The Forbidden Promise (27 page)

Lucas woke up the next morning very late, with the feeling of
emerging from a nightmare. His temples were throbbing incessantly and he felt
his mouth uncomfortably furry, like after a hangover.
He found Santos waiting for him in the living room with a cup of steaming
coffee ready for him.
" How are you feeling?" Santos asked worriedly.
"Fine, what happened?" Lucas ran his hand through his thick hair
black, "When did you arrive? Where is Aurora?"
Santos sighed, looking uneasy.
"Don’t you remember anything?" He asked.
Lucas shook his head, staring at him puzzled and alarmed.
" Aurora’s returned to Tampico..." explained Santos.
" To Tampico? What are you saying? At night? Alone? And why?" Asked
Lucas.
He grabbed Santos by the collar of his shirt and shook him.
Santos broke free from his grip.
"Calm down, give me time to explain, last night we came back, Aurora went
straight away to your room looking for you and a few moments later I saw her
run out of the door in tears. She was determined to leave immediately. Since
the next train to Tampico left early this morning, she decided to spend the
night at the inn in Zacatecas near the station. It’s a place for gentlefolk,
used by people in high places, it seemed the best solution, since neither I nor
Pablo were able to stop her ... Pablo has accompanied her. Then I came to warn
you, but you were sleeping so deeply that I couldn’t manage to wake you
up."
Lucas grabbed the cup of coffee and drank a few sips. He still felt dazed and
shocked by Aurora’s flight.
"I remember having dinner and then nothing ... your aunt served me
..." he paused thoughtful.
" What happened? Do you remember anything?" Santos said, worried.
" I don’t know ... it's like a dream ... I remember being in bed with
Aurora, but it’s not possible if she ran away immediately, then ..."
" ... Then the woman that you were in bed with was not your wife,"
concluded Santos for him " and
Doña
Aurora saw you ..."
"Damn! I wasn’t myself last night!" Lucas swore loudly "Your
aunt! ... And who could be the woman with whom I ...?" He did not finish
his sentence, he closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair in despair.
" From what you tell me, I also suspect that my aunt has had a hand in all
this and I swear Lucas, that if I find out that she had something to do with
this matter I'll kill her with my bare hands"
"Go and call her." Lucas ordered furious "No, let's go
together."
The two men ran into the kitchen, but they found only Yolanda.
" Where is that witch of an aunt of ours?" Santos asked abruptly,
grabbing Yolanda by the arm.
"I don’t know, this morning when I woke up she wasn’t in either her room
or anywhere else and she seems to have taken all her things with her. And the
woman who came from Tampico is no longer here either. I found it odd but
..." replied Yolanda.
"Cursed Witch!" Lucas interrupted her. "I'll go to Tampico
straight away. Santos you stay here, in case that hag comes back."
Santos nodded.
"But do you know what happened?" Yolanda said, "why did Aurora
ran away last night?"
Santos turned to his sister.
"You’ll no longer have anything to do with our aunt! That damned woman has
ruined Lucas’ life!"
Yolanda looked at her brother shocked.
"Is Lucas going to get his wife back?" she asked.
Santos nodded.
"I'm going to help him in the stables." He said, going out. He joined
Lucas, but while Lucas was quickly saddling his horse, one of the shift
managers from the mine, with dusty clothes and a sweating forehead, came
running to them.
He said breathlessly, "Sir, you have to come to the mine immediately ...
the workers are in revolt and have threatened to blow up everything!"
Galloping Lucas and Santos rushed to the mine and there they found a group of
workers armed with shovels and forks waiting for them in silence.
Santos carefully pulled out his gun, but Lucas gestured with his hand for
Santos to put the weapon back.
"Gentlemen," he said, pulling on the reins of his horse. "I'm
here to talk to you."
" With all due respect Sir, there is no longer time to talk ... our kids
are hungry, this month's wages haven’t arrived yet." said one of the men
who seemed to be the leader of the revolt.
"I know you’ve been very patient and I know you need the money but I
assure you that your wages will be paid ... I’ve almost completed the sale of
the last load of silver and in a few days I'll have the money to pay you."
Said Lucas.
