| |
When she heard Aguirre’s voice inviting her to come in, Natalia opened the door. The sergeant indicated to an empty chair opposite him.
‘Good morning, Miss Egaña. I’m really sorry for not having been able to see you earlier, but I hade to attend to some authorities and give a press release. The journalists have already started with their hypothesis about how we could have a serial killer on the loose, and people are getting nervous.’
‘It isn’t so absurd a hypothesis. After all, you’ve entrusted this case to Carlos and I because you believe it could be true.’
‘You can never take too many precautions, but believe me when I tell you that I pray everyday that we’re wrong.’ Aguirre finished tidying the papers on his desk, laced his fingers, and sat looking intently at her. ‘Tell me, how can I help you? Have you managed to move forward in the investigation?’
‘We have several routes open, and it’s due to one of them that I’ve come to see you. I need to ask you for a favour.’
‘Anything you need, as long as it’s within my power.’
‘We believe that this case could have similarities with the Charon case, in the sense that the victims were able to contact the killer through some blog, forum or messaging program. We’ve requisitioned their computers in order to check it, but they’re password protected.’
‘Take them to the IT department. I’m sure they’ll be able to help you.’
‘We don’t want to take them to the IT department. We want someone who’ll collaborate with us twenty four hours a day, who’ll get stuck into the investigation like one of us.’ Natalia took a breath before she continued speaking. ‘We want Agustín Guevara.’
‘The geeky lad who always manages to get himself into trouble?’ Aguirre shook his head. ‘We have great IT experts here at headquarters. I cannot justify recruiting anyone external.’
‘You will have noticed that my father and I do not get along too well, am I right?’ commented Natalia.
‘Yes, I have realised. What does that have to do with now?’
‘I had asked to collaborate with Dr Ugalde and, nevertheless, you hired my father.’
‘I already told you that Dr Ugalde is in Burgos, working on the identification of corpses in mass graves. I tried to convince her to come for a few days to collaborate on the facial reconstruction of the first victim, but she categorically refused. I didn’t really understand her all that well. She said something about having had bad past experiences...’
‘That doesn’t matter. You brought in my father, whom I hadn’t spoken to for years, and whom I don’t even want to see. You will have realised that I did not protest, nor did I refuse that he collaborate with us. Do you know why I didn’t do that?’ Natalia waited for Aguirre to shake his head. ‘I didn’t do it because I want the best working in my investigation, and I know that my father is that. And Agustín Guevara, too. I want him on my team, and I want you to hire him and to pay him a salary as an external collaborator.’
Aguirre remained silent for a few seconds, reflecting. Natalia allowed him to think without pressuring him. Finally, Aguirre emitted a long sigh and nodded:
‘Fine. I know that my refusing it would be of no use anyway. He always ends up getting involved in the investigations, whether you lot have my permission or not.’ In the face of Natalia’s expression of joy, Aguirre raised his hand, gesturing to let her know that he had not finished speaking. ‘You have my permission for him to help you on the IT part of the case, but no working in the field. If the lad ends up in the hospital again, as always, you’ll both be accountable to me.’
‘Don’t worry sir. We won’t allow him to put himself in danger. Don’t take this the wrong way, but we’re even more afraid of his mother than we are of you.’
‘All right. I’ll tell admin to prepare his papers.’
Natalia stood up and left the office before Aguirre could think it over. She went down the corridor and, as soon as she turned the corner, she took out her phone and called Carlos, who answered after a couple of rings.
‘I’ve done it, Carlos,’ she announced, triumphant. ‘Aguirre’s given the go-ahead.’
‘Tell me now how you managed to convince the ogre.’
‘Do you want me to call him to give him the news, or do you think it’ll be better to tell him in person?’
‘I’ll tell him myself right now. I’m at the door to his faculty.’
‘And what are you doing there?’
‘I was confident that you’d manage it. When you get an idea in your head, it’s very difficult to say no to you. I’ll pick him up and we’ll be on our way.’
*****
The lecturer in Knowledge Management continued talking about ethical and administrative aspects whilst Gus took advantage of the time to draw a dragon on his notebook. He did not like how it was turning out. Rather than a dragon, it looked more like an overfed bat. He scribbled it out and looked at Joseba, who was taking notes as if his life depended on it. He would ask him for them later. He did not have the least bit of interest in this subject. He did not understand why they had to go around wasting time on such a thing instead of having a keyboard in their hands.
A couple of forceful bangs on the door caused the lecturer to pause in her discourse. All of the students looked up from their notebooks, feeling grateful for that interruption. The lecturer called out “come in”, inviting the person who had knocked to enter, although judging by her furrowed brow one could guess that the interruption did not go down well with her at all. When Carlos appeared in the threshold, Gus dropped his pen in shock.’
‘Good morning,’ greeted the lecturer in a dry voice. ‘How can I help you?’
‘Good morning. I’m sorry for interrupting, but this is regarding an urgent official matter.’ Carlos took out his badge and showed it to the lecturer and the students in the first few rows. ‘I’m looking for Agustín Guevara.’
The whispers travelled through the class like a wave, whilst everybody turned to face him. That was just what he needed to ruin his reputation: for everybody to start viewing him as a potential psychopath.
