Breaking Lorca

TWENTY-SEVEN

How he yearned for peace. Here he was in this great city-he could only compare it to visiting Rome at the peak of the Roman Empire-and instead of seeing the sights with his wife and children at his side, he was holed up in a hotel room with a thug.

“It looks like she’s gone out,” Tito said.

“She has not gone out. She is taking a shower, fixing her makeup, who knows. She has not gone out.”

“So, why don’t we pay her a visit right now. Give her the business. Take the rest of the night off.” Tito put on a waiter’s voice. “Good evening, senorita! Room service!”

Captain Pena shook his head, keeping his eyes on the corner room across the street. “We’ll stick to the plan. We do it outdoors.”

“Why that bitch is still alive I will never understand.”

“She is still alive because the former Corporal Pena is a world-class idiot. Not too many soldiers could miss a prisoner at point-blank range.”

“He is your nephew, Captain. Otherwise, I would cross the street and kill the little scum right now. On the spot.”

“Sergeant, we will stick to the plan, and you will follow my orders.” This constant reining in of thugs with guns, it got to be exhausting. How he hated the war.

“Where is that coward now? His light’s gone out.”

“He was writing at the desk for two hours. Now he is taking a nap. Gone out somewhere. It doesn’t matter. It’s the woman we want.”

“I still say we go over there, fix that bitch right now. Take care of it quick and dirty. Fuck this waiting.”

“It’s too early. There are people everywhere. We will visit Miss Viera in due time, sergeant. Take over for me now.” He handed the binoculars to Tito and went into the bedroom to use the phone. He called his embassy first and by prior arrangement had them patch the call through. That way, the Hilton’s phone record would show only a local call. “Hello, my sweetheart,” he said. “What are you doing up at this hour?”

“Mommy said we could stay up until you called.”

“She did, eh? Things have taken a liberal turn in my absence. I’ll have to talk to your mother about that.”

“Where are you, Daddy? Why don’t you come home?” The other twin was on the other line now. He smiled at his mental image of the two of them, their dark hair shining from the bath and smelling of shampoo. They would be in their matching pyjamas: elephants and leopards.

“Daddy’s working. You know I have to work long hours sometimes. I hope you’ve brushed your teeth.”

“Oh, yes.”

“And don’t forget to say your prayers. Put your mother on now.”

“Hello, soldier. Your little girls certainly miss you.”

“I miss them too.”

“All your girls miss you. How is the war treating you?”

“A little slow at the moment. I was thinking of you, wondering what you were up to without me.”

“I was hemming my new dress. The girls are impossible when you’re away. Such moods!”

“Like their mother.”

“It’s true. I wish they could be even-tempered like you. My life would be much easier. Where are you, Eduardo? I know I’m not supposed to ask.”

“No, you’re not. What’s happened to my army wife?”

“She’s fed up with being an army wife. It’s when you’re away that I worry the most. That’s when I think the worst. Are you far away?”

“Very far. I can’t tell you where.” Security, discipline, these were not usually so difficult for Captain Pena, and it surprised him how badly he wanted to tell his wife where he was. He wanted to tell her he had seen the Washington Monument today, and the Lincoln Memorial. More than anything, he wanted to tell her he had seen the White House. She would be so envious. But all he said was, “I wish you were here with me, darling.”

“Really? You never say that, Eduardo.”

“Usually there is danger when I am travelling. This place is different. Here, there is no danger.”

Tito rapped on the door. “Something happening, Captain.”

“Duty calls, darling. Kiss the girls for me.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful. I want you back in one piece.”

Captain Pena made his promises, sent his hugs, kisses and blessings down the telephone line, and joined Tito in the other room.

“She yanked the curtains suddenly. I thought you should know. It looked like something was up.”

“Her light is still on. Probably she just got out of the shower. Didn’t want nasty voyeurs like you looking in.”

“Hah. I saw her skinny little tits when she pulled the curtain. There! You can see her shadow when she moves in front of the light. What if she doesn’t go out, Captain? What if she decides to stay in?”

“We’re in Washington, sergeant. She won’t be able to resist going out.”

“She might play it safe. Stay in her hotel room all night.”

“Suppose a fire alarm were to go off? A diversion of some sort. Outdoors is best, but if we have to, we will simply cross the street and make a little social call.”

“I can’t wait to fix that bitch. Teach her to testify.”