" We are no longer willing to wait, for us a week's delay in payment means
we can’t put food on the tables for our families. If we don’t get paid today
we’ll leave the mine." Retorted the leader of the revolt.
"I agree, you're right, for you a week's delay is too long. I’ll go to
Tampico today and in two days time I’ll return with the money." Said Lucas
then he turned to face Santos, "Go back to the house and wait for me
there."
Then Lucas spurred his horse into a gallop, and headed towards Tampico.
"Don’t be impulsive or you’ll regret it, the Master always honors his
promises ..." Said Santos to the workers as he turned his horse and rode
away.
He did not notice a figure that had spied on the whole scene from inside a tool
shed. When she saw that the two men had left on horseback and the group of
workers had dispersed, she came out of her hiding place and crept over to the
leader of the revolt.
" You did a great job ... here, these are for you," and she handed
him a clinking jute bag. "The person who sent me knows how to reward a job
well done."
The man grabbed the bag and put it in his pocket quickly making sure no one was
watching.
"Thank you,
Doña
Penelope ... it's always a pleasure doing business
with you," he added with a grin.
"Remember that no one must know of our agreement and you must convince the
workers to abandon the mine as soon as possible."
" But if the Master returns with the money ..." the man objected.
"Don’t worry, my Mistress will make sure that Lucas won’t enjoy either the
money or his
hacienda
for long... Let alone pay you back in time
..." She threw her head back laughing.
The trap had been sprung with
precision and the poor little mouse will never break free, it will die crushed
in the attempt.

 Lucas
arrived in the coastal town after traveling all night on the train that he had
fortunately managed to catch at San Luis Portosi station. He knocked on the
door of
Doña
Viviana’s house.
He was very tired from the long journey and had also not yet fully recovered
from the drug that Penelope had given him. On the way to the station he had
even risked falling from his horse. During the train ride he had rested a
little, but it had not helped much.
Carmen opened the door, she was surprised to find herself in front of Aurora's
husband, his face pale and suffering.
" Can I help you, sir?" She asked in amazement.
" Is Aurora here?" Lucas asked staring at her.
" No, Aurora has gone out with
Doña
Viviana."
"Where did she go?" Questioned Lucas.
"I don’t know..." Replied Carmen.
"When will they come back?"
" They didn’t say that either."
Lucas became impatient with Carmen’s reticent tone and said, "When she
comes back please tell her that I called... I desperately need to talk to her.
Tell her also that I have to go back to Zacatecas straight away as there are
serious problems, but I will come back to her soon as possible."
"Okay Sir, I’ll give
Doña
Aurora your message."
Lucas returned to his modest home, where he tried to rest for few hours before
going to the bank. After reluctantly gulping down a few mouthfuls in a local
tavern, he hastened to the bank’s massive building in the town center and
entered the heavy front door.
"Good morning, how can I help you?" Asked the clerk at the counter.
" I’d like to speak to the manager." Replied Lucas.
"Don Guadalupe is busy at the moment, you'll have to wait for a few
minutes."
"It's an issue that can’t wait," Lucas said firmly and headed towards
Guadalupe Rodriguez’s office.
"Wait ..." said the clerk running after him, "At least give me
time to announce you!"
Lucas stopped just outside the door and waited nervously for a few minutes.
After a while the clerk came out and said, "You can go in now!"
With a couple of strides Lucas entered the office.
"What can I do for you Mr. Navarra," asked Don Guadalupe sitting
with his elbows on his desk and his hands clasped under his chin.
Lucas looked him straight in the eyes.
"I need a loan..." He announced in a firm voice without preamble.
Don Guadalupe cleared his throat with two coughs.
"Well," he said, opening a desk drawer and taking out sheets of
paper. "Fill in these forms and I’ll get the procedure started
today."
" How long will it take?" Enquired Lucas
" How much are we talking about?" replied Don Guadalupe.
" 3,000
pesos
."
Don Guadalupe shrugged his shoulders and said.
" A couple of weeks..."
"That’s too long, I need it today." Retorted Lucas
" For today? No, it’s not possible. I don’t believe that we even have that
amount in our safe."
"Tomorrow the money won’t be of any use to me, I need it today!"
Bellowed Lucas, banging down a fist on Don Guadalupe’s desk.
