big cellar. There was some stuff in it.â
GalÃndez noticed the change in her voice. âWhat kind of stuff?â
âHe said it looked like an execution. There are bodies. Skeletons, I should say.â
âA war grave?â GalÃndez asked, disappointed. âSo why did he contact you?â
âHe didnât, he contacted you. Iâve been checking your email while youâve been off.â
âOK, but why me? Donât they have their own forensic unit?â
âHe remembered your requests last year for information about Guzmán.â
GalÃndez felt gooseflesh on her arms. âAnd?â
âIt was Guzmán,â Mendez said. âThereâs something that identifies him as the killer.â
GalÃndez let it sink in for a moment. â Jefe , you know what you just said?â
âI said the official investigation is over. What you do in your own time is up to you.â
GalÃndez looked at him, deep in thought.
âItâs a four-hour drive,â Fuentes said. âJust promise me youâll keep out of trouble.â
âOf course.â GalÃndez looked at her watch. âItâs only two oâclock now. I can drive up this afternoon. Iâll phone to let them know Iâm coming.â
âWait.â Fuentes looked at Mendez. âYou know what happened at Legutio, donât you?â
âI was about to mention it.â
GalÃndez glanced from one to the other. Neither looked happy. âWhat?â
âTwo years ago, ETA parked a car full of explosives near the cuartel one night,â Fuentes said. âIt destroyed the building. It was a wonder there was only one person killed.â
GalÃndez remembered 2008 well, though for other reasons. Sitting at Aunt Carmenâs side in a hospital room, watching chemicals flow through plastic tubes into her veins. Preparing for her new job in the guardia as she dealt with the funeral arrangements.
âGo as Señorita GalÃndez,â Fuentes said, interrupting her thoughts. âDonât carry anything that identifies you as guardia. And youâll need a weapon.â
âIâve still got the pistol they issued me in Vice.â
âGood. Donât let anyone see youâre armed. Word gets around fast up there.â
âIâll be careful.â
âBe really careful, Ana.â Mendez put a hand on her arm. âETA donât play games.â
GalÃndez shrugged her hand away. âI saw them murder my father, remember?â
âIâm just saying,â Mendez protested. âThereâs a phone number for the sargento in these papers. Iâve printed out the route for you as well.â
âThanks.â GalÃndez took the papers from her. She got up. âI mean it, thank you both.â
âBut when you get back, you draw a line under Guzmán and move on,â Fuentes said as she went to the door. GalÃndez raised a hand in acknowledgement.
âI hope she doesnât use the satnav,â Fuentes said, once GalÃndez had gone. âShe always breaks them. She doesnât look clumsy, but very often, they come back in pieces.â
âStrange,â Mendez agreed.
âI just hope whateverâs up there is worth the drive.â
âIt will be to her,â Mendez said. âSheâs obsessed with Guzmán.â
Fuentes put his papers back into the envelope. âShe seemed angry, donât you think?â
âAnaâs got quite a temper when she gets going, boss,â Mendez said. âTakes after her father, I heard.â
Fuentes finished his coffee. â Jesús Cristo , I hope not.â
MADRID 2010, GLORIETA DE PIRÃMIDES
The lights changed and an impatient line of traffic surged down into the underground section of the M-30. GalÃndez followed the tunnel, emerging back into daylight on the Avenida de la Paz, hemmed in on both sides by tiers of apartment