Devil's Crossroads: No-one said it would be easy. Read online

  “What are you going to do, I’m sure Jaime would look after you, it might just get a result. When do they want you to go?”

  “Is that you sounding jealous Steve?” she questioned him, then continued, “They want me to go as soon as I can, hopefully next week so they can finally close the case. They are providing the flights, accommodation and additional expenses including my fees. I will probably see Jaime though at some stage.”

  “No, not at all, why should I be jealous,” whilst at the same time knowing he didn’t want Jessica to be meeting up with the lovable Jaime, “you know how I feel about you we just need to catch up a bit, we’re both always busy it seems. Anyway, it would be good for you to see Gloria and the crew and fantastic for the Lopez family. Who would look after the business while you’re away?”

  “Maddison would be in with the intelligence and Josh would be in the office helping out just while I’m away. It runs itself really the staff know what to do. How is Sarah getting on, still helping with the Spanish?”

  “Yes, she’s fine I’m meeting her in half an hour for some more lesson time, it’s a busy day like I say. What you doing over the weekend?”

  “I’m in the office Saturday morning, then shopping for Panama at the Trafford Centre. I’ve booked a box at City for the game on Sunday, they’re playing Southampton early kick off if you fancy driving down or up, wherever you will be. I’ve got 10 clients some old and hopefully a few new ones so a spare seat if you’re interested?”

  “I saw them on tv last night, Messi was fantastic, 4 nowt, that’s a thumping. I’ll give it a miss, might watch some local rugby, I don’t fancy the Falcons game, bit more studying and a few beers, might have some decent food instead of canteen grub down here. Catch up when you get back when you have loads to talk about.”

  Jessica changed the tone in her voice, “Steve, we’ve done talking, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, us I mean, and I want it to, I feel you want to. I’m thinking about calling whatever we have off. Leave it at that, I’ll call when I get back or sooner if I need you. Do well on the course.”

  “Jess stay safe, I will see you when you get back and we can get everything sorted, I promise. I miss you, really do, get the result and we will meet when your back in Manchester, I promise.”

  The call ended, Steve slumped back onto his pillow and closed his eyes, despair, embarrassment, pain and lack of self-respect were thoughts in his head, he went into a depression, he thought he needed a drink and fought against it, he lay still with his eyes closed almost crying. A short time later there was a sharp knock on the room door which brought him back to reality. “One minute just getting sorted.”

  He opened the door and Sarah was stood holding her lesson folder, it was apparent she had recently showered, her long dark hair, still wet, had been tied back, she was wearing a baggy cream tee shirt hanging over her tight-fitting pink and blue leggings and a very big happy smile. “Did I catch you having a quick one then, sorry about that” she laughed, then looked at his face, she was concerned and had never seen him like this “What’s the matter, you look like shit?”

  Steve tried to force a smile, “I’m ok, just a bit tired that’s all.”

  “Tired my arse, tell me to mind my own business but we are mates, proper mates, remember. I probably wouldn’t be here now if you hadn’t listened to is, what’s up?”

  Steve was thinking how to tell Sarah a lie, he opened his hands out apologetically, “It’s my wounds they’re causing a problem and it’s depressing.”

  “Is it fuck Steve, you’re lying, that’s not like you.” she thought for a few seconds, “It’s Jessica isn’t it; she’s dumped you; you haven’t seen each other for a few weeks, has she gone off with one of her footballer mates?”

  “Okay, okay, yes, it is Jessica but she hasn’t dumped me, it’s my fault”

  Sarah being sympathetic now, “What’s your fault, you don’t need to tell is but maybe’s we can, well you can, sort it. If you want to talk, tell is, if not no problem and we’ll try and crack on with some Spanish. Should I go and get a couple of drinks, you pull yourself together and when I come back, we can get started one way or another, ok?”

  Steve just nodded and Sarah left to go to the bar, Steve had to make some decisions whilst Sarah was getting the drinks, he knew what was wrong, did he have the strength to openly discuss it with another. He trusted Sarah and she had shown trust in him, it might be worthwhile. He undressed and put his clothes neatly away but kept his boxer shorts on, he wore a white towelling robe tied fastened around his waist and waited on the bed for Sarah to return.

  Sarah kicked on the bottom of the door and Steve opened the door, standing behind it, Sarah had a pint of lager in each hand. When she put the drinks on top of the desk, really a set of drawers, she turned and saw Steve in the bathrobe and gave him a quizzical look.

  Steve was sat on the bed, “It’s ok, honest, really, I want to talk, and might show you something.”

  Sarah bit her lip to stop her saying what she wanted to say, “Yes, that’s good, fine, ok.” She passed Steve his drink which he placed on the bedside drawers and Sarah sat on the seat and pulled up closer to Steve and took a drink from her pint.

  Steve was thinking, Sarah was waiting quietly, “I have a problem with women,” he said and continued, “I have a problem getting aroused for sex.”

  Sarah, to the point, “Do you mean an erection or do you not get turned on?”

