don’t want to see you anywhere near that coffin, no long good-byes, and don’t you dare volunteer to be a pallbearer. You are such a bitch, you don’t even try to hide it. You stink of fish, where did you have lunch?
She stood up quickly to receive the condolences of several women from the neighborhood and the director of the play, who guided her away, his arm around her waist.
The kid with the bike blinked: I want to make you mine, Zeke, you are the toughest dude in the hood and the one I want to do it with, they were in the living room of her house. Beatriz shed her blouse and undid her pants. Forget it, babe, put that shit back on, he threw the blouse at her. I thought of everything except you saying no. I don’t care what you thought, I’m in love with your sister, and I’m in it down to my little fingers, so I can’t fall for anyone else or satisfy your desires. It also never occurred to me you were a faggot. Well, yeah, maybe I am, what of it?
He got to his feet. The funeral home staff was rolling the open casket into the chapel for the ceremony. People began driftingover. The mother was sobbing. There’s nothing in life I hate more than being a fucking dunce, the kid lamented. I never understood you and even less now. What is it, babe, why did you kill yourself? I never saw you lacking for a thing. It’s true: There is nothing I hate more.
Thirteen
A little after five in the afternoon, Mendieta arrived at the Canizales compound on the outskirts of Navolato, a prosperous, hot, humid town founded by commercial farmers. A strong breeze made the leaves flutter. The drivers of several government cars were making small talk, all smiles. They were listening to northern corridos with the volume low. Immense fruit trees easily reached over the wall surrounding the orchard. He identified himself to the man at the gate, who led him to a little room that smelled of apple-scented air freshener. A television had the ball game on: Vinicio Castilla at bat. Through a small window he could see part of a two-story ocher-yellow house full of arches and greenery, mostly ferns and golden chains. In the garden, avocado, mango, and orange trees, an arbor where men in sombreros were conversing around a flask of cane liquor.
Nicolás Beltrán, the family lawyer, meticulously shaven and dressed in a black suit, came to tell him that the engineer could not see him, that he hoped he would please understand. I do understand, and that’s why I only want to ask him one question. Any interruption would be uncalled for, Señor Mendieta, he is exhausted and of course very upset. Just the one and I won’tbother him again. Look, I spoke with Commander Briseño and he agreed the engineer would not be inconvenienced, however, I can see that there are broken links in the chain of command, I shall have to call the district attorney’s office. Mendieta felt such a deep weariness at the mention of his higher-ups, it drained the blood from his face and made him want nothing more than to behave himself, so he took the emissary by the lapels, lifted him off the ground, and threw him against the wall: Listen, asshole, take me to your boss right this minute or I’ll charge you with obstructing the investigation and throw you in the slammer for a week, and then you can tell me how you’ll fix things to get yourself out. The lawyer was petrified, his mouth agape. Let’s go, the detective ordered while he smoothed a wrinkle in his coat and pushed the man toward the door. The lawyer turned to him and poked a finger into his chest. I don’t want you to leave, Mendieta, without knowing that you just earned yourself an enemy. You? Suck my dick, I just took a look at your file and it’s this thick. He spun him around and gave him a shove.
The engineer was enjoying the company of friends from government and business. They were drinking hard, smoking cigars. The lawyer gave him the word, and he threw a glare at the detective, who held his gaze just to
She stood up quickly to receive the condolences of several women from the neighborhood and the director of the play, who guided her away, his arm around her waist.
The kid with the bike blinked: I want to make you mine, Zeke, you are the toughest dude in the hood and the one I want to do it with, they were in the living room of her house. Beatriz shed her blouse and undid her pants. Forget it, babe, put that shit back on, he threw the blouse at her. I thought of everything except you saying no. I don’t care what you thought, I’m in love with your sister, and I’m in it down to my little fingers, so I can’t fall for anyone else or satisfy your desires. It also never occurred to me you were a faggot. Well, yeah, maybe I am, what of it?
He got to his feet. The funeral home staff was rolling the open casket into the chapel for the ceremony. People began driftingover. The mother was sobbing. There’s nothing in life I hate more than being a fucking dunce, the kid lamented. I never understood you and even less now. What is it, babe, why did you kill yourself? I never saw you lacking for a thing. It’s true: There is nothing I hate more.
Thirteen
A little after five in the afternoon, Mendieta arrived at the Canizales compound on the outskirts of Navolato, a prosperous, hot, humid town founded by commercial farmers. A strong breeze made the leaves flutter. The drivers of several government cars were making small talk, all smiles. They were listening to northern corridos with the volume low. Immense fruit trees easily reached over the wall surrounding the orchard. He identified himself to the man at the gate, who led him to a little room that smelled of apple-scented air freshener. A television had the ball game on: Vinicio Castilla at bat. Through a small window he could see part of a two-story ocher-yellow house full of arches and greenery, mostly ferns and golden chains. In the garden, avocado, mango, and orange trees, an arbor where men in sombreros were conversing around a flask of cane liquor.
Nicolás Beltrán, the family lawyer, meticulously shaven and dressed in a black suit, came to tell him that the engineer could not see him, that he hoped he would please understand. I do understand, and that’s why I only want to ask him one question. Any interruption would be uncalled for, Señor Mendieta, he is exhausted and of course very upset. Just the one and I won’tbother him again. Look, I spoke with Commander Briseño and he agreed the engineer would not be inconvenienced, however, I can see that there are broken links in the chain of command, I shall have to call the district attorney’s office. Mendieta felt such a deep weariness at the mention of his higher-ups, it drained the blood from his face and made him want nothing more than to behave himself, so he took the emissary by the lapels, lifted him off the ground, and threw him against the wall: Listen, asshole, take me to your boss right this minute or I’ll charge you with obstructing the investigation and throw you in the slammer for a week, and then you can tell me how you’ll fix things to get yourself out. The lawyer was petrified, his mouth agape. Let’s go, the detective ordered while he smoothed a wrinkle in his coat and pushed the man toward the door. The lawyer turned to him and poked a finger into his chest. I don’t want you to leave, Mendieta, without knowing that you just earned yourself an enemy. You? Suck my dick, I just took a look at your file and it’s this thick. He spun him around and gave him a shove.
The engineer was enjoying the company of friends from government and business. They were drinking hard, smoking cigars. The lawyer gave him the word, and he threw a glare at the detective, who held his gaze just to
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