At four in the afternoon, they reached La Cascada and went straight to the Parque Bolívar. Let’s have a beer, Daisy, and I don’t want you to look at anything except me. He had told her to dress like a tourist, in sweatshirt and tennis shoes. He was dressed in the same style, in T-shirt and jeans. They had the beer and Ramón, behind his semi-opaque glasses, sought inspiration in Father Cubillos. Here I am, Father, I need you more than ever now, help me to solve this difficult dilemma, that’s the only thing I want. After the beer, calmer now, he got up and walked to the internet café, La Maporita, but when he got there he saw that it was not called that anymore. Now it was called Café Hilton and had better computers and decent furniture. He turned, grabbed Daisy’s hand, and went in.
A popular reggaeton tune was playing. Ramón asked for a computer and sat down. Daisy did not say a word for a second and only opened her mouth to say, darling, can I go on Face-book for a bit? There were three young girls working there but Soraya was nowhere to be seen. His fingers trembled as he tried to work the mouse. Daisy chatted for a while, then he paid and they left. He went back to the car and drove around the town. He passed his main repair shop, where he had had his office, and saw it open, and working. It did not look any better or worse than it had before. He slowed down a bit, hoping to catch sight of somebody, and there, at the far end, he thought he recognized Demetrio, one of his workers, but then a car came up behind him and hooted its horn and he had to drive on. He approached Jacinto’s house and did not see anything unusual, it was all closed up, as was Soraya’s. He could not do anything more for now, so he decided to go back to Villavicencio. It had been a bad tactic to show his face here like that, without a plan, and it was dangerous. He had to think.
The next day, he had a look around the center of Villavicencio and suddenly, on the opposite sidewalk, he saw a sign that showed him the way: Delta Agency, private investigations, and a telephone number. He took out a ballpoint pen and wrote it down at the top of a bill. That was the solution! Come on, let’s go back to the hotel, girl, I just had a brainwave. Aren’t you going to take me shopping? there are some nice things here. . Later, sweetheart, later, I have work to do now, let’s go, you can use the pool.
They got back to the hotel and he called the number. When they answered, he said: hello, I’d like to know something about the service you offer. Well, if it’s for a matrimonial matter there’s one rate; if it’s a work-related problem another; if it’s a family thing or something like that, we look at it on a case by case basis, may I ask why you’re calling us? To ask if you take on work outside Villavicencio. Of course, boss, we’re globalized, we go from Puerto Gaitán to the Guaviare, tell me where we have to go? I need a little job done in La Cascada, is that possible? Say no more. . what kind of case are we talking about? matrimonial? an affair of the heart? work-related? we also issue Facebook and Hotmail passwords, but they’re more expensive, are you interested? Not for now. I’ll send you a letter with the information and an advance. Then I’ll call you again. Sure, boss, and what’s your name? I’m the Poor Friend, remember that, the Poor Friend. O.K., boss, I hope when you say poor that’s just a metaphor, right? Ha, ha. I say that because if the case turns out to be complicated it’ll cost you. Don’t worry, it’s a metaphor, and what about you, detective? what’s your name? Oh yes, of course, I’m Marcos Ebenezer Giraldo, boss, at your service.
He mailed him the details that afternoon and called him the next day. This is the Poor Friend, did you receive my package? No, my friend, nothing at all. I sent it by mail yesterday. Ah, no. . That won’t arrive for another two or three days, the mail here is terrible! Never mind, we can wait, are you in a hurry? Only to help you, boss. Well, you’ll get the chance and I can assure you, if you’re discreet and do a good job you won’t be sorry. All right, boss, don’t worry, my motto is, our pleasure is in discretion. Or this one: our profession is an inside job. Seriously, friend, discretion is my middle name, I’m so professional they call me the invisible man, I make less noise than an Alka-Seltzer in a pot of yogurt, nobody even knows I’m there. Call me the day after tomorrow and I’ll let you know.
He spent two more days at the hotel, going out very little, like a businessman on vacation with his girlfriend. Daisy was as good as her word, she was cautious and kept her promise not to speak or attract attention, even with that terrific body of hers and everything, she was discreet. Ramón was starting to feel nervous about being there, as he assumed that the paramilitaries, who knew everything, might easily discover his presence. After two days he called the detective again. Did you receive it? Yes, boss, over and out. Perfect. I have the names of the two people, the address of the auto repair shop that has to be investigated, and the money arrived, too, by a miracle nobody robbed the mailman. And is it enough? Of course, boss, it’s enough to start the investigation, no problems, if it turns out I need more I’ll submit it and then you pay me, all fully invoiced, obviously. And how long do you think these enquiries will take? Two weeks maximum, boss, and everything will be sorted and ready. Good, then I’ll call you again in two weeks. Sure, boss, write down my cell phone number, in case you have any questions.
That day he went back to Panama, and to be honest, leaving the airport and driving to his house, he began to breathe more easily, and he felt free. His stay in the Plains had been an emotional experience, but it had revived the fear. He paid Daisy and thanked her. Without her, everything would have been more dangerous; he decided that, when he went back, he would take her again, as she gave him the perfect front. He tried to analyze his feelings and realized that what he had inside him was not pain, or anger, or even regret, but above all curiosity. His heart had become hardened. So much solitude and so many questions had led him to consider his misfortunes as if they had happened to someone else.
Two weeks later he called the detective on Skype, which was good because the call could not be traced, and asked him about his report. It’s almost ready, my friend, I just need to copy a final piece of information that I already have, of course as I said it’s a first step, if you want to carry on we’ll have to do another contract, won’t we? Yes, of course, said Ramón. Good, my friend, now when can you come for the report? No, I don’t have time to collect it, can you do me a favor and scan it and send it to me at this address, write it down, poorfriend21@hotmail.com, and for anything else contact me that way. All right, my friend, do you mind if I ask a question? Ramón did not say either yes or no. Is it because of the girl that you’re doing all this? There followed a silence. Ah, I thought so, I’ll send someone to the corner right now to scan it and then I’ll send it to you, boss, glad to be of service.