Drawing the perfect plan up and executing it in sin

Chapter 16. Behind closed doors

- Me? Do I know you? - I put my innocent face.
- I do know you... - he answered enigmatically.
The elevator doors brought a bit of oxygen. I didn't know Flix,
of course, neither I had a clear idea of what he wanted, which I
knew for sure was that it wasn't going to be good or nice. I tried
to keep calm playing the fool and hold it in enough to cross the
threshold and despair behind closed doors.
- Well, I don't know you, who are you? - with the innocent and
funny voice of a western a Candy-Candy.
- I'm Roberto Alborada - he lied like the swine he was - I want to
order a job of those you do.
Sometimes my own composure surprises me, I was so terrified that I
couldn't move aside. I hesitated over whether to open the door and
let him in with the clear intention of wheedling the details out
or to talk outside so he neither could learn more.
- Do you need any alteration, a zipper change, a suit's hem - I
was talking and checking him out calmly.
- Excuse me? - he got really surprised, it seems he wasn't as
thorough as he should.
- The job you say, I do alterations in clothes... - I tried to
keep on with the innocence but the bitch came out.
- Yes, sure - he dropped in a very bad mood - I'm talking about
the other jobs.
At that point I began to get scared, for real and right there, not
being capable of opening the door, run away from him and call the
police once safe. Paralyzed I remained, speechless almost.
- Look, I don't have the whole day, they told me you could get a
piece of art I'm interested in - he dropped looking at me right
into the eyes.
I thought that my contact never, maybe that's too much to say,
would reveal information about me, among other things because he
didn't know much, specially my address. And, above all, because he
would lose his huge commission if he allowed the third party to
deal directly with me.

Raquel Couto Antelo

Drawing the perfect plan up and executing it in sin

- I could what? - not over-reacting, but making it clear that I

didn't know what he was talking about, I was, no doubt, better
liar than him - I think you are at the wrong floor, there is a
restorer in the building but he is a man, of course.
- I'm not wrong, I'm looking for you - almost threatening me.
- Well, unless you want me to sew a button... - I said and I
sentenced with a quick opening and closing door movement.
Once inside I locked the two bolts and breathed at last. And, even
though, I thought I could feel him on the other side, I hadn't
heard steps, the elevator door neither, but I didn't dare check
it. The terrifying sound of the ring bell cleared all the doubts
up in a blow.
- You'd better talk to me, hiding is a waste of time - he was
threatening, clearly, threatening.
- You'd better go or I'll call the police - I was trying to
threaten him but a squeaky voice came out of the fear.
- Call them, I think they are looking for a fake cleaning lady he tried to play smart and he failed.
- If you had the slightest intention of sharing with the police
that information you are talking about you wouldn't be here
ordering anything - with a not very steady voice but not that
squeaky.
A relieving silence fell, I almost thought he had left, almost, I
almost got over the biggest crisis of my criminal career. And it
took me by surprise, the overconfidence, the it had never happened
before and suddenly it happened was killing me.
- Fine, let's talk plainly - he shouted through the solid oak door
- I know you stole the painting and the company that hired me
thinks you stole some other that they had to pay for and nobody
knew about them again. The boss is very interested in knowing
about you and make you pay all you owe them.
- A very interesting story, but I must insist, you wouldn't be
here chattering if you intended to tell them, also the company
that hired you... Ah, and you don't look like a Roberto.
Silence again, I didn't hope he left yet, but I was calmer, I knew
that my deductions went in the right direction, I didn't know what
he was looking for but I knew it wasn't exactly me. Apart from...

Raquel Couto Antelo

Drawing the perfect plan up and executing it in sin

- Ah, and if you had evidences of what you are saying you neither
would be here, you would be trying to find the people owning he
art you say, that probably have much more money than the people
that stole the pieces and, of course, and a lot more to lose - I
insisted to finish the victim off on the ground.
I heard the breathing on the background.
- You know much about business to be just a dressmaker - he said
in a peaceful tone.
- I like to read the economic press - I half laughed.
- I'm not leaving, and if you don't open the door I swear I give
the police the video you are leaving the bank, I'm going to get
paid anyway - it almost looked for real.
- You aren't, giving them the videos I mean - I insisted.
- If you know me that well what are you afraid of? Open the door,
I'm not hurting you - he insisted as well.
- I'm not afraid, the thing is that I don't like people that come
uninvited to talk about things I don't understand - I said.
- Too late to play the I don't know role - he said.
I shut up.
- I'm Flix Sabido, private investigator - he dropped diligently.

Raquel Couto Antelo