The Galician Parallax by James G. Skinner Read Free Book Online Page A

mother at first was concerned because of his obvious obsession in vindicating his father’s death, yet on graduation day from the academy the tears of joy were there joining all other parents proud of their offspring’s future career in the civil guards.
    ‘I thought you’ve got what you wanted? What’s wrong then?’
    Sergio got up and was about to leave the room without a word when his mother changed her tone, raised her voice. ‘Stop right there! I’ve had enough of your brooding!’ He gave in. A Galician mother, widowed prematurely, was a strong deterrent to the combination of his self-pity and pride.
    He turned and embraced her.
    ‘It’s just that I’m sick of sitting at a computer all day and just turning out statistics and reports for the other guys to take the glory.’
    His mother listened quietly as Sergio continued to unwind. ‘I’ve been at it for four years now, even asked to be transferred to active duty. Zero response.’ He told his mother all about the latest case his boss had asked him to check out and how he thought that he was on to something when he was asked to forget they existed.
    ‘All they can think about is the drug problem.’
    It was at that moment that his mother came up with a suggestion that could alter the course of his work.
    ‘How long are you going to be on leave?’
    ‘About a week. Why?’
    The rain had been pouring down on the village for several days due to unusually cold and wintry weather for the time of year. Although the St Edmond Explorers’ divers had been unable to continue with their diving they kept their work schedule active, piecing together the collection of artefacts that they had successfully retrieved from the eighteenth-century Spanish wreck.
    ‘We’ve got another couple of months left before the contract runs out,’ said Percy Robertson optimistically. ‘That gives us one to find the coins and another to “you know what”.’
    Eric Fuller, who was busy on the computer checking the structure of the wreck for the umpteenth time, picked up on Percy’s comment. ‘I’m not so sure we’ll be able to make it. We’ve covered too small an area. The “Lady” is a monster.’
    Nigel McNeill, the leader of the team, burst out, ‘OK then. What do we do? Pack it in, get paid by the Spaniards for finding bugger all, which incidentally amounts to only twenty per cent and go back to oil rigs?’
    At that moment, Lieutenant Sergio Quiroga burst through the front door. ‘Everyone on the floor… now… you’re all under arrest!’
London, House of Commons
    Janet Phillips, Conservative MP for Devon South received an urgent phone call from her secretary during a parliamentary recess in London. ‘Ms Phillips, a Mrs Robertson from Torquay has just called saying that her husband and two colleagues were arrested some weeks ago in Spain. They were doing some work for the Spanish Government, doesn’t understand how they got into trouble. Says she can’t get through to them and is pleading for our help, thought you should know right away.’
    Janet was not due to go back to Devon for another week, taking advantage of a short holiday before the summer tourist season. Her in-tray was usually full of citizen complaints whenever she returned home from London. She knew this could be serious otherwise her secretary would’ve waited for her return.
    ‘Do you have any other information, Susan?’
    Her secretary filled her in with more details.
    Danny Wilton at the British Embassy in Madrid continued to rant and rave about British politicians meddling in consular affairs as he spoke to his counterpart in Vigo.
    ‘We’ve now got a bloody MP on the act about those guys caught poaching off Muros. Can you check and see what the latest info is, Juan Jose? I’ve even got the ambassador in on the act.’
    Juan Jose was taken aback. He had reported the arrests of all members of the St Edmond Explorers a month ago and had visited the civil guards’ station at Noia prior to