VILLA CARLOS PAZ (ARGENTINA)
It reminds me of Desenzano.
I’ve always known Argentina to have close ties with Italy but I’ve never thought I would feel at home here. Well… if it wasn’t for the language and the people, I would almost recognise Salo in the view over the city by the lake. But my taxi is not exactly an Italian tifo. The man is as austere as a Patagonian drought. Still, as Romero was a public figure in the region, I want to have an outsider’s view on the case.
Me
Hi Señor, have you heard about Alfredo Romero’s assassination?
Taximan
Alfredo Romero? You know Alfredo Romero? Ahah, si Señor, I have heard that. I have heard, si.
Like lighting a Christmas tree that was frozen in snow…
Me
You don’t seem too sad about it.
Taximan
No sir! Noooo… Not sad about it, no… Nobody sad about it you know… He was… bad guy you know… Pura mierda! Everybody happy he is dead in Córdoba.
Me
That much? Happy? Really?
Taximan
Si Señor! Siiii… Mi primo… Ehhh, cousin… His son. Disappeared. Five years ago. Everybody knows. It’s Romero. Police knows. Journalists know. Government knows. But he’s like… He’s Romero… Nobody says anything. Everybody knows but he has… como… conexiones… He knows everybody. El Gobernador de provincia… His friend. It is said he is Gobernardor, it’s because of el you know.
Me
I’ve heard about those stories. I thought it was just fiction novels… It cannot be true, all they say.
Taximan
True… It is true Señor… No te imagina… I have two sobrinos work for them. Dead. Mi vecina… My neighbour. Her two children, drug addicts. Because of him. And the children Señor… The children… Everybody knows. Ask everybody… They know. Everybody happy he is dead.
Me
So you think it is a good thing he’s been shot.
Taximan
It is good thing. This… Zodia… They are true heroes. They’re like… Robin Hood. They kill the rich bad guys. For helping poor like me. They are true heroes.
Talk about a missed shot… Publicly acclaimed actions and now our new Zorros become the crowd’s darlings… They really engineer their communication with brilliance, I have to say.
Even the roads leading to the villa seem familiar to me. But Alfredo Romero’s house is not exactly like my nonna’s. What a huge place… This man must have made so much money gangstering around.
Guard
Señor?
Me
Hola, soy el inspector de la Interpol… Para ver la familia.
Guard
Sigue por favor.
It really feels like entering a movie star mansion in Hollywood. Except maybe for the firepower on the guards’ shoulders… Do they really expect the whole Red Army to try and stomp the building?
Old man
Señor Grosso.
Me
Sir.
Old man
Mrs. Romero will be ready in ten minutes. Please enter and follow me.
Me
And you are?
Old man
I am Alberto, Alfredo’s brother. I’m helping to sort things out for Esmeralda. Alfredo was involved in a lot of different activities…
Me
I know all about his activities, don’t worry… Weren’t you chairman of a company that is a direct competitor of your brother’s?
Alberto
We started our business together decades ago. We’d split into two companies by the end of the 1990s over a personal dispute, yes. We’ve been competitors ever since. But family is sacred for us. His son Alvaro must take over AGA News but we’ve already discussed possibilities for collaboration. This way please.
Me
So you benefit very directly from your brother’s death.
Alberto
It’s nice of you to be that direct over your suspicions. But no, I don’t benefit that much, for the very good reason that I didn’t suffer that much from competition. Our market was large enough for both of us and we were constantly helping each other to answer needs. This is the sunroom, my cuñada will join you there. The living room is behind this door if you need to see the place where –
Me
Thank you. The guards who were on duty, are they here today?
Alberto
One of them. Do you want me to send him?
Me
Please, if you don’t mind.
