“So then, are you Edgar Moya?”
asked the detective, closing the door on the nosy glances from the entire
floor.
“That depends,” answered Edgar
without looking at him.
Edgar looked on nervously as Zayas
informed him, “We just want to ask you a few questions related to a statement
given by Mrs. Irma Alfonso. It has to do with a report of theft of corporate
information and other computer crimes here in the building.”
“Wh…what statement?” stuttered
Edgar. Zayas invited him to take a seat, which Edgar immediately obeyed,
understanding that it was an order.
Zayas explained to Edgar how
Lorenzo had utilized official, confidential company documents to try to prove
that Irma had been the reason for Doris’ dismissal. Irma did not deny it but
wanted to discover who was responsible for obtaining said documents for him,
given that they could only be found saved on her computer. Knowing that Edgar
had access to her computer while he carried out his daily tasks and because of
his friendship with Doris, Irma identified him as the main suspect.
At first, Edgar denied everything.
Then he changed his story and confessed that he extracted the information. He
related how he jumped over the property’s peripheral fence and then ran to the
back of the office so as not to be detected by the cameras. Then he recounted
in extravagant detail how he shot a hook to the roof, climbed up to the fourth
floor, and entered through Irma’s office window. Lastly, he returned the way he
had come without being detected after seizing the information that he was
looking for.
Zayas let out a slight smile at
Edgar’s ridiculous story, but Irma was furious. She knew full-well that she was
going down and she was not about to go down by herself. She wanted to take down
whoever had stolen the information, too. The office door opened and Agent Gómez
walked in, holding in his hands a piece of paper.
“They found it. It was
photographed,” said Gómez, extending the sheet of paper in front of Zayas. On
the sheet was printed an image captured by the company’s security camera. On the
image, Lorenzo could clearly be seen looking directly at the camera, dressed in
overalls and a hat.
“Surprise, surprise. The day and
time match up but not the person,” said Zayas as he examined the image.
Zayas moved closer to Edgar to show
him the photo. Edgar guessed that the image corresponded to the exact moment
when he had warned Lorenzo about the cameras. He sank down in his chair,
feeling everyone’s glares on him like daggers.
“I knew it!” shouted Irma. “That
Lorenzo had to stick his nose where it didn’t belong. He’s going to pay for
this. This is not how it’s going to end,” said Irma, exuding smoke.
“How about you tell me the whole
thing from the beginning, leaving out the part where you play the role of super-secret
agent?” Zayas asked Edgar in a sarcastic tone. Edgar had no other choice than
to shut his mouth and play stupid, for the fourth time.
“I already told you everything I know,” answered
Edgar firmly.
Irma got up from her seat and, with a friendly
smile, stooped down at Edgar’s side. Then she put her arm around his neck and
brought his face next to hers.
“Edgar, you should really think this through.
We’re here to help you,” she said in a gentle, understanding tone, looking
directly into his eyes. “I know you love working here. The work conditions are
excellent and we have a lot of fringe benefits, like an exceptional health plan
among others. No one has a plan with as many benefits as we do. But I don’t
have to remind you of that, right? If anyone knows about that, it’s you.
Looking at your records, you can clearly see that you are one of the employees
that most benefits from the plan. Well, more like your mom, who’s sick and
getting up there in age. Luckily, the plan helps her with all those
medications, the nurses, and all those special needs she has. We wouldn’t want
to put that in danger now, would we?” explained Irma to the astonishment of the
agents and to Edgar’s defeat, without changing her pleasant tone.
Zayas asked Irma to return to her seat. He
pulled out a chair and sat down in front of Edgar.
“Now you’re going to cooperate with us, right?”
Zayas asked Edgar, who by now was completely dejected. “I think the first thing
we’d like to know is where we can find Mr. Lorenzo Almeida right now. We know
that you’ve had frequent phone contact with him over the last few days.
Please.”
