Final Challenge (11 page)

- Unfortunately I think this line of research is depleted, leads to a dead end.

  Hanson finished his beer but not before making a comment.

- Finally it seems that things look better with a beer in hand.

  But Marvin did not let him enjoy his sip, because before he ended made a remark th
at did not help
him anything.

- Well, take other one at least because I need your help.

  As he pronounced the words snapped out a picture of his pocket and placed it on the bar, in view of Hanson who cut short the drink to respond in his usual humor.

- Yours is much, man!
You get out photos of the pocket as the magicians of the hat.
Let me see what you have out there today ...

   Hanson stared at the picture carefully, but the face of that individual meant nothing for him.
Marvin felt compelled to lend a hand.

-
         
Do you recognize him? ... Look
closely, it is not easy, in fact it was very hard to me
. Pay attention to his eyes and his sharp ears. If you identify it I'll pay you a beer.

Hanson was slow to react.

- Damn,
Marvin! Have you brought a photo album of youth? This guy is Sheridan, when he was younger. By sure!

- Exactly. It also took me to recognize him, even though I played with advantage.

- Where did you find the picture?

- At
his apartment,
it
was the only interesting thing I found.

- Only? I don’
t think this photo get out us of any trouble.

  This time it was Marvin who finished his beer and stared at Hanson, smiling. Hanson knew that the attitude of Marvin was the
prelude to something important he
had to say. So he returned his glance.

- Come on, Marvin. You
don't
let me drink this beer in peace! I think the least you can do is dropping your bomb as soon as possible.

- I have found Sheridan, just because of this photo. At first I explored in psy
chiatric
and in the files of persons who have disappeared recently, without success. Then I realized that sometimes
, unfortunately, too often,
trees
we don’t let
see the forest and I had an attack of lucidity.

- And I'm getting a fit of impatience.

- I
t’
s Owen. Sheridan is Owen.

- Are you sure?

- Yes

- The one that disappeared more of five years ago?

- The same. I contrasted his photo. Also, I confirmed that he came a year ago on a flight from Manaus, Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon.

- I can’
t believe it! No way!

- As more you'll wonder at the instant you know when this picture was taken.

- Twenty, maybe thirty
years?

- Just because I managed to recognize the picture, because, as you've seen little or not
hing to do with the Owen that we met
in the park. The picture was made
just two months before his disappearance.

Hanson stared Marvin with astonishment and
disbelief face.

- So much must have suffered this man to be so deteriorated in so little time! - Hanson snapped. They laughed a good time. Marvin enjoyed especially those strokes of humor o
f his mate
in the most tense moments -

- Yeah
, his
appearance was that of an elder!

- Well, I think it's time to write the damn report.

- Let it stay for tomorrow, okay? I think that is fine for today. We have already suffered too many emotions.

  Marvin asked Gary two beers more.

XVIII

They wrote and delivered the report to the boss the next day. They soon hear
d
from him, he called them to his office only a few hours after. Every time they had to approach the domains of the boss felt like helpless children unfairly treated by his father. But this time they could breathe easy, they had gone too well their duties.

As they
entered
, they didn’
t need to wait to be directed speech. He had very bad aspect, even worse than usual. He looked them in an inquisitive way with a background of contempt. What had to come then almost leftover, the storm lurked to fal
l in torrents over their heads. It was clear that that
man
felt a special sympathy for them
, this time there seemed no reason to anger, they had made significant progress in one case for which no one would have a penny.

  The boss seemed to be reading the report, when in fact he had long ago read it. Rather it seemed he was looking for an excuse to throw a speech.

- I suppose you remember the ultimatum that gave you the other day. - Were his first words to the agents -

It had started even worse than predicted by their bad omens. He sighed deeply and continued.

- You had on your hands the opportunity to prove if your medals from the past had been collected in a fair and meritorious
way
- Hanson looked away trying to contain his anger. The boss sighed deeply again before continuing - You have had i
t, yes. Because I have given it
to you
,
not because you had
neither
de
served
n
or earned. I've done it
for you do not remain any doubt about Jack Edwards is an integrity person who always gives more of one opportunity to those w
ho don't deserve it - they had
never se
en him speak so biased. Now was clear t
hat man not only wanted to keep them out of the case, but trashing th
em - Truth be told is I hadn't
confidence in you, and you ended up giving me the reason.

Marvin interrupted the boss, he was acting in a cruel and unfair way. Their report, at least, showed their honesty and ability to work.

- I get the impression that you have not read the report in detail.