The yellow ribbons sealing the room are still there, one week after. And the bay window hasn’t been repaired, the hole still clear and neat. Traces of blood are still visible on the ground. Not much to see around here. From the position of the blood and the window hole, you can deduce the direction of the shot and the place of the shooter in the wood behind the house. But all that is pointless since the sniper has pinned the exact spot with his typical Z signature. Zodia.
Guard
Wanted to see me, sir?
Me
Hi, you’re Sergio Garcia is that right?
Guard
Si Señor. It is me.
Me
Thanks for giving me a bit of your time. It won’t be long. I already have the transcript of your interviews with the local police.
Garcia
What more can I tell you, Señor?
Me
You were smoking outside the mansion when it happened.
Garcia
Si Señor. Right over there.
Me
You heard the shot, got back into the house to see Romero was dying, then headed back out to search the wood.
Garcia
It is correct Señor. We ran there with Pato. He’s one of the guardaespaldas. He was posted at the entrada that night. We were there in two to three minutes.
Me
You didn’t heard any sound while in the wood?
Garcia
Nothing, Señor… We stopped to listen. Did not hear anything. We crossed the wood. There is a clearing behind, and campos… We reached it. We looked everywhere, in every direction, with binoculars. No movement. Nada. We could see several kilometres away. Like the hombre had vanished in a matter of seconds. He must have crawled and hidden somewhere. No sé. Claro que… he was really well-trained and knew the field.
Me
You found the pin a couple of hours later.
Garcia
Yes. The policia searched the entire bosque. They found it and found traces of powder around so they’re positive about the placement of the shot. But strictly nada mas.
Me
You said you didn’t see anything in the clearing, you didn’t hear anything either? Maybe a helicopter sound?
Garcia
Señor, if there had been a helicopter there, it would have been unmissable. The air, the noise… We got there really fast you know.
Me
Alright.
Garcia
Ah pero espera…
Me
Yes?
Garcia
I mean it’s probably nothing, but now that you say, I heard something like a helicopter. I didn’t really pay attention because it was really far away, but I did, si.
Me
How far?
Garcia
Well, I’ve been in helicopteros before, Señor. If that was one, he was dozens of kilometres away. More like if he was back in Córdoba. That is why I didn’t really pay attention. Besides the noise wasn’t fading like if someone was flying over us.
Why would a helicopter stay above from so far? This sounds very strange. Or maybe it was a back-up team. That would fit a military organisation. And reduce the list of potential organisations behind all this.
Me
Alright. I should go into the woods and take a look…
Garcia
Honestly, Señor, it is pointless. The policia spent days here in the bosque. They searched everywhere. If there was anything more, y soy seguro que no hay, they would have found it or stepped on it… You should probably get back into the next room. La Señora Romero is waiting I think.
Me
Right, thanks for your help, hombre.
Santo cielo, if that’s not a belleza… Dio mio, the man was sixty-five years old! I kind of knew what to expect but I would definitely marry a girl like that.
Me
Señora Romero?
Esmeralda
Inspector.
Me
Would you mind me asking you a few questions?
Esmeralda
Of course not. I was expecting you.
Me
Yes. It’s nice of you to receive me so soon. I’m really sorry for your loss…
Esmeralda
Cut to the chase inspector, I know you’re not here to comfort me.
I kind of wish I was…
Me
Madam, as you probably know by now, the organisation that seems to be behind your husband’s death does not seem to be the kind that is interested in money or business. I have seen the records of your interviews with Córdoba’s local forces and I am sure you will not find anybody guilty in your entourage, besides the doubts you may have about some of your friends’ loyalty. I can also assure you this was an isolated assassination and neither you nor your family is in danger right now.
Esmeralda
Yes. But it’s hard to feel safe when your man is killed right in front of your eyes, in your very own home.
Me
Rest assured this affair was strictly related to your husband’s activities.
Esmeralda
Maybe so. But even if that’s true, his very death does mean all his enemies can now fall on us like jackals.