  “That’s helpful” he laughed and shook his head, raised his eyebrows. “I thought this was going to be tough, a bit of both sort of but mostly the erection, I want to but my mind, brain, stops it.”

  “Personal like, but have you not had sex with Jessica?”

  “No, that’s where the problem is, there’s been times we could have, maybe should have and because we haven’t it gets worse for me in my head and worse for her because she thinks I don’t want to.”

  “Have you told her?”

  “I haven’t, I mean she is gorgeous,” then looked directly at Sarah, “just like you as well mind, you’re beautiful, how can I tell her I can’t do it”

  “Okay, have you had sex with a woman before, proper like?”

  “Not really, not with a proper woman”

  “Are you gay, do you like fellas, just asking?”

  “No stupid, each to their own but I love women, I like to look at beautiful women, like you and Jessica, Lauren”

  “Aye ok, me and Jess was ok without mentioning anymore.” They both shared the joke and took a drink. Sarah continued “So it’s phycological, in your head, personal again, can you get an erection, have a wank?”

  Steve nearly spit his drink out and was laughing and Sarah joined in.

  Steve “This was supposed to be tough; it might be helping but I don’t know how. Yes, I can get an erection, it just doesn’t stay for long.”

  Sarah with a straight question, “Why?”

  Steve thought for a while uninterrupted, “I panic,” he paused, “I don’t know what to do, I get embarrassed, the moment is lost. It’s worse because people think I’m a big lad can do most things, expect better of me.”

  Sarah, “You said you had sex when was that?”

  “I was a kid 18,19 when I had joined the forces, typical quick stuff just to say I’d done it, never had any relationships. It was never any good.”

  “What stopped you later on?”

  Steve stood up and took his bathrobe off and showed Sarah the scar down the hamstring on his leg, then he turned to face her and pulled his boxer shorts down to just above the pubic area where there was another red scar which was visible coming from the right testicle area across the top of the base of his penis towards his navel. “I was embarrassed about these scars and the effect they might have on the woman.”

  Sarah, “You said it. Might. Might have. Is it painful to have sex, sorry you don’t know, do you think it would hurt you, or the woman?”

  “No, it’s a culmination of the scars, emb
arrassment, lack of experience at my age and anxiety, I know exactly what it is, I just have to get it sorted.”

  “It wouldn’t put me off you Steve, God knows I’ve dropped loads of not-so-subtle hints in the past but you need to tell Jessica, the sooner the better. But, if she blows you out, you can come knocking on my door mate, I think the world of you, you’re a good mate.”

  “Thanks Sarah.” they stood and hugged. Steve felt a movement in his groin, “I think you have helped a lot, I better put some clothes on and we can go for a drink, no more lessons tonight”

  Steve enjoyed some social chat with Sarah and others on the courses at the centre in the bar and probably had more pints than he would normally have had. He gave Sarah a big tight hug and a kiss on the cheek in the corridor before they made their way to their own rooms.

  Steve made a call to Jessica and apologised for his actions or inactions during their relationship and told her that he wanted the relationship to be stronger and closer. He then went into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 2

  Wednesday 26th October 2016

  It was 08:15 and Jessica was sat with Mike Mather in the breakfast area of the Hilton hotel in Panama City, they had already had their breakfast and were talking about the proposed interview of Maria later that morning. Mike explained that he had attempted to interview her inside the La Joyita Prison but she refused to answer any of his questions, he had not put any challenges to her, that she had been seen on video at the hotel, the fingerprint evidence from the room or the airport, she was aware that she had been seen on the canal cruise together with Filipe. Maria explained that she could not be interviewed in the prison, it was too dangerous to be seen talking to police and would only speak to the two women officers she knew.

  Jessica had already been told this by the staff in the Embassy but it was good to get an input from Mike.

  Mike went on to say that despite the unhealthy environment inside the notorious prison, Maria looked in good health, quite lively and surprisingly pleasant, without saying anything about her involvement in any criminal activity. He could not give any indication if Maria was prepared to talk to her or Gloria but she did ask to speak to them.

  After their discussion, Jessica returned to her room and changed into a white plain buttoned blouse, black trousers and slipped on her black court shoes, then applied a small amount of lipstick and brushed her hair. Checking in the mirror, she thought she looked professional. She again examined the contents of her document case and finding everything in place closed the clasp. She left the room and took the lift to the ground level.

  As the lift door opened, stood facing her was Jaime and Gloria, their faces beamed with smiles when they saw her, Gloria came forward and they both immediately hugged each other, Jaime stood back and waited then he gave Jessica a welcoming hug. “I am indeed a lucky man to be stood between two beautiful women, it really is good to see you Jessica. Is Steve okay.”

  “Yes, he is, thank you for asking, Steve sends his best wishes to both of you and the whole team, he’s disappointed that he couldn’t make the trip. I hope everyone is ok, is there any news to tell?”

  Gloria, “Olga is pregnant and is leaving in a few weeks, everyone is well and no changes, we are busy but not like we were.” and gave a smile.

