably tired.

The dark-haired young man stood immediately, asking the lady to follow him. Both left the station while Giovanni turned to Noé this time.

—And you, head home. Get some rest. Back to the routine tomorrow.

Noé nodded. He didn’t show it, but he was really tired.

—Thanks, boss. Excuse me. —He said, tipping his hat as he walked to the door—. Good night, Sheriff Roberto. It was good seeing you.

Noé didn’t wait for a reply and left the station straight for home.

Sheriff Roberto stood, adjusting his belt.

—Well, I’d better head to a hostel. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be traveling to Iguala to check if there were any reports filed about the attack.

Giovanni nodded. —Want me to walk you there?

Roberto made his way to the door with firm steps.

—God, boy, I’m old, not helpless. The hostel is nearby, and besides, you shouldn’t leave the station unattended. You never know when someone might come asking for help.

The sheriff of Arcelia agreed.

—Alright, then. Have a good trip.

—Keep me informed. I’ll do the same.

And with that, the silver-haired sheriff walked out the door without looking back.