"There are laws in this country, Pillar-"
"Laws?" Pillar snorted. "We occupy unused farmland to force the government to do their duty and expropriate it. Is that a crime?"
"In fact, it is. It's called trespassing."
"Trespassing. And that serious offense, that major crime, merits the attention of the Federal Police?"
"Spare me your sarcasm. How long have you been in Cascatas?"
"What you're really asking is: Was I here before the disappearance of young Muniz?"
"Yes."
"When did he disappear?"
"Sometime during the night before last."
"Then the answer to your question is yes. Yes, I was here in Cascatas."
"Sleeping here at the hotel?"
"Yes."
"And last night? Did you sleep here last night?" Silva asked, already knowing the answer.
Pillar didn't hesitate. "No," he said.
"Then where did you sleep?"
"I didn't sleep at all. I've been up all night."
"Doing what?"
"Helping my brothers from the league to cut through Muniz's fence and occupy a part of his fazenda."
"A part of his-"
"Less than ten percent of his holding. Land he's never used, but the greedy bastard doesn't want to part with any of it. We're going to stay where we are until our demands are negotiated."
"That's senseless.
"You're referring to the new law, I presume, the one that blocks appropriation in the case of occupation?"
"I am."
"The government hasn't been enforcing that one. Not since the new president was elected. He can't come right out and say it, but he's on our side."
"In his heart he may support you, but in practice, he won't. He has to enforce the law. You're pushing him too far."
"I don't think so. I think time will prove me right."
"My God, Pillar, do you have any idea who you're dealing with? Old man Muniz is one of the most powerful men in this country. You think he's going to think it's a coincidence that his son disappears one day and that you occupy his fazenda the next?"
"I don't give a damn what he thinks. He can't prove a thing."
"Proof? You think he needs proof?"
"That's the law."
"He's the kind that picks and chooses his laws, just like you do. You mentioned Ferraz-"
"The best cop money can buy. If he was an elevator operator, you'd have to bribe him to let you off on the right floor."
"Very funny. But this isn't a joke. The two of them, old man Muniz and Ferraz, are going to come after your people, and I won't be able to do a thing about it."
"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing."
"Are you crazy?"
"No, Chief Inspector, I'm not crazy at all. Think about it. Right now, this town is full of reporters. They didn't come for us, they came for the bishop, but I intend to use them. What the league needs, more than anything else, is publicity for our cause. If Muniz and Ferraz crack a few heads-"
"They'll do more than crack a few heads. They'll kill people. Back off, Pillar. This whole thing isn't worth spilling blood for."
"No? Then why did they? You mentioned Aurelio Azevedo. He was my friend, Chief Inspector. They nailed him to a tree. They shot his wife, Teresa. They even killed Paulo and Marcela, their two kids. Paulo was fourteen. Marcela was only nine."
"A tragedy, I admit that, but-"
"Not only a tragedy. A travesty. A travesty of justice. You think we don't know who did it? You think we don't… ah, why am I wasting my breath. What's the use of talking to you? You can't help."
Luiz Pillar lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. The face of it was scratched, and it had a cheap plastic band. "Look, I'm busy. If you want to continue this conversation you'll find me at our encampment, out on the Fazenda Boa Vista."
He left without offering either one of them a hand.
Chapter Thirteen
Diana's heart gave A leap when she heard the sound of a key in the lock. A moment later someone forced the front door against the chain.
"Diana? Are you there?"
Lori's voice. Diana breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's going on?"
Lori had her mouth against the narrow opening between the door and the jamb. There was an edge to her voice.
"Coming," Diana said, making an effort to keep her own voice cheerful and nonchalant. Hurriedly, she closed the file she'd been working on, exited the word-processing program, and switched the computer off.
"Diana?"
Lori kicked the door. Hard.
Diana slipped off the chain and tried to relieve her partner of one of the brown paper bags, but Lori brushed by her, hurried into the kitchen, and set both of them on the counter. She kept her back turned to Diana.
"Are you alone in here?" she said.
"Of course I'm alone."
Lori spun around and eyed Diana suspiciously. "Then why the chain?"
"You're jealous?" Diana said.
"Have I reason to be?"
"No, Lori, you don't. The door was on the chain because I… I didn't want anyone to walk in on me while I was working."
It was the truth, but even to her it sounded like a feeble excuse.
"Including me?" Lori said. When Diana didn't reply to that, she continued, "Because I thought no one else except you and I have keys to this apartment." Lori turned her back again and started taking groceries from the bags, setting them on the counter with just a bit more force than was necessary. "So what are you hiding?" she said.
"I'm not hiding anything," Diana said. "I'm just being careful. Here, let me help you."
Diana picked up a six-pack of yogurt and put it into the fridge. Lori opened the door to one of the cabinets and stood poised with a can of chickpeas in her hand. She was a short woman and had raised herself on the tips of her toes. Now, without putting the can away, she sank back onto her heels.
"Why careful?" she said.
"I can't tell you."
"You-can't-tell-me?" Lori doled out the words one by one.
"Not because I don't want to," Diana said, hastily. "It's because I promised someone I'd-"
"Hold it right there! You promised someone you were going to keep secrets from me?"
"It's for your own good, darling. Be a sweetheart and hand me that package of butter."
Lori handed her partner the butter and leaned her derriere against the sink. She crossed her arms and watched Diana put the package into the compartment at the top of the refrigerator door.
Diana glanced at her. "What?" she said.
"You don't trust me." It was an accusation, not a question.
Diana closed the door to the fridge and breathed out in exasperation. "Of course I trust you."
"Then tell me."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because… because it's dangerous. If a certain party gets wind of it before it's published, God knows what he'll do."
"Who is he?"
Diana shook her head.
"Have it your own way," Lori said.
She turned her back, went into their bedroom and slammed the door. Diana heard the key turn in the lock. She sighed to herself, returned to her office and rebooted her computer. Lori would come around. Eventually. But until Diana had her work in print she wasn't going to get a good night's sleep, and not just because she'd be spending all of those nights on the couch.
Her biggest threat came from the kids themselves. Those kids were used to selling their bodies, which aside from being humiliating, was often more painful than selling information. If it occurred to one of them that Ferraz would pay him for what he knew, the kid would betray her in an instant. And whatever most of those kids were, they weren't stupid. At least one of them was bound to figure it out before long. That's why she and Anton had agreed that it was safest not to tell Lori anything. If Ferraz came for her, the less Lori knew, the better.
Up until that moment, the moment she resumed her seat, Diana had taken only minimal precautions. She hadn't typed up the interview transcripts at the office. She hadn't left any record of what she was working on in the computer there. She'd been careful on the telephone. She'd even made sure Lori hadn't caught her working at home. Until now.