Italpark, February 4, 1986
Chief Inspector Rogelio Otranto, in charge of the Search and Trace Division of Disappeared Persons of the Federal Police, urgently contacted inspector Sean Dortmund on the strict recommendation of Captain Riestra. Dortmund was flattered by the circumstances and attended in a very good mood to Inspector Otranto.
_ Riestra told me about his abilities to solve cases_ He argued Otranto after the greetings of rigor_ and I hope that he can put all his skills in solving this case that is recent. An expert eye like yours would be of great help to us.
_ Tell me about it _ Dortmund replied, seriously.
_ First of all, thank you. It is about the disappearance of an 8-year-old girl, Victoria Brenta, that occurred an hour ago at the Italpark. He was in the care of his mother, Carla Berón, at the time of the event.According to what she told us, she left her daughter or seconds alone to go and buy something at a stand that was a few meters from her location and when she returned, her daughter was no longer there.He looked everywhere but he did not see her. He walked, looked desperate but all in vain. It disappeared from nowhere. She asked anxiously to the other families who were at that moment, to anyone who crossed, if she had seen Victoria. But all the answers were negative. He entered a state of absolute crisis, in a posture of indomitable containment. And it was when they warned us. We arrived in less than ten minutes to the Italpark and we do not allow anyone to enter or leave until the investigation concludes. But we believe that in the midst of the commotion, whoever took her, had more than enough time to get her out of the park.
_ There is a possibility that your presumption is correct.
Sean Dortmund took note of everything Inspector Otranto told him.
"So, are you convinced that this is a rapture, official Otranto?" Inquired Dortmund with great interest, reflected in his way of asking the question.
_ There is no doubt about that point. My experience in the subject and the circumstances of the fact itself endorse me. Victoria Brenta was kidnapped before a crowd of people, and nobody saw anything.
_ It's the perfect place for a kidnapping, Chief Inspector Otranto. A thousand eyes and not a single witness.
_ The guy knows what he's doing. Count on that infallible advantage.
_ Random random? What does your experience tell you about that concept?
_ It is highly probable. The massively popular amusement parks such as the Italpark are a favorite hunting spot for those who seek to kidnap minors.
_ Were there cases of kidnappings similar to this in recent months, official Otranto?
_ No, Dortmund. It is the first in several years.
_ How is the little Victoria Brenta physically?
_ The mother gave us a picture of her. She is a very beautiful and adorable baby. Smooth black hair, approximately halfway up the back. Dark brown eyes, skinny, menu dita and a very tender and innocent look. According to the mother and stepfather, she wore a blue-colored dress in the moment of disappearance.
_ Did you say stepfather, Inspector Otranto?
Dortmund sounded terribly astonished.
_ Did not I mention it? _ Replied the chief inspector with restraint. _ Yes, he was also present at the time of the event. Not exactly present, but in the bathroom.
_ Without the surveillance of either of the two, it was the right time to take her away.
Sean Dortmund said it as if he were thinking aloud.
_ Excuse me? _ Rogelio Otranto interposed with annoyance.
_ I say that this does not seem like a random kidnapping, but skillfully calculated. The raptor watched the little girl stealthily, and when he had a chance, he took her away. And as you said, he had more than enough time to take it out and take it away. It is very possible that he is no longer inside the Italpark for his misfortune, official Otranto ... Tell me one thing, was there already a demand for rescue?
_ As far as we know, no_ answered the inspector Rogelio Otranto, altered and overcome by the situation. Also, we have the line telephones of the family intervened as the protocol indicates. If they call, we'll know right away.
_ He named me the stepfather of the creature earlier. I imagine he is as devastated as the mother because of what happened.
His name is Jorge Aulet. And yes, it is destroyed. He wants the girl like his own daughter. He never had one with his previous partners. He never had children, really. He could not wait for Victoria.
_ And the biological father of the girl?
_ You already know what happened. He is enraged. Hold Mr. Aulet responsible for what happened. He confronted him bluntly as soon as he arrived at the park. If we did not intercede on time, it could have been worse.
_ Very interesting what you tell me , Inspector Otranto. What's the name of Victoria's father?
_ Alejandro Brenta. As soon as we warned him about what happened, he came desperate to the Italpark.
_ Are all still in the place of events?
_ So is. As I mentioned earlier, Dortmund, no one enters or leaves until this is completely clear.
_ And Mr. Brenta also blames Mrs. Berón for the disappearance of his daughter?
_ No, only him.
_ You have provided me with all the necessary information. If it does not bother you, I'll go there and talk a few words with the three just to satisfy a doubt I have about it.
_ What kind of doubt, Dortmund?
