Chapter 54

 

After telling Tessier he was free to go elsewhere, Ochoa led Burke, Torres and Martín to a sterile, windowless room at the far end of the corridor. Ochoa motioned for Burke to take a chair on one side of the long table while he and the other two flics took spots facing Burke who felt like he’d gone through this routine far too many times and was starting to wish he was back on the French Riviera. Whatever they were going to discuss, Burke felt it wasn’t going to help his nerves. One of these days, he thought, he was going to be dealing with an ulcer.

“I find your comment about Seῇor López most interesting,” Ochoa said, reverting back to Spanish. “Did Seῇor López ever mention his wife’s death?”

Burke took a long, slow breath and decided he’d co-operate for a while. “Never. He only mentioned his family once, saying it was the most important thing in any person’s life.”

“And did he seem sincere?”

“Very much.”

“OK. A different topic. Did Seῇor López seem like a true fan of professional cycling?”

“He definitely had knowledge,” replied Burke. “He knew some of the great champions and seemed to understand race tactics. But I had the sense he wasn’t at the Vuelta to watch the racing. I think he was there to be seen, to have a presence and probably to promote his business interests.”

“And yet you suggested before you didn’t think he was someone who needed the spotlight on him.”

“That’s true which goes back to why he’d want to get involved in the Vuelta in such a big way,” Burke replied.

Ochoa glanced at Torres who nodded in return and Burke could see the flics shared some of the same curiosity as he did. He also knew if he quizzed them about it, they wouldn’t answer; his experience with the police told them it wasn’t their way, especially since Burke had media links.

“Did López ever talk about retirement?” Torres asked.

Burke reviewed the conversations he’d had with the Spaniard. “He did a couple of times, but I got the idea that while he’d once looked forward to it, events had changed and he could no longer see himself retiring. Work was his focus. But why are you asking me this? I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before to you.”

Ochoa ignored Burke’s question. “Did López ever provide details about his most recent business opportunities?”

Burke could see the three officers weren’t going to be distracted from what they wanted to know.

“No, not at all. He just said the world was changing and you had to change with it or get run over.”

“A philosopher.”

“Or a pragmatist,” Burke said.

“Let’s go back to López’s family. Did he ever give any details like names or where they lived or how they were doing?”

“He made a few comments, but mostly he was private about them, like he didn’t want to share any meaningful information.”

Burke noticed Martín tapping something into her phone and figured it was a note to follow up on something.

“Did López talk much about Tim Fritz?”

“No.”

Then something popped into Burke’s mind and he decided he’d pursue it though the odds weren’t great he’d learn anything. “Inspector Torres, did López send you anything just before he killed himself?”

Burke watched as Torres and Martín deferred to Ochoa, letting him decide how to handle the question.

“You’re trying once more to find out if Seῇor López did indeed provide us with evidence before he committed suicide,” Ochoa said. “If nothing else, you’re persistent.”

Burke remained silent.

Ochoa rubbed his chin and then said, “I doubt it will be of any use to you or your media friends, but he did provide us with some information.”

“Did he give you enough to convict Chef Andres and others? And maybe implicate Tim Fritz?”

Ochoa leaned forward. “You know you’re not going to get an answer to that, Seῇor Burke.”

Burke hadn’t expected one, but it had been worth a try. He was about done, but he was still curious about Tim Fritz. He couldn’t shake the notion the American was involved in the food fraud.

“I’ve got one last question,” Burke said. He watched the flics facing them. No one showed any emotion. “I know Tim Fritz hasn’t been charged with anything, but has he been entirely cleared of suspicion?”

Ochoa shook his head. “I think we’re done here.”

Burke knew he was beaten so he stood and started for the door. He hoped he’d never go through another interview with the police. It was just too exasperating.

And then he wondered why Ochoa or the others hadn’t asked for his rationale for believing Tim Fritz was involved. They’d been curious about his other observations so why not ask about Fritz?

He turned back to the flics, ready to pursue that thought.

“Goodbye, Seῇor Burke,” Ochoa said in a firm voice.

Burke nodded and left. As he walked out of the courthouse a minute later, he saw Jules Tessier coming his way.

“I thought I’d wait and see how it went,” the young Frenchman said.

“Let’s get a drink,” Burke said. “I need one.”

“What did they want to know?”

Burke took a few strides before answering. “You know, Jules, I’m not entirely sure.”