Urgent Matters by Paula Rodriguez

Author:Paula Rodriguez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Olga has stopped paying attention to the TV. There’s nothing new on, it’s all boring. She looks for Domínguez’s card and calls the number.

“Why didn’t you tell me you found Hugo’s things on the train?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it, Olga. I’m not involved in the operation. Who called you? What did they find?”

“I have information off the record that they found a wallet with his ID in it.”

“That’s exactly why Marta needs to come in and…”

“It’s clear as can be, Domínguez!”

“No, ma’am, until they identify those bodies, we can’t be sure.”

“I don’t know why you want to deal with so much paperwork. I’m going to do what needs to be done.”

Olga ends the conversation and Domínguez wonders what it is that needs to be done. He thinks it would be best to head to her neighbourhood and ask around about her.

She turns the television’s volume on maximum and half-listening to the news, takes a clothes hanger with a garment cover from the closet. On it is a Chanel-style blazer and a matching pair of black trousers. She hasn’t worn these items in years, but they fit well. She’s still the same size. Her purse is in a cloth bag, her dark glasses in their case in the night table.

Standing in front of the mirror, she thinks for a moment: it hasn’t been that long since she wore the suit. The last time was at Evelyn’s communion. “With those glasses,” Hugo told her, “you look like Isabelita Perón did when she was in Madrid.”

“Isn’t she still in Madrid?” Olga responded.

Marta thought Isabelita had died and Evelyn asked who she was. But Evelyn also told Olga she looked pretty. And Mónica started to talk about Peronism and got into an argument with Hugo. Her daughters have no sense of humour. Or character. Olga has to make decisions for everyone, like always.

She wraps the square pastry with custard and the bun with brown sugar in the paper they came in. She’s about to toss the whole box away, but instead puts it in her purse along with her mobile, Domínguez’s card, the picture frame with Evelyn’s communion photo and the keys to Marta’s house. At the taxi stand, they give her a bit of trouble when she asks to go to Haedo Station. Doesn’t she know what happened? they ask. It’ll be hell trying to get there with so many people milling about—impossible. But since Olga is a frequent traveller, the man in charge tells her, they’ll make an exception. In the end, they get there quickly. No one wants to go in that direction and traffic is lighter than ever. The empty streets in the surrounding area contrast with the tumult at the station.

As she gets out of the car, the driver tries to stop the inevitable: Olga slams the door like people always do. He takes off quickly. Olga is resolved as she walks towards the spot where the different production trucks, curious onlookers and police cars have gathered.

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