Dí­a De Juicio

9

The detective came barging in to the inspector’s office.

“Johnson, there is not a moment to lose. Where is Rojelio?”

‘Damn!‘ thought the inspector ‘how did he come to know of this so soon. Maria! Oh that awful woman’

“Sir I assure you we are already on his trial and will have him back before dawn. He doesn’t seem to know how the law operates in this part of the country! Did you find what you were looking for at the library?”

Johnson knew he was not faring well with the detective, for every word he spoke just made the detective look more flabbergasted.

“Rojelio left this place? What are you saying inspector? He is a potential suspect in this case! In fact, according to me, he is the murderer!”

The last word just made the inspector wish that he just rolled over and dropped dead.

“Inspector… Inspector!” the doctor came running into the office. Panting and completely in a daze.

“What have you got for me doctor…?” the inspector’s voice was hardly audible.

“The autopsy revealed, amongst other things, traces of alkaloids in his blood; that I believe, could have possibly affected his nerve impulses. In fact, I think he was paralyzed, with some sort of a poison, before it took his life. I do not know what the marks have to do with all this, but he could have been poisoned while taking his food for all we know. ”

‘Poison… Where did Poison come from? I thought it was drug overdose! Good lord, where is this investigation going‘ the inspector’s thoughts wandered.

There was a moment of silence before the detective spoke out.

“Just as I suspected… curare”

“I am sorry Mr. Matias what was that?” queried the doctor.

“I’ll explain everything once we get hold of Rojelio.”

“It won’t be long you know. He’s mute after all and he needs directions to reach Sinclair! He couldn’t have gone far without ‘asking’ for directions” said the inspector with a triumphant look on his face.

“He’s headed for the port? Are you certain about this” the concern in the detective’s voice was genuine and it just killed whatever hope the inspector had received from his momentary observation.

“And inspector he may not be a mute for all you know!” the detective said after a brief hiatus. “When is that ship ‘Alexandria’ leaving port Sinclair?”

“Why she sets sail within a day’s time.” The doctor spoke for the, now, voiceless Inspector!

“Sailing to some place called Charrua in South America I believe. Why detective? Are you in a hurry to catch the ship? For if you are, you are delayed already by a day.”

“I guess we will all have to hurry up before Rojelio leaves our country and more importantly the grasp of our law!”