Free Or the Bull Kills You by Jason Webster Page B

while.’
    â€˜How long has he been here?’
    â€˜Three or four hours,’ Torres said under his breath. ‘There’s a bar round the corner I wanted to try for lunch.’
    â€˜Any good?’ Cámara said.
    â€˜All right. Bit expensive. Nice waitress. Redhead.’
    They both finished their cigarettes.
    â€˜What’s he saying about him and Blanco?’ Cámara asked.
    â€˜Just good friends.’
    â€˜Well, at least he admits to knowing him. Nothing else?’
    â€˜What do you want me to do? Ask him if he and Blanco ever did it?’
    Torres started playing with his wedding ring, rolling it around his finger with his right hand.
    â€˜What did he say when you mentioned his fingerprints being found on Blanco’s body?’
    â€˜Nothing. Just sat there.’
    â€˜And the bracelet?’ Cámara asked.
    â€˜That was a bit more interesting. Claimed he didn’t know what I was talking about, but when I pulled it out to show him…’
    â€˜Yes?’ Cámara asked.
    â€˜Well, there was definitely a look of recognition there.’
    Cámara waited for a second.
    â€˜Is that it?’
    Torres nodded.
    â€˜Fantastic,’ Cámara said. ‘Caballero’s going to love this. No confession, but we did get a strange look when we showed him Exhibit A. Open and bloody shut case.’
    â€˜All right, you gilipollas . Give it a rest,’ Torres said.
    â€˜What’s Pardo got against this guy anyway?’
    â€˜You know what he’s like about maricones .’
    â€˜Are we even sure Aguado and Blanco were lovers?’ Cámara said. ‘What are we basing it on? Gossip magazines?’
    â€˜The fingerprints?’ Torres said. ‘It would explain that. Perhaps he and Blanco, you know,’ he jerked his head to one side’ ‘just before the bullfight.’
    â€˜In which case they can hardly prove he killed him as well.’
    A group of eight-year-olds had arrived on the far side of the wasteland and were throwing firecrackers at one another’s feet, dancing and laughing as they popped around their ankles.
    â€˜Still,’ Torres went on, ‘the mutilation. It’s…’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Well, you don’t try and cut the balls off a dead man for no good reason.’
    Cámara gave him a look.
    â€˜It’s a crime of passion, chief. Got to be. Who else is going to do that but a jilted boyfriend?’
    â€˜Was he jilted?’
    â€˜Might have been.’
    â€˜We need more on Aguado,’ Cámara said. ‘Who are his friends, people who know him? Has he got any family? Can someone confirm for us that at least he and Blanco were an item, albeit in secret? At the moment we’re not even treading water. Who’s with us?’
    â€˜Sánchez and Ibarra,’ Torres said through his teeth.
    â€˜Send them back to El Cabanyal. Get them talking to people, neighbours, anyone.’
    â€˜And me?’
    â€˜Stick with Aguado. It’ll keep Pardo happy at least.’
    They turned and headed back to the emergency exit. Behind them, the group of children were trying to get louder and louder bangs by simultaneously throwing as many firecrackers to the ground as they could. Squeals of laughter came from the girls watching as the boys took turns to set off the mini explosions.
    â€˜So how was Emilia?’ Torres asked as they got back inside.
    â€˜Well, she didn’t get fresh with me, if that’s what you mean,’ Cámara said. ‘Her lapdog got quite friendly, though.’
    He turned to leave.
    â€˜So Flores was there as well, was he?’ Torres called after him. ‘They really did want to put the thumbscrews on.’
    Â 
    Cámara headed out of the building, crossed the former river bed, and slipped into the Carmen district. Something was on his mind, something he had to do, but his thoughts were moving in several directions at once, and he