Silver Bullets (20 page)

It was an office full of blueprints, with a bookcase crammed with folders and a big desk holding a computer and a collection of baseball caps, Rodríguez seemed relaxed. He sat down at the desk; he had let a weight slide off his shoulders. I've got it right here, he repeated, and he stuck his hand in a drawer, pulled out a pistol, and shot himself in the temple.

Mendieta contemplated his expression, then the pistol. Loyal to Pietro Beretta, he mumbled, we are nothing but a race of fucking romantics.

They waited for Beatriz, gave her a version of the story that would allow her to come to terms with it, and then left the house. When they were pulling out, Dante arrived in his car, looking very serious. This kid is going places, the detective commented, he knows how to fit reality into a handful of symbols. His mother, utterly undone, was in the passenger seat.

At a crossroads where an officer was directing traffic, Zelda Toledo broke the silence: It is unbelievable how a family can destroy itself. Mendieta, who was thinking about Goga, answered: And Canizales's killer is still on the loose. Maybe he heard the case is closed and is living in peace. As far as I'm concerned he can rot in hell, they got the nod, the traffic cop waved to Zelda, to be frank I've just lost interest, I'm fed up with navigating around untouchables who break the law whenever they feel like it. There was a long pause. I'm just going on inertia, Zelda, besides, we've run out of suspects. What about Laura, Dania, the rest of the USB people? If it was one of them and we arrest them, they'll turn all the prisoners into vegetarians, imagine that, we'd better let things lie.

Cavalry charge. The detective saw it was Briseño. They were passing by the monument to Zapata on the way to headquarters.
The chef in chief, they smiled, what dish do you suppose they're cooking up? Why doesn't he send her to cooking school so they can stop fighting? It can't be healthy to argue so much over a lentil soup. Mendieta. Lefty, I just found out that Pineda wouldn't let you take today's gangsta-wrap, just your luck, I've told you before, you always manage an easy landing. Thank you, chief. Listen, I need your discreet negotiating skills, that friend of yours from
Eyes on the Night
won't stop pestering, I'm sick and tired of him, he's got a campaign on about Canizales without naming him that comes out of nowhere, I want you to take care of that. Understood, have you got an envelope somewhere you don't know what to do with? What, do you think I work in Narcotics? In this country all the police work in Narcotics. Can you rein him in, I mean, enough so he doesn't keep shooting off his mouth? Chief, you told me to take care of it.

At headquarters everything was the same. Angelita greeted them with a smile and a stack of messages. Honey, get us vouchers for gas. I already tried, they told me there's none until next month, they said to put water in it. Listen to that, what bastards.

Briseño told them it might be something orchestrated by his enemies. Those slimebags won't leave me alone, since when are they interested in Canizales and silver bullets? They're only going to incite the murderer to kill another innocent victim.

In his office he tried to stop thinking about Goga, whose calls he did not dare take, or about Bruno, who seemed linked to everything that came into his head anyway. Among the messages was one from L.H., he called: Friend, his colleague greeted him, I am partaking of a salmon with fine herbs, washed down with a Casa de Piedra Merlot vintage '93. Me, I'm looking at a grilled mahimahi with nopal sauce, some roasted jalapeños, and an ice-cold Pacífico, what's up, my man L.H.? That's full of omega-3, isn't it? Full of life itself, my man L.M., listen I called
to say hello and to tell you that the fragrance you sent me is an Indian essential oil, it's called “So You Won't Forget Me,” and it's curious because, do you remember that I had to analyze a sample from San Bernadino? Well, it turned out very similar to yours, if they weren't so far apart we might think the criminal is one and the same. Do you know anything about the victims? Not much: adult single men. Bisexuals? No idea, though a substantial portion of North Americans are. Silver bullets? I think so. Lefty began to sweat. Fucking case, it does not want to leave me. He pondered and said: Is there any known reason why people use that fragrance? No, not that I know of, it seems these are the first cases where it turned up; Indians associate it with wild sex, according to the myth, the cruel demon Ravana kidnaps Rama's consort Sita and hides her on an island, then Rama allies himself with a tribe of monkeys and rescues her, after which Sugriva, the leader of the monkeys, gives him the perfume so that on the night they reunite Sita will forget the suffering of her captivity and her submission will be complete; it's a lovely story of Eros without Thanatos, and according to Magda who did the research, the part about Thanatos only got added in when the fragrance arrived in the West, and the legend came to imply dying during the sexual act. But not from a bullet to the head, right? Listen, you're questioning me as if they hadn't closed the case. It's my goddamn professional deformation, L., what can you do; by the way did they mention any sect involved in the crimes? No, not that I know of, do you want me to find out? Don't bother, there's no reason, but if you hear of anything, let me know. Okay, enjoy your fish. Thanks, I'll be seeing you.

What times we live in, my God, murderers who launch a craze: the profile of the victim, the silver bullets, the Indian fragrance, is this how it's always going to be? I'm so glad we aren't pursuing it.