Me
I… Well, I can’t really know about that. Our investigation seems to have revealed a lot of… illegal activities…
Esmeralda
I know all about my husband’s activities… I mean, I don’t know anything about them precisely, but I knew he was involved in a lot of nasty shit. I’m not stupid and I understood where all his money was coming from.
Me
I see… Well you might want to keep that to yourself. I’m not in charge of any investigation concerning your husband’s business, but I know for sure the Argentinian police will come to ask you about it.
Esmeralda
That’s what I fear the most. Not the police. But people panicking about what I could say to them.
Me
Maybe you should consider leaving. This home. And your husband’s guards. Everything…
Esmeralda
Does that sound easy to you?
Me
… Madam, if I may ask… Why did you marry him?... I mean did you know all that… before…
Esmeralda
That doesn’t really sound like a police question, does it?
She’s sussed you out, Alessio. She’s as witty as she’s gorgeous. I can do better than looking like I fancy her badly. It’s really not professional.
Esmeralda
I suspected. I knew there was something going on. You might ask why a young girl like me would marry a man his age. Well, I’m not a silicone Barbie who modelled for a living and then looked for insurance and safety. The truth is, Alfredo might have been a bad man, but he was a good husband, a great father, a clever companion and an understanding friend.
Me
… Alright…
Esmeralda
I know it sounds odd to you. I’ve read everything that is said about him. The file that seems to have been leaked by this Zodia organization. I know how he might have looked from the outside. But my husband wasn’t a monster. At least… Not only that.
Me
How did you… Why do you know about Zodia?
Esmeralda
Inspector. Just google Alfredo Romero and the first ten links are about them. I’ve had a bit of time for reading what I could.
Me
You’ve read about the rumours of children trafficking.
Esmeralda
That and all the rest. If they were true, he might have deserved to die, yes. And as you see me right now, I’m not crying. But there is a process for justice. Trial, witness, prosecution, defence. And even in the worst states of the world, you don’t kill somebody without a trial right in front of his own wife and children. I’m not an oversensitive woman, but this so-called private justice is just a cover for cold-blooded murderers. They’re no better than he was.
Me
Madam, can you recall anything from this night that could help me? Put me on a track?
Esmeralda
I’ve already said what happened in detail three times. I have told you every significant thing I can think of, sorry.
Me
Anyone who would have approached your husband in the weeks or months before? For journalism interviews, or business audits?
Esmeralda
As you can imagine, his business and daily encounters were not really known to me. And it’s not like he was a hard man to meet. He had dozens of meetings a day, as every public figure has.
Me
You’ve accepted me talking with your children.
Esmeralda
I have. I want you to hear what they have to say.
Me
Alright.
Esmeralda
I’m getting them down. Just a second.
Che bella! A girl with that body and those eyes should never have been granted a spirit like that… She’s just dazzling. How can she have ended in this hellhole? Oh well, looking around, the prison seems to have pure golden bars… Yet she doesn’t even seem trapped. Scared of what’s ahead, yes. Who wouldn’t be?
Esmeralda
Niños es el inspector Grosso de la Interpol…
Me
Can they…
Esmeralda
Yes, they’re fluent. They go to an English college. It was very important for us.
Me
How old are th–
Boy
I am six years old. My sister is four years old.
Me
Hi… Osvaldo isn’t it?
Osvaldo
Hello... Mi mama told me you want to catch the bad guys who shot my dad.
Me
She… hum… yes… I’m really sorry… He’s not the first…
Osvaldo
It was last Tuesday. We were sleeping in our bedroom. We heard Esme scream so I got Lina out of her bed and we went down. Papy was on the floor. There was blood. He could not breathe. He was making horrible noises. Lina wanted to hold him but Esme pushed her back because he needed air. To breathe. It was horrible. So I took my little sister in my arms and she cried on my t-shirt. She even blew her nose in my t-shirt.
Catalina
I was… sad. Because it is my Papy.
