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"That one of the kidnappers contacted Teodoro's people and told them where they'd find Mikel. The sly bastard asked for a smaller amount of money to disappear on his own. You've got to be stupid to pull something like that. Did he really think those guys would hand him a bag of cash and let him walk away?"
Sergeant Cruz Ortega looks at him in disbelief. The whole case, in general, seems like a mess, a series of absurdities that led a man to his death, two to the hospital, and likely prison when they get out. Most confounding, two women burdened with undeserved records just because they felt the need to misbehave for once in their lives.
"And what about the robbery?" the sergeant probes.
"I don't know anything about that; it must have been Teodoro's thugs. That's what I would've done – get my kid back first, then take out the ones responsible. It's absurd to think otherwise."
The sergeant Cruz Ortega had initially considered this theory but dismissed it once her lieutenant, who also has his own contacts, confirmed that Mikel was still missing.
"Alright, if you hear anything else, I hope you'll give me a call," concludes the sergeant.
"Sure," responds Palancas, and they both know he won't call.
Exiting the bar, the sergeant checks her watch; twenty-five minutes have passed. If the two women were telling the truth, she should soon receive proof that they have Mikel Blanco. She gets into her car, calls her lieutenant on speakerphone, and updates him on the assault.
"What a fool," her superior murmurs, equally surprised. "Don't waste time figuring out which one did it. If it was the deceased, we'll never know, and if it was one of the others, he won't admit it."
"I know," she replies. "I'm heading back to the headquarters. I'm waiting for confirmation that, if true, will require your consent for a deal."
"A deal? With whom?"
"With the people holding Mikel. I'll explain when I get there. I'll let you go; I have another call."
Ending the call with a racing pulse, she's somewhat disappointed when the incoming call isn't from the women but from Sergeant Gustavo Molina. He informs her that a tech colleague is already investigating Mikel Blanco's phone, and they have a judge's order to trace and locate all the numbers in his contacts. Astonished by how quickly judicial orders are issued in certain cases, she would usually instruct him to pass the information to her lieutenant, who leads the operation against Teodoro. However, as she's almost there, she decides to handle it herself.
"Thanks, Gus. Keep me posted."
Chapter 17
Abigail and Gretel reverse the car into the garage, leaving the trunk open and ready to contain Mikel. The young man has started screaming as soon as they entered; he's unhinged, cursing and threatening incessantly.
"We're going to let you go," announces Abigail on the other side of the door, attempting to calm him.
Mikel's immediate attention is captured, and he gulps down water to clear his throat before speaking.
"Are you going to release me? Just like that?" he questions nervously.
"Yes, just like that."
Abigail approaches the door, pressing her ear against it.
"Have you reached an agreement with my father?"
"We haven't reached an agreement with anyone. This is all a mistake, and we're exhausted. We want to end this once and for all."
"How do I know you won't screw me over? You're a bunch of incompetent bitches..."
"And thanks to that, you're still alive," Abigail cuts him off. "Do you want to get out of here or not?"
"Yes, damn it."
Abigail hears him spit. She can't guess where that disgusting mess has landed – the floor, the wall, the door, or even the mattress. They'll have to clean everything thoroughly.
"Alright, here's the plan. You stay very still in the corner when I come in. You'll go back into the car trunk; we'll take you to some open space not far from the road and leave you there."
"Can't you drop me at a gas station, you damn bitches?"
"We'll leave you there, and that's it. I'm opening the door now. Don't do anything stupid; I mean it."
