A Sorority of Angels (7 page)

“Pilar,” Tomayo looked sadly into eyes straining for an answer. “We have reason to believe Carlos was murdered.”

His words struck the same trauma when first hearing of Carlos’s death; then it was a shrieking scream, a punishing and painful lightning bolt traumatizing for days.

Tomayo’s words rumbled as an earthquake.

Tomayo felt the tremor through her hand; her fingers tightening; gripping. With the other hand, she reacted late to cover the gasp that escaped to jostle her body to widen a horrifying expression in her eyes.

The business composure brought with her to meet Federico vanished without constraint or pretense. Trauma receded leaving her limp with a residue of tears.

“I’m sorry Pilar. There was no easy way to tell you.”

She nodded her lowered head and reached for her purse and tissues. Federico stood, walked to the desk, and rested against its edge. Then with a strange eerie note of coincidence, church bells pealed at the other end. Once. Twice. A third time and stopped then another series of three.

Pilar dabbed her eyes and nose. Tomayo wanted to comfort her to kiss the tears away, to offer refuge from distress.

Pilar heaved breath to settle then looked at them saying, “I want you both to promise me that my children will never know. Their father died a hero, how I want him remembered. I don’t know how you know this but I believe you.”

Tomayo replied in a tone to complement hers, “They’ll never know. We know because an eyewitness, one of Carlos’s men, told me several months ago. He saw him shot by German officers, and afraid to report it to authorities at the time. It’s logical. Steinerman could never serve as senior advisor with Carlos around.”

Pilar shuffled to the window and looked out staring. Her hand sought solace and comforting as it rubbed the Achilles Heart. When awareness called it to attention, she studied the Heart and concluded her analysis.

“What will happen if Steinerman was assassinated instead of Uncle Rafael?” she asked still rubbing the Heart, staring at the horizon.

Tomayo and Federico were surprised and intrigued.

“A potential solution.” Federico analyzed.

“Tomayo?” She turned to him.

He shrugged and pursed his lips.

“It will retard their growth. Steinerman
is
their leader.”

“And,” hastened Pilar, “a body without a head has difficulty functioning.”

“Correct,” added Federico.

“You both agree eliminating Steinerman like the assassination of the President can lead to a change without civil war?”

“Yes,” answered Federico, “a strong possibility, but not as strong or immediate as the assassination of your uncle.”

“Without question, my uncle’s death will bring instant change. Steinerman’s might take longer, but in the end it’s a good solution.”

Federico nodded. “I agree.”

She straightened and looked at them shoulders back.

“Then why don’t we assassinate Steinerman?”

“Pilar,” responded Federico, “it’s not for us to say. I will present your suggestion to our group at a meeting next week. Many of your uncle’s advance moves and trips make him easier to assassinate because of publicity. No one knows where Steinerman goes and how he travels. That shouldn’t present a problem. He, on occasion, accompanies Rafael. Maybe opportunity will present itself.”

“What if you miss your first attempt?”

“Then he’ll either go deeper into hiding or counter with a massive retaliation.”

“We can’t afford to miss,” added Tomayo. “A bloodbath will follow.”

“Steinerman is more effective when Rafael is out of town,” Federico said. “Then he’s in charge, and protected. If you think getting to your uncle is tough wait till we try to get Steinerman.”

“Pilar,” Tomayo said. “His coming to the airport was an exception in security motivated by needing to meet you – the old ‘know thy enemy’ cliché so to speak.”

Pilar sighed. “Gentlemen, it’s been a hell of an evening. Your shocking revelation and conversation has numbed me. Shall we call it a night?”

Federico walked over and, fatherly like, held her shoulders with both hands.

“Very painful to see you hurt tonight. I know you appreciate the necessity.”

“Yes.” A solemn tone remained in her voice.

Tomayo opened the door.

“Federico, go first.”

Federico bid goodnight and left.

Tomayo raised her chin making her look at him with sad eyes. Wetness remained by her right eye. Tomayo put his lips there. She wrapped her arms around him, and leaned against his body. Releasing, she reviewed her face with a hand mirror from the purse.

“Do I look all right?”

“You look fine. You make a better Miss Argentina than before.”

“All right liar let’s go face the world.”

She forced a grin.

Silence reigned on the drive back to central Buenos Aires. Pilar fled to her thoughts staring at a fading orange and gray dusk, Tomayo respecting her private moment. Alejandro stopped the Volkswagen bus at the corner of Calle Florida and Tucuman. Tomayo nudged Pilar, who stepped out of her dismal world.

“Here’s where we get off. We have packages in back to carry from shopping all this time. Take a few.”

He handed her three and kept five. They walked Florida with their packages, continued to Plaza San Martin, and crossed the park to their car, the area lit and crowded with expectation of more congestion.

Tomayo opened the trunk and placed the packages. He saw the two Mercedes parked farther down and their drivers scampering across the road to start their engines. He lifted the packages and rearranged them to make sure the stalkers saw them. Tomayo pulled out. The caravan headed towards Palermo.

“We’ll stop for dinner on the way. What do you feel like having?”

Pilar rubbed her stomach.

“Lost my appetite.”

“Nonsense. You are full of grief…that won’t make you feel better.”

