“Inspector Sanchez,” said Chief Inspector Ramos of the Policia Nacional in Vigo, “can you come into the office, please?” Sanchez, Villa, and Ortiz had just set foot in the building after returning from Urzaiz station.
“Sir?” said Sanchez as she closed the door behind her.
“You’ve been chasing this assassin, this shooter from Santiago de Compostela,” said Ramos. “Well I have some news for you. He has turned up in Oporto, but it appears he is making for Braga. It’s almost like he’s on holiday this man, this tourist, so much so I’d like you to check the black and white film they sent from Oporto. Do you think that’s him? The images are from the railway station, Sao Bento station, the one with the tile work with scenes from Portuguese history.”
Ramos turned the screen towards her as he spoke.
Sanchez looked and saw a man carrying a plastic cup, a bag over his left shoulder. He sauntered around in full view of the closed-circuit cameras without a care in the world, admiring the tiles, and even looking up towards the camera on occasions.
“That’s him,” said Sanchez, nodding slowly. “Follow me, that’s what he’s saying. This is not like him – he’s been avoiding us until now and it’s as though he’s in a different country and has changed his behaviour. I don’t like this, it’s scary, it feels like he’s now after us.”
“Maybe he’s getting fed up with people following him and wants to force the issue,” said Ramos. “Anyway, I’ve arranged for you to meet with Inspector Pereira in Braga at 9 am tomorrow, outside the train station. You can take a car from our pool if you want.”
“I’ll take my car, if that’s okay,” said Sanchez. “It’s about an hour from here to Braga, isn’t it, sir?”
“I’d allow ninety minutes, just in case there are any problems. The number one tourist attraction in Braga isn’t in the city, it’s the Bom Jesus do Monte, with its staircase of the five senses, about three miles outside the city. I can almost guarantee he will go there, or he might already have been this afternoon, but my guess is he’ll go tomorrow morning.” Sanchez smiled and thanked the Chief Inspector for his advice. She could do with something to eat and drink, so after leaving the office she went out with Villa and Ortiz to have some seafood and wine before those two officers returned to Santiago de Compostela.
Julian Worker Fiction Writing 