_ For now, it is better not to rush things. I know that the first 48 hours are crucial. But let's give only 24 hours of grace to our kidnapper. To act now would be to frighten him and to delay us more of the account, would imply to risk not to recover the minor in time. Trust me. And grant me the favor of doing a little experiment after I talk to the parents of little Vic Brenta.
And he cut off the communication before Chief Inspector Rogelio Otranto could replicate his sayings.
Inspector Otranto was annoyed by this kind of discourteous treatment, but I knew beforehand what Sean Dortmund was like. And I was willing to forget it if he solved the case successfully.
Half an hour later, Dortmund was face to face with Carla Berón, mother of the lost girl. It seemed an extravagant being. She was dressed in a green solero. His hair was cut on his forehead partially covering his ears. Aware of his style, he had no plans to modify his aesthetic. And to camouflage the untidiness of his hairstyle, he had it pulled up at the nape of his neck.
What he could not disguise was the state of crisis that dominated him entirely at that time, which was logical and perfectly understandable by the situation he was going through.
Dortmund encouraged him and promised to return his daughter promptly.
" He can not promise things he does not know if he's going to be able to fulfill, " Chief Inspector Rogelio Otranto thought to himself.
Sean Dortmund asked Mrs. Berón to tell him what happened at the time of the disappearance of his daughter, Victoria Brenta. With a very great effort and restraining her sobbing impulses, the woman obeyed. His voice was weak and ragged but he could easily understand what he was saying. Inspector Dortmund listened to it very carefully.
What Carla Berón told her was consistent with the information that Inspector R ogelio Otranto had given him by telephone a while before. And because of the tone of her voice, and the expression of her body and gestures, she was being completely honest. He did not hide anything.
"Why did you divorce your daughter's father?" Sean Dortmund asked calmly, though the tone of his voice suggested a hint of impatience.
_ Because there was no affection between us as a couple_ replied Carla Berón, stopping any bad intention that could hide the question in its nucleus. The love that we had, has long since died out. But we're still together a little longer for Victoria. We did not want to hurt her.
_ How long ago exactly, Mrs. Berón?
_ Three more years. It was a long time, more than we could both endure on our own.
_ And they decided to separate by mutual agreement?
_ Yes. At first, it was all simple. But the legal dispute started when I told Alejandro that Victoria stayed with me. I allowed her to see her on weekends , but he did not give in and handled a lawsuit for her custody. I won it.
_ When did you meet Mr. Jorge Aulet exactly?
_ Two years ago. I still lived with Alejandro. But I had already presented it to Victoria and I did not tell Alejandro until a week before the separation.
Did he not tell you that Mr. Aulet secretly saw little Victoria, who was in a relationship with another man or both?
_ Both. At first, he took it in very bad ways. But then he understood, although he was very insistent in wanting to return with me. He said we could fix ourselves, that we could be happy again. That we did it for Victoria. That he still loved me like the first day. And that our daughter did not deserve to be raised with a stranger. But when he realized that I was not going to change his mind ... Well, he got a little more aggressive. I was solemnly repeating that Jorge was not my type and that I was not going to let him get close to Victoria. You know.
_ And that's when Mr. Alejandro Brenta threatened to take his daughter out and initiated the corresponding legal actions, right?
Carla Berón nodded with a gentle gesture.
_ When the trial ended, did you win legal custody of the child, the judge set a visitation regime for Mr. Brenta to see and that's it? Did he strictly enforce it and stop bothering her?
_ Yes, inspector.
_ For the moment is everything. You have helped me a lot. The police said that we may have to call a psychic so she can find her daughter if we can not locate her. Would you come to the session?
_ If that serves, of course I will attend_ he said firmly, although he indicated some skepticism in the subject._ The only thing I want is to have Victoria with me back.
_ I take the floor, then. I'll see you soon. Do not lose faith, Mrs. Berón_ and gave him a warm pat on the shoulder.
She watched him walk away with pleading in his eyes. He had understood, for one very curious reason, that if anyone could find his daughter, that was Sean Dortmund. He had earned his trust more than the entire Police Corps that assisted in the investigation.
Carla Berón was powerfully suggestive about the kinds of questions asked by Dortmu nd and the direction she directed the interview. But he understood that a researcher, faced with the consummation of any illicit, must explore and exhaust all relevant possibilities.
Sometimes, asking certain kinds of questions can be tediously uncomfortable. But it is a fundamental part of the daily work of the researcher. At first, the practice becomes difficult. But over time, it becomes more malleable and bearable.
Going a little deeper into the life of Mrs. Berón, Dortmund discovered that in his beginnings he had several jobs. She worked from dressmaker to executive account of a bank. His childhood and adolescence were difficult. He grew up without a stable father figure. His father beat assiduously to his mother and she, being very young, witnessed those scenes of abuse that sadly had become commonplace in the daily routine of the family.