Chapter 18
The
crème de la crème
of the region’s floating
properties emulated the delicate movement of the seawater. As part of the
nautical club, its associates lodged their vessels in the sea and had access to
the area’s most beautiful maritime zone. Lorenzo’s search for Alexis had brought
him here. After asking for directions from a man he saw over the railing of a
yacht, he walked along the pier, blown away by the beauty, practicality, and luxurious
features of the boats anchored there. Without a doubt, many of their owners
were genuine lovers of sailing and expert seafarers. Nevertheless, he was sure
that many others had a boat simply because they could afford the luxury or because
it was what was expected of them given their social status.
It did not take Lorenzo long to
find the watercraft he was looking for, Soleil del Mar, a Beneteau Antares boat
that measured forty-six feet in length. This beauty came equipped with a cabin,
control booth, and kitchen. It was not new but still rather recent and came
with all the conveniences that one would expect of a boat in its class.
The cabin’s glass door opened to
make way for Alexis, who was completely relaxed. Lorenzo thought he looked very
cheerful, whistling a happy melody that had a certain similarity to a song
about life on the high sea that he knew from childhood. Alexis was dressed
comfortably, with white shorts and a flowered tropical shirt.
All he’s
missing is a captain’s hat
, thought Lorenzo. He felt guilty for showing up
like this, with no warning, knowing that when he saw him, Alexis’ first thought
would not be a happy one.
Alexis jumped when he saw his
unexpected visitor. He gave Lorenzo a welcoming smile anyway, though.
“Lorenzo! To what do I owe this
pleasure? Is everything all right?” said Alexis as pleasantly as he could. “Hop
on board,” he invited him warmly.
“Thanks. I’m surprised I found you.
I really had to ask around and offer to do some favors,” said Lorenzo, laughing
as he climbed on board, admiring every corner of the comfortable vessel.
“Yes, you’ve finally discovered my
hidden lair. I hope you know how to keep a secret,” said Alexis.
“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe
with me. But seriously, this boat is spectacular. It has a cabin and
everything. Wow,” exclaimed Lorenzo with genuine fascination. Having a boat and
enjoying sailing the sea was one of his oldest dreams. “I’m happy you’re doing
well.”
“Thank you, but sometimes
appearances can deceive you. You see someone successful, who has a house, a
boat, and time to enjoy it all. But the truth, I’m sorry to say, is very
different,” said Alexis, taking a seat in one of the covered chairs. He
signaled for Lorenzo to do the same and he consented. “For starters, this boat
isn’t mine. It’s my dad’s. He lent it to me so I’d have somewhere to sleep,”
said Alexis to Lorenzo’s surprise.
“To sleep?” asked Lorenzo,
confused.
“Leyda and I are separated,”
revealed Alexis with a heavy heart. “I think this time will be for good. She
and the children stayed at home.”
Lorenzo was the first person,
outside of his family circle, to find out about the split. Not even his
secretary was aware. Alexis was very protective of his reputation and family
name. His parents and brothers lived the lives of exemplary families and he
felt like the black sheep or the one singing off key. Although everyone denied
it, he had spotted the difference in the way his family treated him. He was
ashamed to go to family functions without his partner and have to answer all
the uncomfortable questions from people who did not yet know about the breakup.
No matter how hard he tried, he always felt isolated from the rest of his
family members. Money had been one reason, and now his failed marriage was
another.
“I had no idea, man. I’m so sorry.
For how long?” asked Lorenzo with genuine interest.
“For a few months now. There were
problems from the very beginning. We’ve never understood each other well,”
accepted Alexis. “But I don’t want your pity, please. You don’t need to worry
about my situation. I’m fine, really. Besides, I don’t plan to be here much
longer. I’m already making arrangements and I’ve put a plan in place that will
improve my situation considerably. Unforeseen events will always arrive, but if
everything goes well, you’ll soon see me in a beachside apartment with a view
of the sea…”
“Man, that’s the best,” interrupted
Lorenzo. “I live in front of the sea and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Well, actually, I’d change it if it would fix this problem with Doris.”