Cavalry charge. Mendieta. Lefty, are you coming to eat? Trudis, why do you ask, I never go home for lunch, did you find a way to pay for the telephone bill? Oh, Lefty, where do you expect me to find that if you are my only support? Ask Walter Machado. I only asked him about romance and that sort of thing, you pay it, don't be bad, carve the debt in ice. You are shameless. But you are a nice guy. Okay, but this is going to be the last time. Listen, since I know you like it so much, I made a roast, come right now, what can you lose? If some delinquent gets away from you you'll catch him later. Leave it in the micro for me. All right, just don't forget to add the vegetables; oh, yes, a gringo called you. Enrique? No, I know your brother's voice, it was one I could barely understand, I think it's some relative of yours, his first name didn't stick, but his last name is Mendieta, just like you. Did he leave his number? No. If he calls again, ask him for it and give him my cell phone number. Lefty, can you believe it, Chespirito gave Lourdes a job, what did I tell you? As soon as he saw her he recognized her, you see blood doesn't lie, and that got Marco Antonio all excited and now he wants to find his father, so we did some digging, he's in Los Angeles, he's going to sing at the Kodak Theater. You didn't make another long-distance call, did you? Of course not, aren't you the suspicious one, Marcos made it from his school, pretty soon they'll be calling me in for his bad behavior, but who cares, my poor son, he's desperate.

Text number twenty-six from Goga arrived. Fucking she-devil, no way am I going to open this, he looked at the screen and felt stupid. Why not? What could happen to me that hasn't already? He felt his blood run cold, hot. All in all, another stripe on the tiger. He opened it: “idiot, brute, cretin, stuck-up, neurotic, coward, hope u die.” Yikes, he furrowed his brow, now let the bitch talk about maturity.

At that moment he wanted to go far away, would his savings be enough to buy him time on another planet while he looked for work? He could teach literature in a high school or proofread at a newspaper. Go. Vanish. Get lost. Can a man change his life? Zelda came in: Boss, it's snack time, shall we?

At El Quijote, Curlygirl welcomed them with cold beers: Edgar, where have you been hiding? Everyone keeps coming except you, I've marked you down as absent. Work, Curlygirl, you know. Ah, it's been busy here too, every day people are drunker and wilder, aren't they? At this rate we're all going to die of cirrhosis. Or of something worse, they smiled, Zelda, you look divine, my queen, where did you get your hair done? In my neighborhood. They did a fabulous job, you look like Thalía at her best, have you never thought of coloring it like Shakira? It would suit you. Do you think so, wouldn't it be a little too flashy? So what, girlie, if you don't show off now, then when? He ran his fingers through it: You've kept it really healthy. I'll surprise you one of these days. Listen, Edgar, sweetie, put the brakes on the narco juniors, nobody can stand them, they turn up, they have their awful fights, and they leave as if nothing happened, it is simply not fair. First we have to solve the problem of the narco seniors, they've taken to killing each other and wrapping the bodies in blankets. They are all crazy, what would you like, my dear? The works. For me too, Curlygirl, and also let me have a roast pork sandwich to go. Right away.

They were served fish soup, fried porgy, and breaded shrimp.

An hour later.

What shall we do? Scratch our bellies. Too boring, if you like we can visit Señora Villegas. What a drag. I'm just saying, it's something to do, we were headed there this morning. The case is closed, Zelda, and I've lived through so many emotions over the
past few days that now I really want to think about something else; he signaled for the bill, Curlygirl brought it over. Edgar, do you remember those girls? One night you came they sat over there, a little faggot was with them, a tranny. You told me what family they were from. Well, somebody kidnapped one of them on Saturday. Who? They say it was Marcelo Valdés's people; you saw how outrageous they were, well, they were flirting with everybody when a blond guy they call the Gringo, he was sitting over there, stood up, grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her outside, the girl was screaming like a banshee, but who was going to defend her, not even Chapulín Colorado. Careful, he might turn up. Oh, apple of your mother's eye, what times those were when I got all the looks, now all I get is pity. Don't say that, you don't look your age, Zelda insisted. Thank you, my queen, the sandwich is on me. A former cheerleader for the Tomateros, right? It was the other one he carried off, a beautiful dark-skinned girl. Mendieta surged to his feet. What happened? Zelda swept the room with her eyes as she caressed her pistol. He pulled a bill from the envelope for Quiroz and gave it to the waiter: Keep the change. Isn't that too much? You deserve it.

They got into the Jetta. Boss, are you all right? Sure, however, we are going to do a couple of things, we'll keep sclerosis at bay and it may turn out to be more interesting than visiting Señora Villegas. He called Montaño, who answered on the five-hundredth ring: What's up? Where are you? Where I always am, it's lunchtime, can't you leave me in peace? I need a favor. Not now, Lefty, I'm busy. It's an easy one for you, the cheerleader for the Tomateros you sometimes go with has a tranny friend I'd like to talk to. No kidding, then it's true about the flowers in your office? What can I tell you, my luck with women is so awful that I lost my fear of turning queer. The midlife crisis hit
hard, eh? Hang on, he heard him whispering, she says she knows several, which one. Are you with her? You're a wizard! Your timing couldn't have been better. The one that went with her to El Quijote a week ago. Wait, she's getting her book; can I tell you something, Mendieta? You have no idea how beautiful she looks when she walks naked, she's from another world: graceful, splendiferous, voluptuous, he sighed, incredibly erotic, an insuperable vision of loveliness; here she comes . . . his name is Alexis Valenzuela. He gave him the cell phone number.