‘Has he done something?’ asked the lecturer, startled. ‘What is he being accused of?’
‘Nothing, madam,’ Carlos reassured her. ‘Mister Guevara has collaborated with us in the solving of several important cases, and we need him to help us again. Do you mind if I take him?’
The whispers resumed again, growing ever louder, but the looks on his classmates’ faces had changed. They no longer looked at him with fear, but with something akin to admiration. Gus put the notebook in his backpack, picked up his jacket, and headed towards the exit with his head down whilst trying to decide whether he ought to hate Carlos or thank him for having made him the centre of attention. A tug on his sleeve made him stop. Lorena, the posh blonde girl he’d been crazy about ever since first year, was trying to catch his attention whilst smiling at him like a fool:
‘Do you know how long it’ll be before you get back?’
‘No idea. It’ll depend on how important and difficult the case is. It could possibly take me weeks...’
‘Well, if you want, we could meet up on Saturday so I can give you the notes,’ she suggested, whilst dedicating him a spectacular eyelash flutter, and twirled a tress of hair with her finger.
‘I don’t know, I might be really busy,’ he said, playing hard to get. ‘Call me on Friday and we’ll talk.’
He carried on walking ahead, focussing on not jumping for joy, whilst the whispers around him increased. When he arrived at Carlos’s side, the latter gave him a couple of pats on the back before leaving the class. Once they were outside, Gus turned towards Carlos with a smile that went from ear to ear:
‘Bloody hell, dude... How did you come up with the idea of doing that? You’ve just turned me into a kind of national hero. If I’d known they were going to take it like that, I’d have asked you to come and get me out of class years ago. Besides, that subject is a pain. I’m going to have to take you out to say thank you.’
‘Stop; save your money for taking out the blonde girl. It’s Lorena, the girl you liked, right?’
‘Nothing escapes you.’
‘That is why I’m an inspector and you’re a simple civilian,’ said Carlos, winking at him. ‘Well, a civilian collaborator with the Ertzaintza, if you want.’
‘Oh, so that wasn’t a joke? I thought you’d come because you missed me and wanted to go for a bite and talk about stuff.’
‘How many times have I ever wanted to talk to you about something? You know that after half an hour of talking to you I come down with an unbearable headache and start getting the urge to kill you. We have a case...’
‘No, no, no... Don’t get me involved again. I’m in the final year of university. I have to pass everything; I have to do an end of course project; I have to do internships... I can’t be getting distracted with your affairs. Every time you get me involved in one of your cases, I have to leave my whole life to one side for months, and in the end I always end up in hospital. Besides, my mother would kill me if she ever found out I’m working with you. I’m sorry, but it’s impossible.’
‘Shut up a moment.’ Carlos rubbed his temples with his fingers. ‘I can’t believe you’re already giving me a headache. I’ve only been with you for two minutes. Look, listen to me. This time would be different. You’d be a hired collaborator for the Ertzaintza, with a salary, social security, extra salary payments... Wouldn’t you like to earn enough money to buy yourself a car? In spite of having a license, you’re still a poor metro user.’
‘There’s nothing bad at all about using the metro. It’s more environmentally friendly,’ replied Gus, feeling hurt.
‘Yes, of course. That’s definitely the reason why you do it,’ Carlos shot him a sarcastic smile. ‘I don’t think you’d be able to convince that little blonde girl to board the metro. She has the look of someone who’s never set foot on public transport in her life.’
‘It doesn’t matter to me what you say. I’m not going to put myself in mortal danger again.’
‘The times when you’ve been on the verge of dying have been your own fault, because of your bloody obsession with sticking your nose in where nobody asked you to. All we need is IT advice. You won’t have to go within kilometres of any suspect.’
‘And what do I do about university and internships and all of that?’
‘How about if the Ertzaintza speaks with the university about having your work hours count as a paid internship? I’m sure it can be arranged.’
Gus stopped and stared at the ceiling, pretending to think it over. The truth was that it was an incredible offer, and he saw no reason to refuse. He was going to get money to buy a car; his internship was going to be the most envied one of the entire university; he was going to become a hero in the eyes of his classmates and lecturers (and heroes were not easily failed) and, furthermore, he liked working with Natalia and Carlos. Nevertheless, he tried to conceal his enthusiasm:
‘I don’t know, I don’t know... Would I have to put up with your crappy music on journeys or will I be able to choose it myself?’
‘You already know that’s not a topic that’s up for debate. The music in my car, I put on myself. Are you coming to headquarters or not?’
‘Would you let me drive?’
‘I already told you I would never let you touch my car again.’
‘Sure, but technically this isn’t the same car you were talking about...’
‘Of course, because the car I was talking about was completely written off thanks to you.’ Carlos let out a snort of despair. ‘Let’s give the nonsense a rest. Are you coming or not?’
‘Yes. You’re such a bore. But I warn you that I’m going to demand that you be more friendly towards me as part of the deal.’
‘You’ve got another thing coming, lad.’
‘Yeah, I already know that’s impossible. You’re rough by nature.’ Gus could not contain his laugher in the face of another snort from Carlos. ‘Okay, come on, let’s go to the car and you can start telling me the details of this new case along the way.’