Osvaldo
The bomberos came and took Papy away. And then we went to see him in the hospital with my brother Juan-Miguel.
Esmeralda
His half-brother, from his second wife.
Osvaldo
When we were in the hospital, the policeman, he told us that Papy was dead.
Me
Niños, do you remember anything strange from that day that you might not have said until now? Anything… It’s important if you want me to find the bad guys.
Osvaldo
No… We were sleeping. It was all quiet.
Me
Thank you so much. You have been very brave you know. You needn’t be afraid now.
Osvaldo
You will find them, sir? You will? You have to. He was the best papa a boy could ever have.
Me
I will do my best. But the bad guys will be very far from here now.
Esmeralda
Nos dejáis solos ahora niños?
Brave kids. Obviously. But I don’t quite get it. Am I THAT bad with children? Was I supposed to get something from them? I’ll have to tell Claire I’m not ready to be a father yet when I go back home. That part is at least very clear.
Me
I don’t understand.
Esmeralda
What inspector? You said you wanted to hear what they had to say…
Me
I did… But it’s not like they have a clue or something. I didn’t really learn anything new there.
Esmeralda
Yes you did, inspector.
Me
Hum… Sorry? I mean…
Esmeralda
You learned that he was not only a bad man. He surely was a monster. But he was not only that.
Me
Yes, but…
Esmeralda
And aren’t we all somehow? Both good and bad?
Me
Madam, I’m not sure…
Esmeralda
Who’s to say with certainty how much bad is unbearable, and how much good is irrelevant?
Me
I…
Esmeralda
This is who you’re fighting against. Don’t forget it. Those who think they can tell. And should tell.
The words still echo in my head like a punch. The dame sure can get in a man’s head. What am I to do with that now? Neuer was right. This trip was a waste of time. Nothing in the woods, as the guard had said. Nothing in the clearing. Nothing new from the witnesses. I haven’t got a single clue. And I’m even more confused than I was about the whole thing.
Guard
Señor, su taxi está aqui.
Me
Gracias hombre.
That’s efficient. These rich families really get everything by snapping their fingers. Or they want me out as fast as possible…
Taximan
Hi sir, where do you need to go?
Me
Córdoba police station please.
Ok, I’m sure Neuer will tell me he was right about me not finding anything. That’s gonna be a fun call…
Neuer
Yep?
Me
Bastian? Hi, it’s Alessio… Just a quick call. I’m out of Romero’s house.
Neuer
How did it go?
Me
I didn’t get a clue, as you expected…
Neuer
Of course you didn’t.
Me
But it wasn’t that useless. I got to talk with the wife and the kids… It’s a shitty mess, sir… I know the guy was a monster, but these guys… They just don’t think about consequences. It’s not justice they do… She got me thinking I need to get them.
Neuer
Who cares? Why d’you tell me all this, Grosso?
Me
Well, just to say it wasn’t a complete waste of time.
Neuer
Just because his wife told you that you needed to catch the killer? You weren’t sure of that yet?
Me
Well, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t… I mean look at how people are starting to talk about them. Like they’re some kind of Robin Hood or something.
Neuer
And you believed it?
Me
No… I just mean. Now, I know it’s utterly wrong. That’s all…
Neuer
Fantastic. Take the first flight home, man. Holiday’s over. Time to get to work.
Me
Sure… I’ll be there in two days.
Neuer
Ok tschuss. Enjoy la pampa.
Time to get to work… Is he for real? It wasn’t a waste of time. I know where I’m going now. Does he really believe I’m better here than home?
Taximan
So you’re from the police too?
Me
Actually I am, why d’you ask? Is that so obvious?
Taximan
No, but you know, everybody here has heard about what happened in this mansion so I guessed.
Me
What’s your name, hombre?
Taximan
I’m Silvio.
Me
How long have you been a taxi driver Silvio?
Silvio
Well… long enough to know my way around, you know…
Me
Great. Great.
