One of the main rules Dortmund and I had when investigating the cases was not to openly expose those who involved public figures for a variety of well-known reasons. The main one was to avoid the spreading of false speculations that involuntarily prevented directing the investigation correctly. But every rule has its exceptions and so I decided to share the following case preserving the right to branch out information in excess and limiting myself to only disclosing the relevant facts in a prudential and highly discreet way.
As it is public knowledge, most of the cases came to us through Captain Riestra, since my friend was an official adviser to the Federal Police and collaborated very bona fide cases that presented some obstacle that only Dortmund could flagellate thanks to the Power of his intelligence. And others, on the other hand, were of a private nature by strict recommendation from someone who was pleasantly satisfied with the services of the inspector.
Without further explanation, I will explain in question. Dortmund contemplated the thrill of listening on radio one of the great dramas that shocked public opinion: A night in paradise, a radio theater that had everything and thanks to its outstanding success became a daily need for all Argentines. Practically hearing it had become an obligation. The main protagonists were four: Vicente Del Prado, Isabel Colombo, Leticia Morales and Patricio Gonzaga, renowned actors who transcended in the profession thanks to this story so well told and so perfectly scripted. And of course that each actor contributed its grain of sand, which exalted her passionately and made it such a sublime piece. Two episodes were issued per day: in the morning, from 11 to 11:15 the first one was transmitted. And in the afternoon, from 18 to 18:10 they gave the second.
Dortmund was listening to the 18 and while enjoying the work was prohibited to be disturbed by anything, including a murder. And to say that was sincerely worrisome.
"The best story in many years," said my friend, after it was over.
_ I have listened several times in depth and I do not find any emotion to the drama_ replied without giving much importance to the subject.
"Because you're a man who does not appreciate the beauty of things, Dr. Tait.
_ The beauty is settled in opinions diversified and clearly very contradictory of each other.
_ Talk about the concept of beauty, right?
_ Of course. That is what I meant.
_ The meanings attributed to it may vary, it is true, as well as appreciations may vary. But the essence, no, never changes. And only the wisest know how to appreciate it with joy and sensitivity of its own.
The conversation remained the same until after 19:50, when we were interrupted by Captain Riestra. The inspector was glad to see him.
"Tell me, Captain Riestra," I presume, ironically, "Dortmund," who comes to propose that I help him in the resolution of a case that bears the same drama as the radio-theater. A night in paradise and very tasteful, I will say that I accept.
The captain looked at him strangely, but with a certain sympathy expressed in his smile and in his gaze. But he became serious again immediately.
The drama is inherent in this fiction, he said later, but the tragedy is real.
Sean Dortmund opened his eyes enormously, making his face a rather peculiar expression mediating between drama and emotion.
"Talk," he insisted.
_ The actress Isabel Colombo was found dead five minutes after the recording was finished.
"Dead?" Inquired Dortmund hesitantly.
"Murdered," Riestra confirmed. "They found her in the 18:15 radio bath, strangled. It had a thick rope tied around the neck, which by the way lacks fingerprints.
_ Finished the function, they followed and they killed it, I reflected aloud.
_ Exactly. There is no solid track. We hope you can help us, Inspector Dortmund.
_ Yes, of course, expect that, "replied my friend, visibly dismayed by the news." Tell me the details of the case, if you are so kind.
_ It is not much that we know so far. In the morning he went to record the first chapter of the day live, as he usually did. He was normal, lucid, rozagante, nothing out of his usual behavior. They recorded and retired rather well. According to the director of the work, about 15:40, Isabel Colombo called him saying that he was not in good health and did not know if he could attend the recording of the episode of 18. Could not miss, Was the main star of the program. The director, Mr. Gerardo Cae, flatly denied him any chance of being absent and forced her to go. She cared more about the program than her own state of health. According to Mr. Cae, they argued for several minutes until finally convincing her to go. The other two actors noticed her very changed and even came to say that it was not the same Isabel Colombo that they saw the same day in the morning. Really, the poor thing was very bad. And it was strange, because the morning was perfectly and presented no health problems or anything.
_ But, even so, the program was done, because it recorded without problems, interrupted Dortmund._ I listened to the program and I perceived it as lucid and as inspiring as ever. It is surprisingly contradictory, Captain Riestra.
"That's why we need your help," Riestra confided.
