A note came over the patio wall of a crumbling, fortress-like stone house on Mexico City's Avenue of the Insurgents. "Mr. Judge," it read, "please take us with you.'' A delivery boy picked it up and puzzled over the strange message. His boss took it to a police station. Soon two detectives knocked at the iron front door.
"Are you from Mr. Judge's office?" asked a girl's voice from within.
"In a way," said the detectives.
"My father went out. If he comes back and sees you here, he will kill us."
The detectives parked their squad car up against the patio wall,...