"I realize this Don Lucas, but there are procedures to be followed, I
could lose my position. Despite your prestigious name I need some guarantees
for such a large loan." Said Don Guadalupe wiping sweat from his forehead
with a handkerchief.
"I'll sign a mortgage on my house in Tampico to guarantee payment as long
as the money is handed over to me today."
Don Guadalupe was silent for a few seconds, drumming his fingers on the desk.
Lucas stared at him.
"All right, Don Lucas, but the mortgage must be on the mine in Zacatecas,
not on your modest home in Tampico!"
Lucas sighed, clenching his fist, "If there is no other solution, I
accept!"
"Good, if you can wait here I’ll be back in ten minutes with the cash.
These are the documents to be signed ..." and he pulled out two more
sheets from another drawer in the desk, then walked out of his office.
Don Guadalupe closed the door behind him, and after making sure there were no
other customers in the bank he turned to whisper to the clerk at the counter.
" Go immediately to
Doña
Raquel and tell her I sent you and that
the mortgage on the mine has been signed and that everything has been done as
she commanded. And remember to ensure that you aren’t followed or spied on by
anyone. You useless person!"
" Yes, Sir, I'll go straight away."

Aurora walked slowly at her mother's side, her face looked even
paler and more pained due to the dark mourning dress she wore.
"You didn’t say a single word at your aunt Clara and uncle Miguel’s house.
What's happened to you, my child?” Asked
Doña
Viviana, putting an arm
around Aurora’s shoulders, as they went in the front door.
"Nothing mother, I told you that everything is fine." Her voice
broke, however, and betrayed her anguish.
"But how can it be fine if you're holding back tears? You left yesterday
morning and you're already back, something happened with Lucas, I'm sure of it!
Tell me the truth dear let me help you."
Doña
Viviana looked at Aurora anxiously who put her hands to her face,
burst into tears and dropped to her knees.
Doña
Viviana helped her to
her feet and hugged her. "Come, tell me what's bothering you."
Aurora took a deep breath and told her mother about the scene she found when
she had arrived in Zacatecas.
"That cheat…That villain...That wretch…That man is like everyone from his
family! You should never have married him! But I swear I'll do everything to
ensure that he doesn’t come close to you ever again and to end this absurd
marriage as soon as possible!"
Viviana's hazel eyes lit up with uncontrollable rage.
My daughter has been
made a fool of like I was ... Those damn Navarra y Reyes!
Aurora stayed silent, words seemed pointless, but her mother’s insulting
towards Lucas penetrated her soul like sharp daggers.
Aurora took leave of her mother and went up to her room, still prostrate with
grief. Viviana watched her with sorrow, when her attention was called by
Carmen.
"Good evening, Ma’am," said Carmen coming out of the kitchen,
"Is
Doña
Aurora with you?"
"Yes but she’s gone to rest."
Carmen wrung her hands in her apron, anxious.
"Don Lucas came and left a message for her."
Upon hearing this, Viviana took Carmen by the arm and went into the kitchen
with her.
"What did that wretch say?"
"He asked me to tell
Doña
Aurora that he had been here and that he
would return as soon as possible."
Viviana released Carmen’s arm and began to pace nervously about the kitchen.
She had to think about what to do, she could not allow Aurora to continue to
suffer due to that despicable man.
I had a feeling that he wasn’t the right
man for her ... oh Costantino! If you’d only listened to me! Not one of that
damn family is honest and sincere!
"Not a word to my daughter, do you understand?" She said finally,
in a severe tone.
"No Ma'am ... as you wish," said Carmen, frightened by Viviana’s
reaction.
" And now go back to taking care of dinner!" She ordered sharply.
Viviana then turned to the cook and asked for boiling water to prepare a
tranquilizing herbal tea for Aurora. As soon as it was ready, she took the tray
and climbed the stairs to take it to Aurora. When she reached the bedroom door,
she knocked gently.
"Come in," said Aurora who was lying on her bed staring at the
ceiling. A cool evening breeze came in through the open window.
"I’ve brought you some hot tea." Said Viviana.
"Thank you mother."
"How are you feeling?" asked Viviana as she handed her the cup.
Aurora sighed.