“I’m poor company in a bad mood.”

“I’m hungry. You can watch me eat. I won’t take you home looking and feeling down in the mouth, and obvious to Esmeralda and maybe the kids if they’re awake.”

“I yield, Doctor. Find a place.”

He searched the avenue for respectability, liking the facade and landscaping plus ample parking at the next restaurant and pulled in, the interior appropriate and acceptable. Tomayo asked for a table in a private section. Pilar ordered a brandy with ice. Tomayo ordered a beer. Impressed with the menu, he mentioned it.

Pilar said, “You’re determined to feed me aren’t you?”

“No sense wallowing in grief. You did that for a long time. You were hurt tonight. Don’t feed off it. You’ll make yourself sick by allowing it to overcome you.”

“To avoid a lecture, I’ll have the house salad. Federico is impressive.”

“And admired and respected.”

“I should have asked more questions. I’ll ask them of you.”

“Go.”

“What happens if Uncle Rafael held free elections? Will he select a man like Federico as his running mate?”

“If wise, he would. Federico as vice-president will make a strong ticket.”

“Steinerman will never allow free elections to happen?”

“Correct.”

“Understood. If Steinerman died, a deLorenzo-Quintero ticket will have no obstacles for victory?”

“With Federico, Uncle Rafael can’t lose. If Federico runs against him, there’s an excellent chance Federico will win. Federico isn’t interested in the presidency if the deLorenzo Administration can be salvaged.”

“The simplest and most logical solution is the elimination of Steinerman. The head must go.”

“Easier said than done. You heard Federico’s reasons.”

“I disagree.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I have a way to get to him without difficulty.”

Tomayo turned intrigued. “Keep going. How?”

“Next week. He has to be there. But I can’t imagine him leaving me alone with Uncle.”

“He goes where Uncle goes.”

“There you have it. That’s where it should be done.”

“Pilar, it’s out of the question. I refuse to endanger you and your children. Forget it. It’s up to the committee to decide if, when, and where.”

“Why can’t I get a gun and shoot the bastard’s brains out?”

“Are you, crazy? What conversation is this?”

“Calm down.”

Tomayo ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation.

“You don’t talk about that off the top of your head. How do you get away with it? What’s going to happen to your children?”

“What if I find a way that no one gets caught? Will you help me?”

“No! Out of the question. If you want to help, eavesdrop and then persuade Uncle Rafael to fire Steinerman.”

“Control your temper, Tomayo. Don’t get a fever over it. I’m inquiring.”

Pilar never saw Tomayo angry. She smiled as his hands jabbed air emphatic and adamant.

“Before we close the subject on you as a murderess, our group has trained men like Alejandro adept at killing. If Steinerman is to go, they know the way and method.”

“They won’t get as close to him as me.”

“Granted.”

“But forget it?”

“Absolutely. I’m surprised you would think that.”

“I have another question. Can I ask it without getting splashed by your temper?”

“I’m shocked, not mad.”

“You’re not mad? I hate to see when you are.”

“Ask your question.”

“Do you think we’ll be in danger at Uncle Rafael’s?”

“Steinerman wouldn’t dare try anything in front of him. Don’t do anything foolish to give him cause for provocation. Never forget he can always arrange an accident.”

“I don’t intend to take any nonsense from Steinerman.”

“Remember, Mother, you have children. That common sense is better than stupidity and irrationality.”

“I shouldn’t take anything with me for protection?”

“Like what?”

“Like a gun.”

“Dammit!” He pounded the table. “If you feel danger you call me. Are we agreed?”

“Why, Mr. deLorenzo. I would never think of differing with you. Get mad again. You’re cute when crazed.”

Next day, Friday, Pilar and Esmeralda packed, ready for the presidential limousine. She wallowed in anger, hate, and repulsion thinking vengeance for Carlos.

Her grotesque thoughts of Steinerman imbedded moving her to nausea, her thinking bordered on the insane. She wanted to shoot him on sight or go right up to him and slit his throat. She savored having him chained to the wall and torturing him then to whip him and beat him to death, to keep hitting and hitting until his life and her hate ended.

These were unfamiliar thoughts of the Pilar the world knew. That Pilar was the Pilar she wanted for the times. She spent the day swimming in a world of violence and revenge, ‘drowning in a drop of water’. The torment whipped her to exhaustion. Her stomach rejected all food. Sleep and peace came at five o’clock in the afternoon.

Day generated personal suffering with no energy for anything else. All day long, she wore her pajamas and robe, never giving a thought to her hair or face. Nothing mattered but agony. For Pilar to come far from her past depths then degenerate was tragic. She realized the self-inflicted punishment when the nap ended at six o’clock.

Pilar agreed with Tomayo. She must think of the children, her Achilles heel. What would happen to them if something happened to her? By killing Steinerman and going to jail solves one problem and creates another…a horror.

Then she transformed into the new Pilar again. A hot bath cleansed her mind and body. By the time Tomayo arrived, she looked and felt beautiful. Her attitude the remainder of the evening stayed happy, positive, and receptive to Tomayo’s company, humor, and conversation.

That night she ignored thinking about Steinerman.

Thoughts of Tomayo kept her awake.