“And we’re working on that. Don’t
you forget it,” Alexis reminded him.
“Actually, that’s why I came to see
you…”
“Look, I was thinking about the
case,” cut in Alexis, “and I think that the new twist on the falsification of
the invitation can help us claim temporary insanity. The truth is that they set
her up and, as you know, no one knows how you’ll react in unexpected situations
like that. And not just that, but I think that in her current state of health,
the most likely outcome is that they’ll send her to a mental health
institution. In my opinion, that’s the best course of action to follow at this
moment,” declared Alexis, sounding as convincing as he could.
“Whatever you say, I’m not going to
intervene anymore,” stated Lorenzo, opening his hands toward Alexis. “I want
you to know how much I appreciate the work you’re doing. I also want to assure
you that, although you haven’t seen a penny yet, I’m going to pay your fees. I
haven’t forgotten about it and I’m not messing with you,” asserted Lorenzo with
the hope of smoothing over anything that his recent actions had caused in
relation to the attorney.
Alexis could not hide his surprise
and delight to hear that Lorenzo finally accepted handing over the reins of the
case to him completely. His passion to save his wife was admirable but had only
brought him problems.
“No, man, don’t worry. That’s not
important right now,” said Alexis, minimizing the money issue.
“I
am
worried about it,
though,” replied Lorenzo. “Just so you know, I’m looking for work. And not just
that, we have some savings reserved for an emergency, and this definitely
counts as an emergency. We’re going to repay you, even more so now that I know
that you really need it,” insisted Lorenzo, drawing a smile from Alexis. Alexis
had never wanted to mention his fees given the situation’s sudden and
unexpected nature, but he knew that, at some point, Lorenzo would.
Nevertheless, he would not have complained if he never saw a cent. Not in this
case.
“Okay, I accept. But only under
certain conditions,” said Alexis, holding up two fingers.
“What conditions?”
“First, you pay me when you are
truly able. I promise. I’m not in any hurry to collect the money.”
“Okay. And the second condition?”
asked Lorenzo, crossing his arms.
“The second is that we don’t talk
about the case today and you come with me for a ride in the boat. We can eat
something, have a drink, and clear our minds a little. What do you think?”
offered Alexis, displaying a smile that was difficult to resist.
“That’s the best offer I’ve received
in a long time. It sounds great,” said Lorenzo with excitement, unable to hide
a smile that was spreading from ear to ear. He had been under so much pressure
over the last few days that just the simple act of smiling so purely, without
control, felt like something new. He loved sailing but did not have a boat, so
a lot of conditions had to be met for him to do so. That’s why so many years
had passed since the last time he went sailing. This time, with the
irresistible need to relax and the opportunity to do so on board a luxury ship,
it was an offer that was impossible to refuse.
“Good, let’s go, let’s go. The day
is too beautiful to waste anchored here,” exclaimed Alexis, clapping his hands.
Following Alexis’ instructions,
Lorenzo helped him with the casting off and essential arrangements. Then they
climbed the steps that led to the upper level, where they found the ship’s
pilot controls. Alexis drew back the canvas roof covering the upper level. He
wanted to feel the sun in all its splendor. Lorenzo was pleased with the
panoramic view of the coast that could be seen from this viewpoint. He also
watched Alexis’ every move with curiosity as he set Soleil del Mar in motion. As
the ship cut through the calm seawater, leaving the island behind, it felt as
though he were leaving his problems and worries behind on solid ground, too.
They would, without a doubt, be awaiting him when he returned. But leaving them
behind for a few hours would do him some good.
Minutes later, once out at sea,
Alexis gradually pushed the ship’s gas pedal, showing its vast power as it
reached high speed in only a few seconds. It definitely helped that the sea was
so calm that it looked like a sheet of glass. Lorenzo supposed that Alexis did
it to display his toy’s power, but it did not bother him because he did not see
it as pretentious. Actually, he secretly hoped that Alexis would show him the
boat’s ability so that he would not have to ask for anything that grabbed his
attention. Like, for example, what the sailing system was equipped with, which
looked like the latest GPS technology, and how the propulsion system worked,
aside from exploring all the comforts and amenities that the fiberglass ship
had to offer.
