Page 48 of Benjamin and the Thief

Eddie glanced at the video, then exchanged a look with Thomas. “Wish I could, but we’re a bit under time pressure right now. It’s not gonna happen today.”

“It’s urgent,” Benjamin added.

“Try Sebastian,” Thomas suggested. “He’s really good at that particular type of stuff. He should be in the building.”

Disappointed, but not trying to show it, Benjamin nodded. “Alright then.”

He was about to take the tablet back when Thomas glanced at it and leaned over it.

“What?” Benjamin asked.

“Same security camera,” Thomas said to Eddie, who nodded.

Eddie looked up and stared at him. “Amaury was in here a while ago showing us a similar video, only that it showed you and that girl whose car registration you asked me about a few days ago.”

His pulse accelerated. “What did he want you to do with the video?”

“Nothing, but he wanted to know who the girl was. I recognized her despite the different hairdo.” Eddie shrugged. “Well, he actually knew her first name. He asked me for her address.”

“And you gave it to him?”

“Sure, why not?” Eddie furrowed his brow.

“Fuck!”

He knew exactly why his father was trying to find out who she was and where she lived: so he could go and talk to her. Probably scare her off, intimidate her. Damn it! He should have known what his father was planning. No wonder he’d ended the confrontation so quickly.

Benjamin cast a quick glance at the window. The sun was just setting. His father would be able to leave the security of this building and his car with its UV-impenetrable windows to enter Catalina’s apartment building.

He charged toward the door.

“Your tablet,” Eddie called after him, but he didn’t stop.

Time was of the essence. He had to get to Catalina before his father did.

22

Catalina had spent all afternoon at her flat, first changing into clean clothes, then having a sandwich, before she tidied up. As so often, she leafed through the court documents, refreshing her memory of everything the Prestons had claimed in order to show Santiago in the worst possible light.

It was almost sunset when her cell phone rang. It was a number she didn’t recognize, but she answered it anyway, just in case it was important.

“Hello?”

“Catalina, it’s me.” It was her brother’s voice.

“Santiago? Where are you calling from?” This wasn’t the usual call from a prison phone.

He lowered his voice. “One of the other inmates gave me a cell phone to use.”

“Oh my God, that’s illegal. If you get caught⁠—”

“I won’t,” he interrupted, whispering now. “Listen. One of the inmates told me I’m now under his protection. He’s huge, and everybody makes a wide berth around him. I don’t understand what’s happening. What if he wants something in return?”

“Oh my God,” Catalina said, worry rising inside her.

She knew exactly what Santiago was worried about. Everybody knew what happened to good-looking young guys in prison. Why could Santiago not catch a break? She had to help him somehow.

“I’ll talk to Benjamin. He knows people working for the police. Maybe they can talk to the guards.”