Free A Corpse for Cuamantla by Harol Marshall

have filmed the murderer this morning. If so, and if the same thought occurs to Pedro's killer, then he or she, I guess it could have been a she but I don't think so, may stop at nothing to confiscate my camera and DVDs. I'm very worried."
    Miguel dropped his hands and stared at her.
    "Two things." She went on, hurrying to make her points. "First, we need to find a way to keep the DVDs safe, and second, I'm wondering if tomorrow morning you can go with me to the police."
    "Yes, but I think we should review the film first."
    "We can look at it on my laptop, but I'd rather review it on a large screen, which we can do at the library. That way we can pick out individual faces in the crowd and look for incriminating information. What do you say? I mean, even if we can't actually pinpoint the murderer going into the rose garden, maybe other clues on the video might lead to his identity, or her identity, although I don't really believe it's a her."
    "So you said, Anna, but I wouldn't be so sure."
    Anna wondered whether he meant María, but if so, she wasn't biting. María didn't kill Pedro. Anna was as certain of that as she was certain of Miguel's innocence. She knew people. Not everyone with motive acts on it.
    "Tomorrow morning isn't a good time," Miguel said. "I have to be in Pedro's village for the funeral ceremonies tomorrow afternoon. You're not required to attend unless you wish. Of course, this may be your only chance to attend a Mexican funeral, but whatever pleases you, Maestra."
    "Oh dear." Anna groaned. "When are you leaving and how is everyone traveling? By bus or car?"
    "I've already talked with some of the teachers and we're meeting here at eleven and driving in caravan in case someone has car trouble, and also, to discourage bandits."
    "Bandits? Are you serious?"
    "Very serious, Maestra. We'll be traveling through rugged terrain between here and Pedro's village. Some of those areas are notorious for drug runners. We'll be fine as long as we travel together. It's about a two-hour ride to the village of San Juan Zocatlo in the State of Vera Cruz. If you want to come along, I can stop by your house about 9:30 and travel with you on the morning bus to Apizaco."
    "How about this instead? We meet at the library in Tlaxcala at 8:00, view the video then hire a taxi to get us here by eleven. I'll pay for the taxi and I'll buy breakfast as well. Surely, you won't turn down that offer."
    Miguel looked thoughtful. "Yes, Maestra. I guess that would work, but I'm buying breakfast, and we'll share the taxi costs to Cuamantla. How's that?"
    "Great." She tried to smile but she worried about her safety between now and the morning.
    "I think your idea of viewing the video on a large screen is worthwhile," Miguel added. "We can meet at 8:30 at the Café Los Portales in the zócalo."
    "Sounds good to me."
    "I want to talk with you about a few other matters as well. However, let's join the teachers before they get the wrong idea." He winked and gently turned her shoulders propelling her in the direction of the school office. He's hardly disabusing them of the wrong idea, she thought, following alongside him. What were the other matters he mentioned? They sounded personal. She hoped he wasn't planning to withdraw his support for her research in Cuamantla. That would be a disaster for her at this stage. She needed to start a worry list, write down her concerns and check them off one at a time if and when they happened. Seeing her doubts and fears in writing might separate them from the imagination station in her brain and alleviate some of her stress.

Chapter 16
     
    A nna joined the group of teachers who gathered their belongings from the office and with Miguel in the lead, formed a solemn group making their way up the cobblestone hill to the house of the fiesta queen. Hardly a ‘fiesta spirit,' Anna noted, wondering whether María would join them at the queen's house. She wouldn't be surprised either way.
    Halfway up the hill, María