The Sanctuary by Gustavo Eduardo Abrevaya

Author:Gustavo Eduardo Abrevaya
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Schaffner Press Inc

3) BUT WHAT IF THE LAWYER WAS WRONG?

The police car was parked at the door of the pensión. Álvaro walked in, ready for a fight, ready to lose, and ready to be taken away. Ready for them to take him to wherever his wife happened to be at that moment, eager to put an end to all of it, wanting to see her, wanting to disappear himself. He managed to think about all that when the door to the room swung open and he found Ayala and Mainieri watching the video.

“What are you doing?” he asked, articulating the question with the impression that he was one more victim about to be hunted down. His back tensed, his vertebrae ached, his breathing became labored, the veins in his neck bulged, and he had an urge to run away.

“Nice little filly you’ve got there, kid. Turn off the tape, Mainieri.” Ayala stood and gave him a shove while Mainieri fiddled with the camera.

“Listen, kid, it’d be better if you stay in your own lane, you hear me? This ain’t no joke, so listen up: we’re working folks here. We do things the right way, and no city boy is gonna come here to investigate. We’re a family, and families don’t air their dirty laundry; they take care of things behind closed doors. Is that clear? You’re in my town, and you’re getting to be really annoying. Stay cool and stop screwing around; leave the Mongos alone, don’t talk to that crazy bitch at the Home, dump the fucking lawyer—can’t you see you’re getting into trouble? And if you go on like this, things are gonna get real ugly for you. You’ve been warned, buddy. Here in Las Casas we don’t beat around the bush.”

“So I’m beginning to discover,” Álvaro stammered, thinking of his video with the naked Alicia in the room.

“What are you discovering? Listen to me and listen good: If you pay attention to decent people, your luck will turn for the better. Right now you’re floating with your head in the clouds. You’re an outsider, and you don’t get how things work around here, so get it straight right now: Your filly is at the morgue,” Ayala informed him and left the room.

Álvaro was stunned. He assumed it was a joke, spun around, looked at the camera, and left to make a phone call.

“Casero, it’s Álvaro. Ayala was at the pensión. He says Alicia is at the morgue.” He was trembling.

“I’m on my way over there.”

“But it’s late now. It’s almost dark.”

“Don’t be an idiot. Go to the morgue. It’s two blocks away.”

“The eviscerator’s gone home.”

“I know where he lives. I’ll drag him by the ear.”

They met at the door. Casero was standing next to the bald guy; without his work clothes he looked less sinister. They went inside, walked to the back room, and opened the refrigerator. Without saying a word, the eviscerator put on his synthetic apron and purple gloves, recovered his stony attitude, and pulled out the same bag as before.

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