There was no sign.
Don Manuel watched him.
Are you looking for your contacts? Judges friends? Businessmen? Someone who owes you favors? They can’t help you.
In the distance, sirens were heard.
First soft.
Then closer.
Ricardo ran to the window.
He saw the black vans entering the parking lot.
Two federal vehicles behind.
Agents coming down with vests.
Sergio whispered:
“Inspector—what do we do?
The door was slammed open.
Elena Vera came in with six agents.
All armed.
All serene.
Everyone looking at Sergio, Ricardo and Alberto as if the trial had already begun.
No one moves.
An officer approached Don Manuel and opened the handcuffs.
Click.
The sound was small.
But in that room it sounded like justice.
“Director Rivas,” Elena said, “are you hurt?”
Don Manuel raised his marked wrists.
“Minor bruises. Nothing that doesn’t heal.
Sergio was shaking.
Richard tried to talk.
“Deputy director, if you allow us to explain…
“Keep your words for your lawyer, Inspector.
Don Manuel recovered his belongings.
Sergio pulled the mobile phone out of his pocket with trembling hands.
“I was going to search it.
“Keep your excuses, too,” said Don Manuel.
He left the room without looking back.
At the reception, the agents stopped writing.
The administrators stopped moving.
The news was already running through the entire police station.
They had arrested the director of the National Agency.
And now the National Agency was in.
Javier Robles and Marta Salas were by the hall.
Don Manuel passed in front of them.
Javier made an almost invisible gesture.
Don Manuel returned it.
That was enough.
Outside, Carmen ran to him.
He hugged him so hard that don Manuel had a hurt at his ribs.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.
Manuel, please tell me this is over here.
He looked at the police station.
No, Carmen. Here it begins.
Forty-five minutes later, Don Manuel came back in.
I no longer wore the grey vest.
Now he was wearing dark blue suit and a federal badge on his belt.
No one dared to cross his path.
In the meeting room were Sergio Molina, Ricardo Cruz and Alberto Flores sitting in front of a long table.
Next to him, lawyers by trade.
Back, federal agents.
Attorney General Adrián Montes was presiding over the meeting.
“We’re not here to negotiate,” he said. We are here to show you what you did and what comes next.