"Not well, but I still can’t believe it really happened. I thought he
loved me ... How could he have pretended so well in our moments of intimacy? I
feel so stupid and humiliated."
Viviana pursed her lips tensely.
"That man is an adventurer, used to having many women, and not content
with having only one ... believe me, it’s better this way, he’s not the man for
you."
Sitting down on the edge of the bed next to Aurora, Viviana took her hand and
continued:
"Why don’t we go to Mexico City? You and I... Let’s go and stay with your
cousin Dolores for a while, you’ll see, it’ll do us good to be away from this
town and to forget everything. What do you say?"
Aurora took a deep breath.
"Fine, maybe that's what I need."
"Then get ready, because we leave tomorrow at dawn." Said Viviana.
"So soon? But ..."
"No buts, prepare your luggage. It makes no sense waiting. Let's leave at
once." Replied Viviana.
" As you say mother, now could you leave me alone for a while."
Aurora said ruefully.
" As you wish dear, I'm going to pack my bags."
Viviana got up and caressed Aurora’s pained face.
As she closed Aurora’s bedroom door behind herself, Carmen appeared.
"Ma’am, Don Cristobal has just arrived and would like to talk to
Doña
Aurora."
"Tell him I'll be right down and make him comfortable in the living
room."
A few minutes later
Doña
Viviana joined her guest. Gallantly, Cristobal
immediately stood up from the sofa.
"Good evening
Doña
Viviana, how are you?" He said kissing her
hand.
Viviana sighed sadly.
"The pain of losing my husband is still very strong, but I understand that
I have to have courage. I'm glad you came to see me. Would you like something
to drink, a coffee?"
"A brandy, thank you." Replied Cristobal.
Doña
Viviana handed him a glass.
"Thank you," he said, "I'm here to see Aurora, they told me that
she’s in town."
"News travels fast here!" exclaimed
Doña
Viviana.
Cristobal gave one of his open and friendly smiles.
"Forgive me, I didn’t mean to be hasty or seem intrusive."
"Don’t worry, you certainly didn’t give me this impression. However,
Aurora is resting, tomorrow morning we leave for Mexico City. We both need a
break from this town."
"May I ask if Lucas Navarra y Reyes will accompany you?" asked
Cristobal, poorly concealing a note of anxiety in his voice.
Viviana stared at him for a moment, curious.
"No, just the two of us are going. We’ll be guests of my niece
Dolores."
"I can therefore offer to accompany you? I should be going to Mexico City
in a few days’ time to resolve some business but I’ll bring my journey forward
if I could have the honor of coming with you."
Viviana hesitated. It was a golden opportunity to bring Cristobal and Aurora
together, but at the same time Aurora could be very upset about it. In
addition, she had to take care of Aurora’s honor as she was still a married
woman and traveling with another man could give rise to gossip.
"It’s very kind of you, but we wouldn’t want to cause you any trouble,”
she said finally.
"It’s no trouble at all, it will be a great pleasure for me,"
responded Cristobal.
What should I do?
Viviana asked herself
, the presence of a man could
be useful, the journey to Mexico City is very long ...
"All right." She conceded," if you really wish to, we could
make the trip together. It will seem shorter and more enjoyable for us."
Cristobal smiled happily. He stood up unable to contain the joy that had
suddenly pervaded him. This was an opportunity that destiny had given him to
win Aurora’s love. He would certainly take advantage as much as possible of
being beside her all day.
He took leave of
Doña
Viviana who stood up herself to accompany him to
the entrance. Cristobal kissed her hand and headed for home.
Doña
Viviana could not help smiling at seeing Cristobal’s exuberance and
thinking that he would have made her daughter happy.
Back in the living room she heard another knock at the door.
Carmen came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.
" Leave it Carmen, I’ll go ... today is the day for visits." She
said.
On the threshold was Don José, the inspector whom she had already had the
opportunity to meet. Don José, tall, with dark chestnut hair and bright blue
eyes, stared at her intently.
"Good evening, may I come in? I've come to talk with you."
"Please come in captain." Said Viviana, motioning for him to enter.
