Elena hung up.
Ricardo stared at the dead phone.
Alberto Flores came through the side door, pale.
Was it the agency?
Richard couldn't lie.
The man in the cell is Manuel Rivas.
Alberto dropped into a chair.
The director?
"Yes.
“And you knew it?”
Richard didn't answer.
Alberto closed his eyes.
“Idiot.
I thought I could control it.
Control a federal alert? The country's research director? Really?
Sergio showed up in the hallway.
Inspector, what's going on?
Ricardo looked at him as if he had just seen him for the first time.
As if Sergio was no longer his protégé, but the stone tied to his neck.
“Get him to interrogations.
They pulled Don Manuel out of the cell and sat him in front of them.
Now the wives were in front.
A small gesture.
Desperate.
Ricardo tried to sound firm.
“Sir, there was a confusion of identity. If you cooperate, we can solve this quickly.
Don Manuel looked at him with a calm that hurt.
Cooperate? I've been cooperating for almost an hour while you violate my rights, suppress federal alerts and turn a police abuse into conspiracy.
Sergio paled.
“Inspector, what is he talking about?
Richard hit the table.
“Shut up, Molina.
Don Manuel turned his head to Sergio.
“Agent Molina wants to know what I’m talking about. Let's talk, then.
The room was silent.
“You tore a newspaper from my hands. He threw it in my face. He pushed me against a bench. He forced me to kneel in front of eighty witnesses, including a five-year-old girl crying asking why the cop was so bad. He hit my head against the car door. Everything's recorded.
Sergio backed down.
I didn’t know who you were.
“That doesn’t make him innocent. It just shows that it treats people like that when they think no one can defend themselves.
Alberto tried to intervene with a politician’s voice.
“Gentlemen, let’s breathe. We can surely come to a beneficial understanding for all.
Don Manuel looked at him.
Alberto’s smile died.
“Councilor Flores, you attended seventeen budget meetings in eight months. He asked very specific questions about federal resources, audits and investigative teams. I answered all of him.
Alberto swallowed saliva.
I go to many meetings. I can't remember every detail.
“I do. Because while you were faking institutional interest, I was investigating eighty-nine million in inflated contracts, illegal commissions and municipal money laundering.