Alexis piloted the ship, covering a
few nautical miles before pulling back to shore. During the journey, he treated
Lorenzo like a tourist, telling stories and identifying places of interest.
Lorenzo already knew the majority of those places, but Alexis’ descriptions,
sprinkled with stories about his adventures or tales that he had heard from
people like his dad, made him feel as if he were visiting new and uncharted
territory.
Lorenzo realized that he had a lot
in common with Alexis. He was sorry that it was not until now, after so many
years of knowing each other and under such unpleasant circumstances, that they
had the opportunity to share more than a brief wave of the hand when crossing
the street. He hoped it would not all stop here and that in the end they could
compensate for some of the lost time. After all, it looked like Alexis could
use the support of a close friend because of his separation.
After almost an hour of sailing,
Alexis let Lorenzo choose where they should drop anchor to rest. His options
from which to choose included a deserted area, removed from the hustle and
bustle of the vacationers or an area closer to a beach, speckled with
sunbathers. The remote and quiet option was the more tempting of the two for
Lorenzo, but the distant sound of people enjoying the beach was very comforting
to him. It was the sound that transported him back to the days when he visited
the beach with his family and did not have to worry about anything, not even
about how much time he spent in the water because his mother would constantly
remind him. Alexis’ preference was the silent area, too, but he wanted to
please Lorenzo. In any case, at this distance, the hustle and bustle was not a
bothersome noise that would ruin their much yearned-for rest and peace.
•••••
The boat balanced gracefully atop the gentle swaying of the
waves, anchored near the beach. There, along the shore, you could make out a
group of people enjoying the beach. Alexis asked Lorenzo to come with him
inside the cabin to prepare some sandwiches in the kitchen. When they walked
inside, Lorenzo’s breath was momentarily taken away by the beauty of the
completely wooden living room and kitchen. Everything was smaller, but none of
the functionality was lost thanks to the ingenious design evident in every
corner of the ship.
“My father bought this boat years
ago, and he’s practically never used it. It’s like-new,” explained Alexis while
pulling out some ingredients from a small built-in refrigerator. He offered
Lorenzo a beer, which Lorenzo turned down, explaining his problem with
alcoholic beverages. Alexis saw it as a defense mechanism that he wished he
had. There had been more than a few times that he had drowned his misery with
generous quantities of alcohol, only to later regret it when he was suffering
an awful hangover. Now he had to force himself to drink just a little at a time
and only on special occasions. This seemed sufficiently special to at least
have one beer.
They both stepped out onto the deck
and sat in the two chairs situated on the ship’s stern. The sound of a Jet Ski
caught their attention. The boy steering it waved to them in passing. Alexis
raised the bottle he had in his hand to return the gesture.
“I don’t know why, but I’ve never
been interested in them,” said Lorenzo, referring to the Jet Ski that was
passing so close by that it sprayed them with water.
“Maybe because you’ve never ridden
one,” replied Alexis. He was right. Lorenzo had never ventured onto one despite
the infinite invitations from acquaintances. But for him, enjoyment of the sea
was not found in speed or noise. He found it by wrapping himself in the natural
environment and breathing it in as much as possible. That was what his body
asked of him day after day to maintain his balance and sense of existence.
Perhaps someday he would try riding one so no one could say he never had, but
it was not at the top of his list.
Lorenzo got up and peered into the
port to look at the sea’s depth, which was clearly discernable thanks to the
water’s clarity. The image of his face seemed to be deformed in grotesque
shapes in the salty liquid. Alexis put his beer on a small table sitting next
to him and stretched his hands behind his head, intertwining his fingers. He
could not help but smile from pleasure.