  Jessica, “What about you and Arturo, no promotions?”

  “No, well not yet. I will be moving on, the next rank and Arturo is taking over my role, he is good, he deserves it, it will happen soon.” After a short pause, “I am in a relationship with a beautiful woman who is now living with me,”

  Gloria interrupted, “She is a model, Natalia is a very nice person as well.”

  Jessica, “Well that’s good news all around, I’m pleased for you Jaime, settling down maybe?” she was trying hard to suppress her feelings for Jaime but thought it makes her path clearer now.

  Jaime, “We will see. Okay let us talk about today we have a short time before we leave.”

  Jaime led towards a small private conference room in the lobby, he was followed by Gloria, Jessica and Mike who had already spoken to Jaime and Gloria. They each took a seat around the small oblong black wood table. Jaime gave a time table of events for the day ahead.

  “The van with an escort will transport Maria from La Joyita to Police HQ. It is expected to arrive 11:30. I have arranged for a legal representative to be at HQ should Maria suddenly change her mind about representation, she didn’t have one with you Mike?” he questioned for confirmation.

  “That’s correct Jaime but she didn’t say anything or had any intention to say anythin.”

  “As Steve said, belt and braces, that’s correct, yes?”

  Jessica, “Yes he did, that’s good planning.”

  “I expect that you,” nodding towards Gloria, “and you Jessica will conduct an interview similar to your previous interviews with Maria or Higuita. I’m aware it is an English man who has been murdered and in Venezuela but I would prefer if Gloria takes the lead, do you understand Jessica, Mike?”

  They both nodded in agreement.

  “You are to introduce yourselves as 1 and 3 to maintain continuity with the other interviews. You will not, in any way, give her any information that might lead to your identities or give her an insight into our knowledge of criminal activities that may be related to her. Do you both understand. I want to hear you.?”

  Gloria, “Si Jaime.”

  Jessica, “Yes, Si Jaime.”

  “The interview will be conducted in Spanish language, the language of Panama and her native Colombian tongue, no English. No matter how far you are with the interview it must end at 18:00. It can finish earlier but no later. You are not in a position to give promises or offer incentives to her for admitting this offence, do you both understand?”

  Gloria, “Si.”

  Jessica “Si.”

  “No matter how nice Maria, Gabriella, can be, she is a cold-blooded killer, remember that when you are with her. You both know the script, stick to it, do not let her lead you away with promises of information. If the interview takes three or four days, that’s ok, don’t rush it get details if she talks, let her keep talking but directing back to the questions and answers. You know what to do, you two interviewed her to put her in La Joyita, I have every confidence with both of you to do this with success. Mike and I will be monitoring the interview, we will not be interrupting unless something goes badly wrong and I know it will not happen. Any questions?”

  There were no questions. They all stood up and shook hands and walked out of the room en-route to police HQ.

  It was 11:42 the van and escort had arrived at police HQ, Gloria and Jessica had taken their seats in the same interview room they had used a few month ago, the last time they had spoken to Gabriella. The door was open as the two uniformed escort officers brought Gabriella into the room, she smiled in their direction, her hands were restrained by a steel hoop under the table with a 20-centimetre chain between each handcuff, just enough to pick up a drink. She was facing them both but waited for the escorts to leave the room before speaking. “You are both looking well girls.”

  Gloria started, “Gabriella Mariana Higuita, you are here for the purposes of an interview regarding a criminal offence, you have declined the use of a legal representative, is that still your wish?”

  “Yes.”

  “I inform you that this interview is being recorded visually and audibly, you are aware of your rights is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I am one and my colleague is three for the purposes of audible identification do you understand?”

  “Yes, will three be talking with me at some time?”

  “You had a visit from an English policeman who asked you about Filipe Lopez, you didn’t speak to him will you speak to us about him, what you know?”

  “The last time you mentioned an English policeman you told me I murdered him, remember, killed him with a spear gun and threw his body into the sea.”

  “We a
re talking about Filipe Lopez, an English man you met him on a canal cruise, not the police man.”

  “Filipe Lopez, doesn’t sound like an English man to me.”

  “We know that you met Filipe Lopez on a canal cruise, from Panama City to Colon on Sunday 8th May”

  “Oh, that was him, a young man, I suppose you have some video or photos of me with him on the cruise boat? Yes, I met him I met lots of people. I like your plain white blouse three, it shows off your figure nicely.”

  The interview continued at a slow pace, stopping for drinks and comfort, the regular praise of Gloria and Jessica on their appearance and how they suited the colours they were wearing. It was better than the light blue overalls from the prison.

  It was now 17:30 and Gloria and Jessica had established that Gabriella met Filipe on the canal cruise and they later met in Colon at Arrecifes bar, these facts had been secured by the showing of photographs. It had been a long day for the investigators but it had been an enjoyable time for Gabriella away from the prison cell. The interview was ended for the day and Gabriella smiled at both as she was led back to the van for the return to La Joyita Prison. There had been no challenges made, it was gathering facts.