Silvio
You were talking about Zodia with your chief, is that it?
Me
I… I was yes. What d’you think about Zodia, Silvio?
Silvio
Me? Well, I don’t know, sir. Why do you ask?
Me
Well… It seems everybody here seems to consider them as national heroes for gunning down the local mobster.
Silvio
Heroes?... I don’t know… I don’t think so. They must be men I guess. Like you and me.
Me
Yeah well… For the moment they seem more like shadows to me…
Silvio
Why do you need to chase them?
Me
Well, that’s my job… I mean… It’s not like I asked for the case.
Silvio
I see.
Me
But still, you can’t really let anybody go and kill at will who, when and where they want… There’s something wrong there.
Silvio
But if the governments do nothing? Romero… He has been famous for his crimes for decades. No-one did anything. Not the governors at the time, they were like… appointed by him. Not the government in Buenos Aires, who was as corrupted and silent… Not the governments in Europe or the US while the man was obviously doing illegal business there too… Not the media because they were almost dependent on his companies for advertising and money… Nobody did anything. What can you hope for then?
Me
Ok, but if we start to rely on anonymous mercenaries for justice, I’m not sure the balance will be very reliable… So you too agree Romero’s death is a good gesture from them?
Silvio
I know so many people who suffered by him…
Me
Did you personally?
SilvioI just tell you what I know. The man was a rat. He did not deserve to live.
Me
Maybe… But I just saw a four year-old-girl who would tell you otherwise.
Silvio
I don’t care about his children… Do you know what he did to some of the children he abducted? Do you know what he forced them to do? You know nothing, sir. Sorry to say but you’re not from round here.
Me
Don’t worry, where I’m from we have our lot of sordid lords too… Would you work for Zodia? I mean if they had contacted you for Romero… Would you have helped them?
Silvio
I’m just a taxi driver, man… Why would they need a guy like me?
Me
Yeah, well. I don’t know. As you said, I know nothing.
Silvio
Haven’t found anything about them yet?
Me
Huh… Not really no, but I can’t really discuss my investigation, I’m sorry.
Silvio
Ok, ok… But I mean you don’t have any leads on them at all?
Me
I’m really not allowed to say, sorry.
Silvio
No need, don’t worry. Your face says enough…
My face. If any taxi driver can read my composure, I guess I’m not fooling anybody right now. I really don’t know anything, he’s right. I’m lost. In everything.
The landscape looks so nice. I could live here. Call it home. Or is it that I miss home? I miss Claire, that’s for sure. And Romero’s wife didn’t help. This lake. It really looks like my hometown. It reminds me of Desenzano.
Silvio
Here you are, sir, Córdoba police headquarters.
Me
Thanks, Silvio. For the ride and the chat.
Silvio
You’re welcome, sir. What’s your name by the way?
Me
Alessio. Alessio Grosso… You know what, look, this is my card. If you come to wander around the Romeros’ villa, hear something or see something related to Zodia, just give me a call, ok? Anytime.
Silvio
Sir, I’m not sure… Why would you give this to me?
Me
I don’t know. I guess I’m desperate for any information. Waiting for something to drop out of the sky.
Silvio
Can I give you some advice, sir?
Me
Tell me.
Silvio
Maybe you’re taking all this too personally. I can see it’s kind of eating you.
Me
Well, that’s my job Silvio. That’s my life.
Silvio
Maybe it shouldn’t be.
Me
My job or my life?
Silvio
Important… Why is it so important?
Me
One needs a purpose in life, hombre.
Silvio
I’m pretty sure that’s what drives them too, you know.
Me
Who? Zodia?
Silvio
Yes. Purpose. One needs a purpose you say. Maybe it’s the same for them.
Me
Well, they shouldn’t be killing people without a trial. One day, I hope some of them will realise it and reflect on what they’re doing. And I hope I can catch them before their little vendetta turns into something more serious. Have a nice day, Silvio.
