here.”
“ Damned funny,” said the Director as he scowled. “Look, I just want to let you know that you can forget about the Delgado case. We’ve been ordered to let the federal people handle it. The Public Ministry thinks it is drug related and so it falls under federal law.”
“ You know, there are, what, three or four dozen murders in this country every day. Why is everybody paying so much attention to this one all of a sudden? Or rather, telling me to pay attention to the fact that I should not pay attention to it?”
“ Who cares?” rejoined the Director casually. “All you need to know is that it’s not our case anymore and that you should send the file to the Federal Prosecutor’s office as soon as possible.”
“ What case file,” Lombardo retorted, “I haven’t even had a chance to write up my report and nothing will be coming in from the forensic people until they are done in a couple of days.”
“ OK, so write up your report and put it on file. Send that if that’s all we have and tell forensics to send their stuff over to the Federal Prosecutor’s office.”
Lombardo said nothing about the information that Dr. Figueroa had given him but as he turned to leave he said, “This is not a drug-related case, you know—at least not in the sense that the victim was involved in drug dealing or anything like it.”
“ I repeat,” said the Director, “it is not our case anymore. If they think it is drug related, then it is drug related. And, if they want to handle it, they will handle it. OK?”
Lombardo shrugged and said, “OK. It’s your circus so I guess you say who swings from the trapeze and who’s a clown.” He left the Director’s office.
Lombardo went to his desk and sat down to fill in a standard report form. When he was finished, he took the form to the Archives room and asked the policewoman in charge to make a copy for their files and to send the original to the Federal Prosecutor’s office.
“ So, you’re off the case, Captain?” asked the policewoman as she took the report from him.
“ So they say,” said Lombardo.
Chapter 15: An Invitation to a Cruise
Governor Sanchez Reyes was alone in his office when the secure cell phone rang. He ran to pick it up from its cradle.
“ Hullo, what a pleasant surprise, I…”
“ Yes, Governor,” the gruff voice interrupted. “Listen I am calling because I need to see you tonight.”
“ Tonight? Why, yes, of course, are you coming here or…”
“Of course not; why would I go there. No, listen. I am inviting some of our friends to join me on my yacht. We are docked in the Acapulco marina, the one on the northern side of the bay. Fly down here tonight and I’ll send someone to pick you up. Don’t fly commercial, get an air taxi and tell the guy to bring you to the airport for private planes. Got that?”
“Yes, but can you tell me a bit more about this reunion?”
“You’ll find out all about it when you get here.”
“Yes, but I mean, is there anything I should prepare or bring along?”
“Just your appetite and your legendary drinking ability,” said the gruff voice and it laughed.
“All right. What time are you expecting us?”
“Be here by, say, 6:30 in the afternoon. We’re going to take a little cruise and discuss some business so bring your Hawaiian shirt, eh?” He laughed again.
“How long are we going to be…”
“We will sail for Mazatlán as soon as everyone is here so you’ll be able to fly home from there early the next morning.”
Before the Governor could say anything else, the other man hung up.
The Governor looked at the phone for a few seconds and then put it down. He opened a drawer with a key he took from his pocket and took out a leather bound notebook. He wrote an entry: “BZ called. Wants to meet in Aca tonight.” He dated it and wrote down the time.
BZ
“ Damned funny,” said the Director as he scowled. “Look, I just want to let you know that you can forget about the Delgado case. We’ve been ordered to let the federal people handle it. The Public Ministry thinks it is drug related and so it falls under federal law.”
“ You know, there are, what, three or four dozen murders in this country every day. Why is everybody paying so much attention to this one all of a sudden? Or rather, telling me to pay attention to the fact that I should not pay attention to it?”
“ Who cares?” rejoined the Director casually. “All you need to know is that it’s not our case anymore and that you should send the file to the Federal Prosecutor’s office as soon as possible.”
“ What case file,” Lombardo retorted, “I haven’t even had a chance to write up my report and nothing will be coming in from the forensic people until they are done in a couple of days.”
“ OK, so write up your report and put it on file. Send that if that’s all we have and tell forensics to send their stuff over to the Federal Prosecutor’s office.”
Lombardo said nothing about the information that Dr. Figueroa had given him but as he turned to leave he said, “This is not a drug-related case, you know—at least not in the sense that the victim was involved in drug dealing or anything like it.”
“ I repeat,” said the Director, “it is not our case anymore. If they think it is drug related, then it is drug related. And, if they want to handle it, they will handle it. OK?”
Lombardo shrugged and said, “OK. It’s your circus so I guess you say who swings from the trapeze and who’s a clown.” He left the Director’s office.
Lombardo went to his desk and sat down to fill in a standard report form. When he was finished, he took the form to the Archives room and asked the policewoman in charge to make a copy for their files and to send the original to the Federal Prosecutor’s office.
“ So, you’re off the case, Captain?” asked the policewoman as she took the report from him.
“ So they say,” said Lombardo.
Chapter 15: An Invitation to a Cruise
Governor Sanchez Reyes was alone in his office when the secure cell phone rang. He ran to pick it up from its cradle.
“ Hullo, what a pleasant surprise, I…”
“ Yes, Governor,” the gruff voice interrupted. “Listen I am calling because I need to see you tonight.”
“ Tonight? Why, yes, of course, are you coming here or…”
“Of course not; why would I go there. No, listen. I am inviting some of our friends to join me on my yacht. We are docked in the Acapulco marina, the one on the northern side of the bay. Fly down here tonight and I’ll send someone to pick you up. Don’t fly commercial, get an air taxi and tell the guy to bring you to the airport for private planes. Got that?”
“Yes, but can you tell me a bit more about this reunion?”
“You’ll find out all about it when you get here.”
“Yes, but I mean, is there anything I should prepare or bring along?”
“Just your appetite and your legendary drinking ability,” said the gruff voice and it laughed.
“All right. What time are you expecting us?”
“Be here by, say, 6:30 in the afternoon. We’re going to take a little cruise and discuss some business so bring your Hawaiian shirt, eh?” He laughed again.
“How long are we going to be…”
“We will sail for Mazatlán as soon as everyone is here so you’ll be able to fly home from there early the next morning.”
Before the Governor could say anything else, the other man hung up.
The Governor looked at the phone for a few seconds and then put it down. He opened a drawer with a key he took from his pocket and took out a leather bound notebook. He wrote an entry: “BZ called. Wants to meet in Aca tonight.” He dated it and wrote down the time.
BZ
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