accident or by design only the neck had rested on the railroad track.
About the unknown perpetrators, Lombardo wrote: “These were not amateurs; they were not drunks trying to steal hooch money, or muggers, or gang members. These were pros used to the ways of interrogation.”
Sometime during the interrogation or perhaps even before it started the victim had put the piece of paper in his mouth—a last foolishly heroic act, which tried to protect something or somebody.”
Finally Lombardo wrote into his little notebook: “Questions: What did these letters and numbers mean? Why was he trying to hide the paper and why was it so important that he gave his life for it? Did the killers know about it and is that why they beat him half to death? What was the damned paper about?”
Dr. Figueroa also wrote about the young man’s heart: it was healthy and strong; it had not given out even under the stress of the beating. The young man had been small and a bit frail in life but he had taken it and not said a word!
Although the lab reports would take a few days to complete, Dr. Figueroa wrote that in his view the stomach contents showed no sign of anything unusual. The stomach was mostly empty. Obviously, the young man had not reached home to have his dinner. Dr. Figueroa’s final comment was that he would forward the toxicologist report on the fluid samples he had sent to the lab.
Dr. Figueroa ’s suggestion that he look for a spot near one of the large reservoirs formed by the many dams that surrounded Monterrey was not a trivial task.
The city was very large and demanded a lot of water during the long, hot summers, so there were half a dozen large reservoirs within a half-hour drive. Also, a lot of the ranchers in the area kept ponds for their cattle and the desert to the south and southeast was riddled with stagnant waterholes left over from the rainy season.
W hen the taxi stopped in front of the Investigations Department’s building Lombardo exclaimed, “But, there were those ashes! I’ll have to think about that.”
Chapter 14: When a Case Is Not Your Case
Lombardo strode up the steps of the Investigation s Department’s entrance in his slow, weary way. The policeman on guard, with a heavy, bulletproof vest on, and an AR-15 at the ready, looked at him warily. They changed the guards frequently so this guy didn’t know him. Nowadays, anyone was susceptible to being bribed by the cartels and there had been rumors that since police departments were so rife with corruption and awash in cartel money bribes, the Army would soon take up policing the most dangerous cities, such as Juarez, Tijuana, and Monterrey.
The policewoman at the front desk motioned to him as soon as she saw him. “The Director said you were to go to his office as soon as you came in,” she said.
“ Ah, am I going to get a raise, a promotion, or a medal for good-conduct?” asked Lombardo while lighting a cigarette.
The police woman said, “Probably all three. You shouldn’t smoke in here. It’s a public building.”
“ Be sure to warn the cartel gunmen about that when they storm the place,” said Lombardo as he blew a plume of smoke into the air.
The Director’s secretary opened her mouth to say something when Lombardo was about to open her boss’ door but he said, “He’s expecting me.”
The Director was his usual charming self. When he saw Lombardo come in he said, “Don’t you ever knock, Captain?”
“ I thought you had an ‘open door’ policy.”
“ Yeah, but you’re excluded--and put that damned cigarette out! This is a public building!”
“ I’m glad to see you’re so concerned about people’s health. Instead of worrying about my cigarette maybe you should hand out more of those bulletproof vests like the one that monkey at the door is wearing. They way things are going, cigarette smoke is not the main health hazard
About the unknown perpetrators, Lombardo wrote: “These were not amateurs; they were not drunks trying to steal hooch money, or muggers, or gang members. These were pros used to the ways of interrogation.”
Sometime during the interrogation or perhaps even before it started the victim had put the piece of paper in his mouth—a last foolishly heroic act, which tried to protect something or somebody.”
Finally Lombardo wrote into his little notebook: “Questions: What did these letters and numbers mean? Why was he trying to hide the paper and why was it so important that he gave his life for it? Did the killers know about it and is that why they beat him half to death? What was the damned paper about?”
Dr. Figueroa also wrote about the young man’s heart: it was healthy and strong; it had not given out even under the stress of the beating. The young man had been small and a bit frail in life but he had taken it and not said a word!
Although the lab reports would take a few days to complete, Dr. Figueroa wrote that in his view the stomach contents showed no sign of anything unusual. The stomach was mostly empty. Obviously, the young man had not reached home to have his dinner. Dr. Figueroa’s final comment was that he would forward the toxicologist report on the fluid samples he had sent to the lab.
Dr. Figueroa ’s suggestion that he look for a spot near one of the large reservoirs formed by the many dams that surrounded Monterrey was not a trivial task.
The city was very large and demanded a lot of water during the long, hot summers, so there were half a dozen large reservoirs within a half-hour drive. Also, a lot of the ranchers in the area kept ponds for their cattle and the desert to the south and southeast was riddled with stagnant waterholes left over from the rainy season.
W hen the taxi stopped in front of the Investigations Department’s building Lombardo exclaimed, “But, there were those ashes! I’ll have to think about that.”
Chapter 14: When a Case Is Not Your Case
Lombardo strode up the steps of the Investigation s Department’s entrance in his slow, weary way. The policeman on guard, with a heavy, bulletproof vest on, and an AR-15 at the ready, looked at him warily. They changed the guards frequently so this guy didn’t know him. Nowadays, anyone was susceptible to being bribed by the cartels and there had been rumors that since police departments were so rife with corruption and awash in cartel money bribes, the Army would soon take up policing the most dangerous cities, such as Juarez, Tijuana, and Monterrey.
The policewoman at the front desk motioned to him as soon as she saw him. “The Director said you were to go to his office as soon as you came in,” she said.
“ Ah, am I going to get a raise, a promotion, or a medal for good-conduct?” asked Lombardo while lighting a cigarette.
The police woman said, “Probably all three. You shouldn’t smoke in here. It’s a public building.”
“ Be sure to warn the cartel gunmen about that when they storm the place,” said Lombardo as he blew a plume of smoke into the air.
The Director’s secretary opened her mouth to say something when Lombardo was about to open her boss’ door but he said, “He’s expecting me.”
The Director was his usual charming self. When he saw Lombardo come in he said, “Don’t you ever knock, Captain?”
“ I thought you had an ‘open door’ policy.”
“ Yeah, but you’re excluded--and put that damned cigarette out! This is a public building!”
“ I’m glad to see you’re so concerned about people’s health. Instead of worrying about my cigarette maybe you should hand out more of those bulletproof vests like the one that monkey at the door is wearing. They way things are going, cigarette smoke is not the main health hazard
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