February 3, 1998, Quito, Carondelet Palace.
President Favian Alarcon sat in his office, three reports spread out before him.
The first was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs: over the past week, violent incidents against Mexican businesses and citizens nationwide increased from 47 to 213. The second was from the military: small unidentified armed groups appeared at the northern border, suspected of infiltration. The third was from the Foreign Ministry: the Mexican Government issued a third diplomatic note, each with increasingly strong wording.
He pushed the three reports aside and rubbed his temples.
At 63, with forty years in politics, he had never encountered such a situation.
The door was pushed open. Foreign Minister Jose Ayala walked in, his face even darker than the gloomy sky outside.
"Mr. President, the TV station people have arrived. They are requesting an interview regarding those Mexicans."
Alarcon looked up.
"Tell them I'm preparing."
Ayala stood still.
