CHAPTER 21

THE SALDANHA DELEGATE WAS LYING ON THE SOFA in his office, it had been almost forty-eight hours since he left that office.

The delegate received a call:

–– Deputy Marcus Saldanha – he said.

"Do you have good news yet, delegate? " – Father Martinho Cruz said.

–– Caral... – took a deep breath before continuing – you again? I told you, once you have something concrete you'd call, give it a break.

"We cannot wait a lifetime, delegate... the church is a serious institution, and I would like you to correspond as such..."

–– Father, I am more than two days without sleep, with a case almost impossible to be solved, the whole press is on my feet, your church too, so, let us work a little in peace, please...

"You said in the interview that you were Catholic..."

The sentence was cut short.

–– I am a Catholic when the case is in a Catholic church, I will be evangelical if the case involves this, and so on, have you heard of the Secular State? If not, then get used to it.

"But..."

–– There is no "but", no more and no less priest, your church has committed so many murders during history that life imprisonment would be little, and that's not why I keep calling at this early hour to piss you off.

"I hope God will forgive you for talking like that to a representative of Him..."

–– Keep your prayers to yourself, Father, you need them more than I do.

The deputy hung up without saying goodbye to the priest and said:

–– Wow, since I was a child, these old people never change.

Officer Eduardo Fontes came into the room.

-- Sir?

–– What happened this time, Fontes?

–– I would like to know if you will still need me, sir, it is already late and I have an important appointment today.

–– I think that's it for today, go home and rest, tomorrow I'll call you if you need anything.

–– Of course, sir, good night.

–– Good night.

Eduardo Fontes was too exhausted, he had accompanied those two days of intense work with Chief Saldanha, especially on that particular day, which had been an unrivaled turmoil at the police station, but Eduardo Fontes knew very well where to seek comfort.