He remained lost in thought. Not only cats, some people have nine lives and always land on their feet, they were still parked outside the restaurant. Sometimes memory is a curse, he concluded. Zelda plainly did not understand: Boss, shall I call Valenzuela? Find out if he can see us this afternoon. What about Señora Villegas? Let's forget her, we are on to something else and like I told you I don't want to hear any more about Canizales and even less about people who had nothing to do with it. But isn't Valenzuela part of it too? Trust me, Zelda Toledo, and don't be a pain; while we have nothing else to do we can follow up on a few details, the victim's social life, for example, remember, he used to dress up as a woman and, why not? Something about silver bullets. He told her about Rendón's theory. As long as something interesting keeps turning up, let's keep it from Narcotics.

They crossed the Tamazula River on the Orabá Island bridge.

They turned right onto Valadés Parkway, since they had time for a little tour before their appointment. The traffic was intense. He braked suddenly in front of the building where Mariana lived. Three bodyguards were in view. Wait here. What am I doing? He hesitated, living out my stupidity, I wouldn't want to
forget how, Goga's probably not here, and why didn't Luigi bark that night?

One of the bodyguards recognized him and went to meet him; he had been with the judicial police: Chief Mendieta, what a pleasure for the eyes. Devil Urquídez, my man, what's up, how are you? Never better, thanks to God and Most Holy Mary who always holds us in her hands; he kissed a gold medallion. You said it, so what are you doing here? A babe, girlfriend of the boss's daughter, she's afraid of some asshole and we're staking him out. Has he turned up? Do you think he would try it with us here? Not in this life, is anyone in the apartment? Nobody, yesterday they went to Don Marcelo's house; listen, you are never going to die, ever, on Saturday we were talking about you, my father-in-law is a big fan. Who is your father-in-law? Shorty Abitia, he says you've known each other since you were little kids. Are you going out with Begoña? We're engaged, if God grants it we'll tie the knot in November. Well, congratulations and please give my best to Shorty, isn't Begoña studying something? Yes, but once she's with me why would she want to go to school, neither she nor her family will ever lack for a thing, God willing. You are right, Devil my man, okay, I'll see you later. You aren't going in? This isn't where I'm headed, see you. Cavalry charge. It was Briseño, but he let it ring.

They met Valenzuela at the bar in the Hotel Lucerna. The tranny's cell phone would not stop ringing, and he would not stop answering it. He was a strong, wiry man of average height with a deep voice. Pardon us bothering you. It's nothing, if Keiko says I should talk to you, I will talk to you, how could I not? Cell phone again. Hello, handsome, aha, look for him at the Arts Council, sweetheart, of course, could you hang on a moment?
The conversation I am in the middle of can't be postponed, I'll call you in a little while. Do you mind if we speak without interruptions? It won't take long. Go right ahead, he put it on vibrate; I am all yours, Commander, listen, you look really relaxed, I can see you like your work. Zelda spoke up: Did you know Attorney Bruno Canizales? Oh, the poor man, I heard, he was at a party with us months ago, Isadora brought him. Who? Francisco Aldana, the modern dancer you people saw in Mazatlán, by the way he is terrified, he didn't do anything, did he? Until we catch the culprit we can't be sure, Zelda slipped in. Canizales was rather, shall we say, informal in his love life, rumor had it he'd taken to cruising, he would go to Guamúchil or some other city not too far away; that can be incredibly exciting, but it is rather dangerous. Do you know anyone he picked up? We barely knew him, and from what Frank told me he was not a lover to be trusted, he even went after Loca Adams, apparently they too had an affair; you understand, the drama of bisexuals; the truth is, I doubt Frank would have committed the crime, he's fragile and impressionable, insecure. Canizales was killed with a silver bullet, have you heard of anyone using them? Commander, why would you ask that, do I look like a crook? I'm for world peace, mind you the day you saw me with Keiko we had come from the cemetery, it was the anniversary of the murder of a boyfriend of mine, I went to pieces, and I think it was with a silver bullet, those were such sad times I can't remember most of it. What was his name? Klaus Timmerman, a big white guy, well hung, my God how I miss him, and you know he wasn't young, about forty, but he sizzled like nobody since. Was there an investigation? Oh, yes, I spoke several times with a policeman, he thought I killed him, the same way you accused Isadora, oh, no, my poor Klaus. Did they tell
you who the culprit was? You know how it is, maybe they told his family, who by the way despised me, and I was in such a bad way I never asked. Have you heard of anyone else knocked off with a silver bullet? Captain, sadness clouds my thinking, have you never lost a love? Does Klaus's family live here? All of them: wife, children, parents, siblings. Okay, we hope not to bother you anymore. It's no problem, Commander, whenever you like, and please find the culprit because if you don't, who knows what will become of poor Isadora. Here, write Klaus's address down on this.