A Corpse for Cuamantla by Harol Marshall Read Free Book Online Page B

the loom, delayed in their trip to market until fingers more nimble than mine can attach the sleeves and pockets?"
    Undaunted by her sarcasm, Arnulfo answered with characteristic bravado. "I've spoken with several of our compadres and they've agreed to contribute to our just cause in order to restore pride to our community. The people in our fine village are offended by the arrogance and irresponsibility of the Director and the poor example he sets for our children. Like us, they're willing to pay for his removal."
    Antonia persisted. "I've seen the pockets of our compadres when we women launder clothes at the river. Like yours, they're empty of pesos. Like you, they're good men, sincere in their desire to help, but their families are large and their pocketbooks small. The pesos they collect for your cause will be meager and fall short of satisfying the officials. Then what will you do?"
    "Trust me woman," Arnulfo soothed, though his wife was in no mood to be comforted.
    Francisco spoke up before his mother could launch another tirade.
    "Mamá, listen to Papá. No more crying over the dishonor the Director and my foolish sister have brought on our family and on the family of Diego Mejía, a good man who wants only to be her husband and the father of her children. I don't know what he sees in the silly girl, but that's not my affair. Listen to your youngest son. Join Papá at the fiesta as he asks of you. The problem has been solved. You have my guarantee as well as Papá's."

Chapter 12
     
    C inco de Mayo was beginning to feel like a bad dream. Anna tried to make sense of it all. If the boy's theory about a gunshot was correct it meant only one thing. Somebody killed Pedro in cold blood. He was not the type to commit suicide, too confident in his abilities to outmaneuver his enemies, too arrogant to kill himself and too proud to provide such comfort to his enemies. She hoped and prayed the person who murdered him was not an acquaintance of hers.
    Who did do it, she wondered, and how and when? Pedro went missing before the parade began over two hours ago. I filmed him entering the rose garden, she thought. That may have been the last time anyone saw him alive. Her mind calculated times and probabilities. The body could have remained undiscovered for a long time, she reasoned, since it lay in the rearmost part of the garden.
    Her thoughts turned to María who stayed at the school working in the office instead of joining the parade. Had she seen or heard anything? Given the constant fireworks, no one would notice a gunshot even from inside the school. Did María stay in the office the whole time or did she visit her classroom? If so, could she have seen Pedro's body out the window? No, if María had seen him she would have called the authorities, tried to summon help, unless… Anna instantly chastised herself for thinking ill of her friend.
    Miguel returned to the dais and took the microphone from María whose face wore a new look of anxiety as she stepped back waiting for Miguel's important announcement.
    "I'm sorry to inform you," Miguel began, "an unexpected problem has arisen. If you will please remain in your seats, I'll return shortly with more details."
    Anna watched as he took María by the arm and guided her through the crowd pausing briefly to ask Anna to join them. Hard to imagine, Anna thought, but Miguel plans to resume the fiesta despite the death and probably murder of Pedro García . T he school was a crime scene. Surely it would have to be quarantined . She glanced at María whose stoic expression barely hid the fact she was bracing for bad news. Anna placed an arm around her shoulders, holding her back from entering the office where the village officials stood at military attention wearing grave expressions on their drawn faces.
    "María, before you enter, Miguel has some bad news."
    "It's about Pedro, isn't it? What's happened? Where is he? She's done something to him, hasn't she? Please, you tell me, Anna,