- Damn, what is at stake is your ability, not mine! - He said gesturing ostentatiously with his arms and raising his voice. Then he paused and continued - The report does no clear, ab
solutely nothing. I don’t
care what the coroner says. He has some bad days, more than would be desirable. I care a damn about the bullshit of vaccines, or where they have gone on vacation. And, about Sheridan, this is another case, nothing to do with ours. Do you not know what you have written? What relationship is there between Sheridan, Owen or whatever and death of the doctors Klein and Olsen? The report does not conclude that there is absolutely any.

- It is obvious that there're many loose ends to tie. But we believe there is every reason to believe that both cases of disappearances and deaths of the two scientists are related. - Hanson argued, as a defense -

- Assumptions? In this department, at least while I'm in front, no assumptions, just the facts. Objectively speaking
you
have nothing, agents, absolutely nothing. You know what I am going to do? First, pass the information
on Owen, all you have achieved
of a certain interest, to other colleagues who will make good use of it, certainly better than you. And in much the case at hand, take it for closed.

- But ... - Marvin tried to replicate but the boss immediately aborted his words -

- Case closed. From your report concludes that there is no reason to investigate further. You take over a month dizzy partridge, to reach a conclusion that was obvious. You can get out, that's all.

 
They left that office with the feeling of being subject to persecution at the professional level difficult to prove. What could they do? Complain to a superior? They would win the final wrath for the rest of their career, they would be set aside as dross the department. They did not understand how anyone could be so miserable, anyone who read such report would deduce at least the interest of following the investigation. As muc
h as he
hate
d
them, work was work. What interest could have Edwards in filing a case like that? ...

   They had been partially answered their question if they had seen how their boss  partially falsified his report, obliterating references to the forensics study and Owen's trip from Manaus, before turning to his superior for review and subsequently closed.

   Marvin and Hanson spent two of the worst days of their life. Even Hanson, who usually had the ability to be isolated from his work problems, was affected in such a way that his sense of humor disappeared like magic. Meanwhile Marvin was broken. He had laid out in that case to escape his emotional plight, and all he had achieved from it was sinking a bit more. So that
morning when the phone rang in
their office, neither of them was in hurry
to get it. Hanson finally picked up
the phone
to ask, in a tone of apathy.

- Hi, agents Marvin and Hanson.

- Two in one? No way!
 
Aren't you goi
ng to get me out of doubt
? ... - Replied the other side a woman's voice which sounded sweet, friendly, close. That seemed to wake up Hanson a little from his lethargy -.

- Sorry. Stuart Hanson, miss. Or lady ...

- Miss, Mr. Hanson, an
d hopefully for a long time. This is
Kelly Adams, Department of Biotechnology of the FBI.

- Biotechnology? I had no idea about the existence of such department, and unless it was lucky to have there a woman with such nice voice.

- Well, I just know something about you.

- Do not tell me, you play with advantage! - Laughter was heard across the telephone -

- I mean you are a flatterer. I will have to be careful! - This time it was Hanson who returned the laughter -

- Quiet, you're in good hands. What reason do I owe the pleasure of your call, Miss Kelly ...?

- Well, I have in my hands you report.

- Report? What report are you referring to?

- Maybe I was wrong office.

- Huh? No, no, wait, I'm somewhat surprised.

- Perhaps agent Marvin
and you have not written a report about the case of the two scientists who have committed suicide recently?

- Well ... yes ... but I don't understand how it has come into your possession.

- It's
simple. All reports in which
appears something related to Biotechnology, end up going on here.

- Ah, okay. However, even thanking you, I don't understand your interest. Our boss has closed the case.

- Don't worry about that. Now I can officially say that has just been reopened.
What surprised me is the second report.

- Second report?

- Yeah
, apparently, as your boss has told us, you gave him a first report, which came here originally. This morning arrived the second.

- The second?

- Agent Hanson, what happens now? Have you had a bad night?

- Tell me, what's the difference between the first and second?

- Are you kidding me? Who has written this report?

- Well ... we ... I guess.

- Are you playing with me? Maybe your boss was right when he branded you as incompetent. There are some subtle differences between the first and the second like the reference to vaccines.

Hanson realized at the moment that someone had tampered the damn report, but then, being asked by his superiors and in order to a
void any suspicion, certainly
he had been obliged to facilitate them the original. And it was obvious who had done it. But, facing his boss they had nothing to gain, so he was forced to seek a commitment response.

- Ah,... yeah
, yes, ... sorry! It is because I thought that they had sent the first report to the trash, no
t to you. Simply the boss didn’
t considered appropiate that we mentioned the issue of scarring, as irrelevant.

- Irrelevant? In my opinion is a very accurate assumption.