Don José took off his hat and kissed
Doña
Viviana’s soft and delicate
hand. He could not deny to himself that he was very impressed by
Doña
Viviana’s  beauty and dignity . The black dress did not do her justice, but
José admired her beautiful bronze hair and warm hazel eyes.

"Forgive the
disturbance, but it’s a matter of some urgency."
At that moment Aurora came down the stairs and saw the guest who had just
arrived.
"Good evening, Don José."
"Good evening,
Doña
Aurora, it’s a real pleasure to meet you here
..."
Vivian looked at her daughter worried.
"Dear, why didn’t you stay in your room to rest?"
"No mother, I prefer to take my mind off it a little." Said Aurora
looking down shyly.
"My daughter is very stricken by her father’s death." Viviana
justified, "As indeed I am, this tragedy has shocked us and we won’t rest
until the person responsible for such a crime is brought to justice!"
"I'm very sorry," said Don José, "I understand your pain, but
because it is also my desire to capture the person responsible for your
husband’s death, I have to ask you some questions and I can’t delay any
longer."
They sat down on the couch and Don José continued.
"We found this at the crime scene." And he pulled out of his pocket a
white handkerchief which he cautiously opened. Inside was the gold cufflink
engraved with the initials LNR.
"Have you seen it before?" he asked, carefully watching the reaction
of the two women.
Aurora gasped at the sight of the cufflink and put her hands to her chest.
"My God!" She exclaimed. Viviana looked at her worried.
"What is it Aurora? Do you know whose it is?"
"Yes, but ... it can’t be." Aurora began to tremble as she stared
horrified at the jewel in Don José’s hand.
"
Doña
Aurora, trust me ... whose cufflink is this?" Asked Don
José.
Aurora continued to stare at it in disbelief for a few minutes and then without
taking her eyes from the handkerchief that contained it said, sighing,
"It’s Lucas’."
"Lucas’?" Said
Doña
Viviana recoiling. "No, it can’t be
... that scoundrel, murderer!"
" Mother, please, calm down, there must be an explanation!" said
Aurora bursting into tears.
"
Doña
Aurora," interrupted Don José, "Are you really
sure that it’s your husband’s?"
" Yes," she said looking down.
" May I ask where your husband was the night of the murder?"
" The night of the murder," stammered Aurora confused, and in tears,
"He was ... he was ... in Tampico ... but believe me Captain, Lucas would
be incapable of committing such a crime ... it’s not possible!"
"Incapable? But please! "Interrupted
Doña
Viviana, standing up
in a fit of anger, "You remember that your father died in that fire! It
seems your husband is suspected of causing it! I can’t believe you still want
to defend him!"
"Mother, enough, please!" cried Aurora.
Doña
Viviana averted her darkened look.
"Don José, you have to believe me, Lucas would be incapable of committing
such a crime." said Aurora in a beseeching tone.
Don José was silent for a few seconds.
"Don’t worry, we’ll investigate further. But do you know if there was any
grudge between your husband and your father?" he asked, looking more at
Doña
Viviana than Aurora.
"No, absolutely not! My father admired Lucas!"
Viviana could not deny Aurora’s declaration and slowly sat back down on the
couch.
"If you'll excuse me, I don’t feel at all well," said Aurora, jumping
up and running to her room.
" Poor girl," said
Doña
Viviana. "She’s going through a
lot at the moment!"
And all because of that damned man!
"Can you confirm that there were no grounds for animosity between your
husband and your son in law?" asked Don José "I can understand that
your daughter is reticent on this subject, however I need to know the truth.
You understand, don’t you?"
Viviana nodded, sighing.
"My daughter told the truth, between my husband and Lucas there was no
problem."
Don José looked at her admiringly.
Doña Viviana is an incredible woman ...
She knows how to keep her self-control intact even in this terrible situation.
However, he forced himself to focus on the investigation and continued the
interrogation.
"There is also another possibility,
Doña
Viviana." Don José
coughed embarrassed "You well know that at the site of the tragedy we
found the body of an unknown man with that of your poor husband. Could you
possibly think that the intended victim was not your husband, but the
mysterious man? Do you know if your son in law had any enemies? Someone whose
death might be to his benefit?"
Viviana could not hold back a shudder.