One day, in a carelessness of the father, the mother took her to Carla Berón by force and escaped with her. From that moment, her father had several unstable partners, who only cared to sleep with her.And little by little, Carla was left aside. Of course that did not imply at all that his mother Carla did not care. But I did not hold it as before.
Carla Berón moved away from that lifestyle and became alone in the face of the adversities of life and routine. And one day, he worked in a bank. There he met Alejandro Brenta, a very handsome and crazy broker, a very frequent client with a great talent for business and finance. They fell in love, they got engaged, they got married and as a result of that relationship, Victoria Brenta was born.
Soon after, Carla Berón discovered that her husband was not the man she appeared to be and who only cared about the money . He made a very big effort to save the relationship but it did not work out.Although they did make a huge effort to stay together for Victoria. Carla Berón did not want her little daughter to suffer what she suffered at her young age. Victoria Brenta felt a very great affection for the two and the sentimental distance between them did not deprive her of that attachment.
The people in the Italpark were uncontainable. They all regretted what had happened and wanted as much as anyone that the poor girl would return to her parents as soon as possible, but they wanted to leave now. It was very hot and many were tired. The boys complained and the parents were unable to explain why they should stay in the park. Everyone was unbearably annoyed so. Some knew how to understand the delay, others, on the other hand, were not so perseverant.
Sean Dortmund looked for Mr. Brenta. I wanted to talk briefly with him. He was a man of respectable aspect, abrupt gestures and a somewhat aggressive manners. But of good bearing and a lot of predisposition. Dress in the latest fashion, prominent mustaches and gentle face.
"I'm sorry about your daughter, Mr. Brenta," Dortmund told him. "They called me especially to help with the case and I wanted to exchange some words with you. How do you feel?
_ How do you think I feel? _ Alejandro Brenta shouted in a hoarse voice.
_ I know. But believe me it would be very discourteous of me if I did not ask about it. Did you see your daughter often?
_ I saw her on the days that Justice would allow me .
Alejandro Brenta was a man of few words.
_ Did you ever have any problem with that? _ Continued interrogating Inspector Dortmund.
_ Everything within the established, all on good terms.
_ Blamed only Mr. Jorge Aulet, current partner of his ex-wife, for the disappearance of his daughter. Why only him?
_ Because he always neglected her! Victoria always told me. He told me he was good to her, but too distracted. I said this to Carla a thousand times, but she tried to confront me. To put Victoria's own ideals in her mouth. What a stupid thing! As if she did not know me ...
_ Then, I conclude that your relationship with Mr. Aulet is bad.
_ Not even bad because such a relationship between us does not exist. He stole from Carla and he owned Victoria. On top of that, he does not know how to take care of it. But Carla does not see it. Poor woman, do not go touching the hubby.
He uttered the latter with a tone that mixed sarcasm and anger.
Sean Dortmund looked at him in a particular way for a few seconds. Then he added:
_ How did you hear about the incident?
_ Carla notified me. He called me at work. As soon as I found out, I came running, "replied Mr. Brenta, in a forced attitude for not bursting with anger.
_ Arrived right away, so I understand.
_ My office is twenty blocks from here. I took a taxi to get there as fast as possible.
_ As soon as it arrived, what did it do?
_ I got inside the situation. I saw Jorge, standing, nervous and hugging Carla, and I went to confront him for allowing something like this to happen . But surely you already know.
_ The Police summoned a psychic to help with the investigation and is already here. He will make a session to try to see where his daughter Victoria is hiding and we need her to be present.
Alejandro Brenta looked at Dortmund with skepticism.
_ A seer? Seriously? This is how the police work? They are the laughingstock of the country_ replied with irony and malice.
_ There were cases that were resolved with the assistance of a seer, Mr. Brenta. They see things that the police often go through .
_ It's okay. I will be there if necessary. But the idea seems totally ridiculous to me.
_ It is a fact, Mr. Brenta. I will come to look for it in a while.
The next step by Sean Dortmund was Jorge Aulet, the stepfather of little Victoria Brenta. He was tall, with a frivolous look and harsh features. But he was a very pleasant and friendly human being. I was left in tears for what happened and implora vehemently that Victoria was returned safe and sound as soon as possible. He answered all the questions that Sean Dortmund asked him without problems and without surprises. And he accepted, although not very convinced, the idea of the seer.
As soon as Sean Dortmund left Mr. Aulet, he looked for a pay phone and made a call to someone.
_ It's all ready_ the inspector told who was on the other side of the line._ Tell him to come immediately, we're waiting for you.
