Page 32 of Benjamin and the Thief

“A magnet?” Catalina asked, clearly confused.

Anita nodded. “Yes, like in that movie: The Big Easy. It’s standard procedure. Though these days we’re not worried about magnets since we’re not dealing with VHS tapes anymore. But if the video evidence was submitted as an SD card, then it would be vulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse.”

“I understand.”

“Could you get us the video, please? It’s really important that I see it,” Benjamin said.

“I can, but I’ll have to put in a special request. It won’t be available today. Maybe by tomorrow afternoon?”

Disappointed, Benjamin nodded nevertheless. “Thank you, Anita. I’m really grateful.”

“Sure thing. See you guys later.”

When the door fell shut behind Anita, Benjamin cast Catalina an encouraging smile.

“Let’s read through all the interviews and the forensic evidence that was found. That should give me a good idea of how they made the case against your brother. We’ll just have to wait for the video until tomorrow.”

Catalina took a breath and nodded. “Let’s do this.”

15

Benjamin looked up from the file he was studying and noticed Catalina stifling a yawn. They’d been poring over the police files on Santiago for several hours, reading every statement, every scrap of evidence, and examining every photo and drawing. He’d also asked for the court transcripts, and thanks to his contacts, he’d managed to get a copy delivered to Anita’s office within two hours. He worked his way through those papers too.

Apart from the missing security video, one thing stuck out as he read through them: the public defender hadn’t put up much of a defense. She hadn’t even put Santiago on the stand, so he could explain why his fingerprints were in the walk-in closet.

Now, he met Catalina’s gaze.

“It doesn’t look good, does it?” she asked.

“Without having seen the video, I can’t really say much,” he said evasively. “But I’d like to speak to the public defender.”

“You think she can tell you more?”

He shrugged. “I’d like to ask what her strategy was, because I don’t even see that she brought in a single character witness or any experts to refute the prosecution’s forensic evidence. It looks pretty lazy.”

He looked at his watch. “But it’s a little too late tonight to speak to her.”

“Tomorrow then?” Catalina asked.

He nodded. “Let me just leave a note for Anita, and then we’ll head out.”

After scribbling a thank-you note and placing it on Anita’s desk, he reached for Catalina’s hand.

“Okay, if we stay at my place tonight?” he asked.

“You want me to stay with you?”

“Of course. Unless you don’t want to…”

He looked at her. Was he making too many assumptions about their relationship? What if she wanted to take it slower? After all, many couples who started dating didn’t see each other more than once or twice a week. But for him, that wasn’t enough. At least not with Catalina.

She squeezed his hand. “I’d love to.”

He smiled back at her, relieved by her answer.

“Then what are we still doing here?”

A few minutes later, they got in the car and left the police parking lot.