An Inconsequential Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

to look at the car that was racing toward him. It was one of the Ministerial Police’s white cruisers with a small, mobile turret flashing on top.
     
    As it slid to a stop in front of him, through the cloud of dust he saw the Fat Gonzalez’ face grinning at him.
     
    The Fat Man opened his window and said, “The Director ordered us to accompany you in case you needed some help.”
     
    “ You mean to see what I am up to so you can report back to him,” said Lombardo. But he just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Come on, then.”
     
    The Fat Man jumped out of the car and followed him, waddling as fast as he could in order to keep up. “Where are we going?”

    “ To see the victim’s boss,” said Lombardo.
     
    “ How do you know his boss is here?” asked Fat Gonzalez waving his arm toward the University’s Computing Center.
     
    “ You are not only a lousy cop you are a lousy thief. If you had not been so busy trying to steal the dead man’s money, you would have noticed an identification card that said he was a University employee, and a security card which gave him access to the Computer Center.”
     
    “ Oh, I noticed them but they were of no value to me,” laughed the Fat Man. “What would I do with them? Go in there and steel a computer?”
     
    Gonzalez was sweating by the time they reached the reception desk of the Computer Center. “But I mean, how do you know his boss is here?”
     
    Lombardo dropped the cigarette stub on the floor and stepped on it before going in, “The old-fashioned way—I called.”
     
    At the reception desk he asked the girl to anno unce him to the Center’s Director, Dr. Fernando Delgado.
     
    “ Go right up,” said the girl, “they are expecting you. It is the first door on the right.”
     
    As he and Gonzalez went up the winding staircase, Lombardo said to the Fat Man, “Notice she used the word ‘they.’ Someone has told Dr. Delgado about the murder and he has called the University lawyers, I bet. It would be interesting to know who called him, Gonzalez. The newspaper guys were still taking notes and hadn’t been told who he was when I left the scene of the crime. At this point, only you and I—theoretically at least—know that he was a University employee.” Lombardo laughed, “You fat bastard! Snitching is the only thing you’re quick at; you called the Director, the Director called the Dean, the Dean called his Computer Center Director: ‘Someone killed one of your guys and they are coming to ask you about it.’”
     
    He opened the door and went into a large reception room. There were people sitting about as if waiting to see Dr. Delgado but the girl at a desk that stood by two large doors got up and while opening the doors said, “Please come in; they are expecting you.”
     
    Lombardo smiled . He wouldn’t be catching anyone by surprise here.
     
    Dr. Delgado, or the man one would assume was Dr. Delgado because he was standing behind a large, glass-topped desk, was short and mustachioed; his very black hair was combed to one side, and some of the hairs on the back of his head stood straight up, giving him a boyish look.
     
    Two men in dark suits stood by the chairs that were in front of the desk. Both were tall, wore glasses and bright, silk ties. From their stern demeanor one could safely assume they were lawyers.
     
    “ Ah, the gentlemen from the police,” said Dr. Delgado, “I am Francisco Delgado. These two gentlemen are from the University’s Legal Department. We have been discussing this very tragic, uh, event.”
     
    Lombardo advanced to shake the doctor’s hand and just nodded to the lawyers. “I am Captain Guillermo Lombardo, Judicial Police, Investigations Department.”
     
    “ Ah,” said the Doctor smiling. “Any relation to the illustrious Lombardo Toledano?” he asked referring to the man who was a great teacher, politician, and labor leader.
     
    “ No,” said Lombardo curtly.
     
    “ Please sit over here,”