He cut off the communication and reunited the three of them in a closed and isolated room, loaded with a lot of privacy. A few minutes later, a woman in a strafalaria dress , with a strange hairstyle, full of colors and a mystical look, appeared in the cubicle. Sean Dortmund greeted her with a smile and invited her to pass kindly.
_ Gentlemen, she is Selena Berner, the seer_ formally presented to the rest.
Everyone looked skeptical, except Carla Berón who watched her with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Selena Berner concentrated, closed her eyes and started.
_ I see a girl_ began to say with a mystical voice._ It ... is ... It's beautiful. She is alone, scared ... No, she is ... She is accompanied by someone who takes care of her ... Victoria is not afraid ... she ... She trusts the person who has her under her care.
Sean Dortmund was watching attentively and with an impertinent look the expression of Carla Berón, Jorge Aulet and Alejandra Brenta.
_ The little girl seems happy_ followed the seer with her reading._ She is happy, playing in a kind of department ... she has a colored jumpsuit ... Rosa.
_ Azul_ Mr. Brenta corrected firmly.
_ How do you know it was blue if you were not with us in the park? _ Asked Mrs. Berón amazed. And immediately after a sudden violent reaction, he rushed at his ex-husband. How could you? Your daughter, your own daughter!
Officers separated her from Mr. Alejandro Brenta, who was arrested a few seconds later to investigate him. Chief Inspector Rogelio Otranto confronted Dortmund for explanations.
_ But, if everything was clear from the beginning! - boasted Sean Dortmund._ In most of these cases, the guilty party is always one of the parents. How a creature disappears in the midst of a crowd without making the slightest scandal? Because he knows the kidnapper. Simple answer, simple solution. Alejandro Brenta planned everything very well. She knew that Victoria would come to the Italpark today because she told him without hesitation the last time they saw each other. He works nearby and temporarily retired from work under some pretext. He comes to the Italpark, places his daughter and waits for the moment of maximum carelessness. Cua ndo comes that moment, he approaches her young daughter, she is happy to see him, he says he has a surprise for her and walks away from his hand. And the fact is not suspect to anyone at all! He takes her out of the entrance normally and puts her in the car of a family member, say a paternal uncle, to take her to a relative's house. I would risk saying paternal grandmother. Once Victoria in the car, Mr. Alejandro Brenta returns to his office and patiently waits to be notified about the alleged abduction. Pretend surprise, act a little and be apersona in thepark. And plays the role of the father concerned in front of the authorities and in front of the mother of the child.
_ Interesting_ Rogelio Otranto adduced with sincerity. How did he discover it?
_ For the simple detail that he blamed Mr. Aulet for the abduction of his daughter, and not Mrs. Carla Berón. And that is the reason for the whole drama. Alejandro Brenta and Carla Berón no longer attract, there is no passion between them. But he is still in love with her, he still loves her. They decide to stay together for a while longer for their daughter but the thing does not work and they decide that it is best to separate permanently.
< Mrs. Berón considers that it is the right moment to tell Mr. Brenta about her and Jorge Aulet, and he is falling apart when he finds out about the adventure and the relationship he had with his daughter.He would not resign himself to losing and just because the two loves of his life>.
< He started a lawsuit to keep custody of Victoria, but the judge ruled in favor of Carla Berón and that failure altered it even more > .
< Jorge Aulet was not a great stepfather, he neglected his daughter all the time. But Mrs. Berón refused to accept it because Mr. Aulet was the prototype of the perfect man. And it was the heel of Aquile s for Mr. Brenta. If I could actually see that Jorge Aulet not protect Victoria, discredit him and keep alive dr ed hopes that Carla returned with him. That's why he simulated the kidnapping. Then, Alejandro Brenta would interfere in the investigation, pretend to find his own daughter and remain a hero, leaving Jorge Aulet > worse still .
< But I did not have proof of Mr. Brenta's guilt and that's why I summoned an old well-known actress to act as seer. The size of the dress color made him stumble. It was so sudden that he did not have time to think of a lie and unconsciously took the bait. Also, when I proposed to him to make the session so that the supposed seer would reveal to us who kidnapped Vic Toria Brenta and where he had hidden her, he became pale and did not emphasize who because he knew he was. On the other hand, you could tell that his emotions were represented, compared with Aulet Mr and Mrs Beron, they were very authentic>.
The pector ins chief Rogelio Otranto felt admired by the talent displayed Sean Dortmund in the case and thanked him for his invaluable collaboration it.
A few days later, he learned from the captain himself Riestra Victoria Otranto was rescued unharmed, and was momentarily hidden in the home of his maternal grandmother, located in Tigre.
Alejandro Brenta presumed that taking Victoria from a massively crowded place and in the sight of thousands of people was going to be a simple task. And I did ! It was too simple.
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