_ What did the rest of the actors state?
_ Only what I said before. Nothing else.
_ Did not see if someone followed when the recording finished?
_ No. Nobody saw anything.
_ 18.10 finished the function and 18.15 appeared dead and strangled_ I said._ Five minutes to hang someone with a lasso I find ridiculous.
Dortmund's face lit up suddenly.
"They seem impossible to you, Dr. Tait, because they are impossible!"
_ What do you mean?
"I bet you've come up with something," Captain Riestra snapped.
"Let's go to the studio, Captain Riestra. I need to confirm one single thing.
_ All right. Do you need anything else?
_ Yes: an arrest warrant for Mr. Cae.
With the captain, we exchanged a look of surprise. By the time we reacted, the inspector was already on the sidewalk boarding a taxi. Without losing time we went up and in fifteen minutes we were in the studio face to face with Leticia Morales, the actress co-star of the drama; And Patricio Gonzaga, who told us the same story that Captain Riestra reviewed before.
"And you're sure no one followed Miss Colombo after she finished filming?"
"Yes, sure, sure," said Miss Morales.
"More than sure," Mr. Gonzaga confirmed.
_ Well, the two lie! And if they do not tell me the whole truth right now, "Dortmund said," I'm going to charge you with cover-ups.
_ We did not hide anything from him. We already said everything we know, "confirmed Patricio Gonzaga.
_ No no and no! I can not do anything if they are not honest with me, "he reaffirmed.
The two actors looked at each other and finally confessed.
_ The episode of 18 did not come live, we prepare it in advance, "Leticia Morales confessed, visibly flushed and regretted.
"Why did you lie to me about it, then?"
_ Because we wanted to preserve the work, Gonzaga said.
And also, out of fear, "added the lady.
_ Mr. Cae_ was encouraged to speak Patricio Gonzaga_ threatened to end the radioteatro because Isabel had submitted his resignation, which of course he did not accept.
_ They argued on more than one occasion, continued Miss Morales narrating in strong terms, until finally Gerardo Cae, seeing that Isabel did not decline his position, convinced her to record some more deferred chapters at least to cover what remained of this month and Then he would accept his decision to break through without objection.
_ A good reason for homicide_ I justified.
"But, not only would Mr. Cae lose with the resignation of Miss Colombo," said Captain Riestra thoughtfully, "because I understand that you, Miss Morales, have a great deal of copyright in the work, and its cancellation would involve losses Millionaires for you, or am I wrong? He had much more to lose than a simple coprotagon.
Mr. Gonzaga looked at her in dismay.
_ What are you talking about? Deciles that you have nothing to do with all this, that you have no actions of any kind at all.
"I assure you, Patricio, I do not know what they're talking about," she said hesitantly.
_ Pará! _ Reacted suddenly the actor._ You went out a little earlier this afternoon because you said that something had come up last minute. And then I did not see you again.
"What time was that, Mr. Gonzaga?" Dortmund interjected.
_ At about one in the afternoon. We always stayed for a little longer after finishing recording the noon chapter to analyze how it came out, to discuss the program in general and to finalize details about the episode of 18. Then we would leave and return in a few hours.
"But Leticia left before," added Captain Riestra. "Then they came back at 18, thinking they would record it, but you saw Isabel and never Leticia. And when the body was discovered, Leticia suddenly reappeared out of nowhere.
"I will be brief," said Dortmund, with his characteristic sagacity. "Miss Leticia Morales left before the meeting to prepare to assassinate Miss Isabel Colombo. She went to the bathroom and hid very well. Once there, he attacked her by surprise, killed her, hid her body and took some of her clothes. Then, to create a consistent and credible alibi, she and her Accomplice, Mr. Gerardo Cae; Invented the story that Isabel Colombo phoned to warn that she felt bad. So, then, Miss Morales, as a good actress who happens to be, dressed in the clothes of Miss Colombo taking their place. That is why the change of attitude so sudden. Leticia Morales was in charge of convincing that she was indeed Isabel Colombo. The five minutes that were present in the afternoon were enough to fulfill the purpose. Then he returned to the bathroom, put his body back on, left it on the veranda to be found by anyone, and left as quietly as he had come, as if nothing had happened. And to culminate this brilliant plan, they put to the air a chapter recorded in advance creating the false idea that the story was developing live and in direct. So, soon, they would discover the body and nobody would ever suspect you. Only the finding took place earlier than expected.