Hector was Lucas’ uncle, there was a
relationship between them, but my God! Why kill him? No, there's something I
don’t understand ...
Viviana became agitated. She looked at Don José and she knew immediately
that her reaction had put him on his guard. Don José was a formidable
investigator, he had understood her, and she could not keep the truth hidden
for long. In addition, she owed it to Costantino to do everything to ensure
that his murderer was captured and brought to justice, even if it was Lucas.
Don José watched her carefully, before speaking in a calm and persuasive voice.
"I’m on your side, ma’am. Please if you know anything about this crime,
you absolutely have to tell me. "
Viviana looked down, finally, after a moment's silence she decided to speak.
"I ... I think I know who the other victim of the fire is," she
whispered at last.
Don José’s face took on a look of disbelief, but he did not interrupt Viviana’s
confidences.
"The other man was Hector Navarra y Reyes," continued Viviana
"Paternal uncle of my son in law."
Don José could not help stifling a gasp of surprise. The issue was getting more
intricate than expected, and everything centered around the powerful Navarra y
Reyes family.
"On the man’s body we found a mysterious medallion depicting a symbol, a
bull's head surmounted by a crown. Do you recognize it? "
Viviana nodded.
"I think it's the symbol of the Navarra family. You should ask
Doña
Raquel to confirm this." Viviana voice took a hard tone as she pronounced
the name of the woman.
" Your husband knew Hector Navarra?"
Viviana hesitated.
"Yes, he knew him. Hector lived for years abroad and it seems that he only
recently returned in secret from Europe. To my knowledge, no one knew of his
return, but my husband must have found out and must have gone to the chapel on
the beach to see him."
José saw immediately that Viviana had taken on a reticent attitude. There was
definitely something that did not ring true in this story. If Hector had
returned in secret how had Costantino and Viviana discovered his return? Why
had Hector returned after years of exile?
"But Don José there is something else I must tell you ... Forgive me if I
didn’t come forward before," Viviana hesitated for a moment and gripped
her hands in her lap.
Don José leaned forward, hanging on to her every word.
" Continue, please!" He encouraged.
"That night I was at the scene of the crime ... and I saw a figure covered
with a hood and a black cloak, running away. I can’t tell you if it was a man
or a woman... "
" May I ask what you were doing at the scene of the crime?"
Viviana bit her lip in agitation.
"This I just can’t tell you. "
"
Doña
Viviana, you put me in a difficult situation. I repeat, I
just want to help you!"
Without realizing he took her hands between his own.
Doña
Viviana looked
down blushing and he immediately let them go, embarrassed.
" Forgive me!" He apologized immediately, "I shouldn’t have ...
"
"It’s nothing." She said, staring into his eyes again, "but
please don’t ask me what I was doing at that place..."
"I believe that you didn’t have anything to do with the murder and I want
to help you but you have to tell me the whole truth!"
Don José’s tone was very reassuring and his blue eyes so clear and sincere, she
could not say no to him again.
"That night Don Hector had arranged to meet me in that place ... But I
didn’t get there in time to see him, the chapel was already on fire when I
arrived. Then I saw the hooded figure running away."
"So ... it was you that gave the alarm?"
Viviana nodded.
"Don Hector and I knew each other when we were young and as soon as he
came back to Mexico he sent me a note asking me to meet him at
La
Virgen
del Mar
chapel that evening. My husband must have read the note and he got
there before me... " Said Viviana as she burst into tears.
"Please Don José, don’t misjudge me. Don Hector and I had to talk about
things that happened years ago... You understand, I can never testify in a
trial what I have just said to you. I risk seeing my integrity compromised for
having met with a man, alone, at night ..."
"I understand," said Don José, "though, believe me, no one could
ever doubt your integrity!"
"Please don’t say anything to my daughter either... you see she doesn’t
know ... "
" You’ve nothing to fear from me, ma'am, I'll keep everything in absolute
secrecy."
Viviana thanked him heartily.
"For my part I’ll try to give you all the help possible." She stated
decisively.
" So according to you, the intended victim might be Hector and not your
husband. And Don Lucas might have some grudge towards his uncle ..." said
Don José.
"His family has marginalized him, I think you also know the story. His
father disowned him ..."
Don José had a lot to think about.
"Well, I’ll not disturb you further," he said, standing up and
heading for the door.
"Tomorrow Aurora and I leave for Mexico City, we’ll be guests of my niece.
I’ll send you my address in case you need to ask us any more questions."
" Thank you,
Doña
Viviana."
" Lucas is in Zacatecas but I have reason to believe that in a few days at
the latest he will be back in Tampico, if you should be interested," added
Viviana.
Don José kissed
Doña
Viviana’s hand and took his leave with his eyes
fixed on her, saying,
"Thank you and see you soon then!"
Doña
Viviana blushed, slightly disturbed by Don José’s sweet and deep
look.
As he left Don José reflected on everything. He was very puzzled. The story
that was emerging had something strange about it as if there was a concealed
controller deliberately pulling the strings. All the clues seem to lead to
Lucas but he was somewhat doubtful. He decided to make one last visit before
the day ended.
He passed by the barracks and asked his men to telegraph the Veracruz shipping
company and check all the passengers from Europe that had arrived in Mexico in
recent weeks. He then departed Tampico and went to the Navarra
hacienda
.
As soon as he reached the front door he rang the bell and a maid came to the
door.
"Good evening, I want to talk with
Doña
Raquel. I’m the captain of
the police, José Pereira."
"Just a moment please," said the maid that returned a few minutes
later. "Please, follow me."
Don José walked down the long corridor decorated with precious tapestries and
paintings and entered the living room where he found Don Federico sitting
comfortably on a couch intent on rotating a glass of cognac in his hands and
Doña
Raquel, standing next to an armchair with her usual austere air.
"Please sit down," said
Doña
Raquel. "This is my son who
has just returned from his honeymoon."
Don José greeted Federico then bent down to kiss
Doña
Raquel’s hand.
Federico nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"Forgive the inopportune time but it’s extremely urgent that I talk to you
about the death of Don Costantino." said Don José.
Doña
Raquel clasped the back of the armchair with her hands and without
revealing the slightest emotion, said,
"A terrible tragedy. How can I help you?"
"We found next to the unidentified victim who was with Don Costantino,
this ..." said Don José as he very carefully pulled from the bag that he
carried with him, the gold medallion engraved with a bull's head surmounted by
a crown that had been partially blackened by the flames.
Doña
Raquel gasped and clapped a hand to her mouth,
"No, it can’t be! "
Federico, who until then had looked bored, on seeing the medallion his eyes
widened and he leaned forward. Then he turned to his mother, as if waiting for
instructions on what to do.
"You see Don José,"
Doña
Raquel continued, "only two
copies of that medallion were made, one for my late husband and one for his
brother Hector. "
"Are you sure that this is the same medallion? "
"It is engraved with the bull, symbol of the House of Navarra, the one
that belonged to Eduardo is now in Federico’s possession." Explained
Raquel.
Don José turned to Federico who took from around his neck, a chain with a
medallion on it and handed it to Don José. He examined them next to each other
and declared, "They are the same! "
"Therefore, this means that this is Hector’s medallion..."
Doña
Raquel could not finish the sentence and burst into tears covering her face
with both hands.
"The unidentified corpse is my uncle Hector, isn’t it captain?" asked
Federico.
"I'm afraid so, yes ... There is one other thing that I wanted to show you
ma’am, but perhaps it is better that I come back tomorrow, perhaps I’ve upset
you a little too much for today."
" No, please, go ahead," said
Doña
Raquel in a broken voice,
wiping away her tears, "I want to know the whole truth."
"On the scene we found this cufflink. Have you ever seen it before?"
"Oh my God ..."
Doña
Raquel again covered her eyes with her
hands in a performance worthy of a lead theater actress. "That cufflink
belongs to my stepson Lucas ... Does this mean that he had something to do with
the crime?"
" We still can’t say because there doesn’t seem to be a motive." Said
Don José, passing his gaze from
Doña
Raquel to Federico.
"Actually ... even if it breaks my heart to admit it."
Doña
Raquel said between sobs, "There may be a motive. God forgive me, I'm
about to tell you something that will harm my stepson but I can no longer
remain silent."
Raquel paused a moment to wipe away the tears that fell copiously down her pale
cheeks.