As he walked up Calle Pedro del Toro he thought about the quality of that silence when he’d said the name Eduardo Carvajal. It was the silence of someone who’d never heard the name before and he knew that he was heading into another dead end.
The Plaza de Armas had been Seville’s main station but had now been converted into housing for aimless people to wander about the shops, cafes and fast-food bars located there. Lobo was sitting on his own at a table close to the old entrance. He had two cups of coffee in front of him and he was wearing a coat that was too heavy for the weather.
‘You look worn out, Inspector Jefe,’ said Lobo.
‘I’ve just been talking to our killer.’
‘Is he still enjoying himself?’
‘I wasn’t ready for him after all the calls I’ve had this morning,’ said Falcon. ‘He confused me by calling me “uncle” and I didn’t even have the presence of mind to ask him how he’d got my number.’
‘Which number?’
‘My father’s old number … he never gave it out.’
‘Perhaps he found it in Ramon Salgado’s house.’
‘Possibly.’
Falcon briefed him on the calls. Lobo played the edge of the table with his fingers.
‘He sounded surprised at the connection you’d made,’ said Lobo.
‘I admit, it’s unnerved me.’
‘And no news from Sra Jimenez on the relationship between her husband and Carvajal, except to become furious at the implication,’ said Lobo. ‘What are you going to do now, Inspector Jefe?’
‘I think I’ll still send the computer down to Vice, there may be a link to Carvajal via the material.’
‘The reason we’re here may have something to do with this,’ said Lobo. ‘The name MCA Consultores has come back to me from a different source. There’s been a leak. Have you spoken to anybody?’
‘I mentioned some of the directors’ names to Sra Jimenez, but not the company,’ said Falcon. ‘And when I saw the nature of the material on Salgado’s computer I decided to tell Juez Calderon about my new theory, which involved mentioning MCA to him.’
‘Then that is our leak,’ said Lobo. ‘That is how it got back to Comisario Leon, which is very interesting.’
‘Would Juez Calderon have told Dr Spinola or Fiscal Jefe Bellido?’
‘How do you think Juez Calderon became a judge before his thirty-sixth birthday?’ asked Lobo.
‘He seems very capable.’
‘He is, but his father is also married to Dr Spinola’s youngest sister. They are family.’
‘So how did MCA come back to you?’ asked Falcon.
‘We are all at the mercy of our secretaries,’ said Lobo.
‘And how will this affect my investigation?’
‘Whatever happens, we will be getting an indication of the level of guilt,’ said Lobo.
26
The gallery was open but empty. Upstairs Ramirez and Greta were sitting next to each other going through the lists of artists that she’d given him the day before. She was looking down and speaking. He was admiring the top of her head. They jerked apart as Falcon reached the top of the stairs and he was sure he heard the snap of sexual elastic. He asked Greta if she would leave them to talk for a moment.
‘We’ve drawn blood,’ said Falcon, which got Ramirez’s attention.
‘In Salgado’s house?’
‘On the floor and in his mouth.’
‘In his mouth?’
‘Salgado bit Sergio when he was stuffing the socks back in his mouth.’
Ramirez sat back and smiled with his arms open wide.
‘All we’ve got to do now is find him,’ he said. ‘Still, at least Juez Calderon will be happy to know that, when we do, he’s got a case.’
‘Work with Greta …’
‘It’s been a pleasure.’
‘Develop a list of all artists who’ve used film or video in their works with addresses in either Seville or Madrid.’
‘Madrid?’
‘He posted us something from Madrid. He might still have an address there.’