_ A very interesting and creative story, "said Leticia Morales, haughtily," but she lacks proof to back it up.
The lady completely changed her attitude. She was no longer the complacent woman until a few moments ago. Now it seemed that the devil had taken possession of his personality completely.
"Do not you think so?" Dortmund challenged her. "I'll have the testimony of the program operator. No one better than he knows about the recorded tape because he is in charge of handling the air of the radio.
_ I doubt it. This…
And he stopped abruptly, blanching terribly. His face was amazingly livid.
_ Dead? _ Completed the phrase my friend_ That in our work is called confession. It was logical to assume that they had to get rid of him to silence him because he was a potential witness against him.
Captain Riestra, along with two officers, ran into the operator's cabin where, upon entering, they found the body of a poor man who sat on a chair and a tie tied around his neck. Riestra immediately returned to join us and shaking her head singularly, confirmed the death.
"Do yourself a favor, Miss Morales, and tell my friends where Mr. Cae is hiding," suggested Sean Dortmund.
_ He declared and escaped without realizing it. Do not even think I'm going to betray him.
_ Worse for you.
_ Leticia Morales_ expressed the captain Riestra decided and authoritarian: _ is detained by the murders of Isabel Colombo and ...
Our friend was suddenly silent and thoughtful.
_ The operator was called Miguel Martínez, Mr. Gonzaga said.
Captain Riestra winked at the actor, handcuffed Miss Morales, and officers were arrested.
_ I have trouble processing all this, "lamented Patricio Gonzaga.
Can I ask for Vicente Del Prado? Why is not he among us? "Dortmund asked.
_ Mr. Cae called him at around 17 and told him not to come because the location had been canceled at the last minute_ replied the actor, still overwhelmed by what happened.
_ Two witnesses would have noticed the scheme quickly-dissipated fleetingly.
_ Vicente Del Prado would have noticed soon-my friend followed-and it was not a good idea to carry three bodies.
_ But did not Captain Riestra say that there were two actors who declared after the crime?
"Leticia and I," said Mr. Gonzaga. "I declared first and it is clear that she took hold of my testimony to adjust her own to her plan.
"It's clear," Dortmund reprimanded, "that you do not draw conclusions here. You can retire. It is no longer necessary to be present at the place.
Patricio Gonzaga was offended and disappeared so fast that he left a trail of remorse impregnated in the environment.
_ Who discovered the body? _ I inquired once he left.
_ The cleaning staff, no doubt, said the inspector._ He went to clean the bathroom and met the horror. The employees here, will have realized that they are counted with the fingers of the hand. But I do not think it's always like this.
_ And Gerardo Falls?
_ He will be in charge of Captain Riestra. After he declared, he discreetly slipped away like a ghost and abandoned his accomplice, so she would carry the full burden of guilt. Come on, our work is over.
He betrayed her. And to think that Miss Morales refrained from doing so. But, get me out of a doubt: how did you decipher the matter in record time?
_ A small detail, no matter how small, reveals a great story. Imagination and intuition do the rest.
At that moment, Captain Riestra came back for us, and it was at that moment that a loud slamming sound was heard. The three of us looked at each other on alert.
_ He escapes! _ He heard an officer say from the street.
We ran immediately to the entrance.
"A man came out of nowhere in the studio and is fleeing," an officer told Captain Riestra, pointing out the place of the flight, also carried out by several officers, both on foot and in patrol boats.
Without thinking, I left everything, ready to pursue the subject. Dortmund tried to persuade me but without success. I started to run at full speed. I went through short cuts, through passages, crossed red traffic lights exposing me to be hit, I went through secret places, until I jumped abruptly on the target and reduced it without major problems.
_ Gerardo Cae, right? _ I said in the voice something tired and agitated, product of the crossing.
Only a few seconds later, officers arrived to take Mr. Cae's arrest. It had hidden very well but that maneuver of the end was not something very intelligent of his part. Another patrolman arrived a few moments later and Dortmund descended from within. He looked at me pleasantly excited and somewhat perplexed at the same time. Instead, I gave him an expressionless look.
"Can not a forensic doctor also be a man of action?" I reproached him insolently.
"I never said the contrary," he replied, satisfied and not taking his eyes off me.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario