Inside the van, agent TJ looked at the three screens that controlled the access cameras. He started to search for the power supply filters he had preselected in case they had any trouble; he became immersed in his screen. The possibility of doing a power cut was a useful resource for any intervention.
“Yes, I think I can get access but it will take a minute”.
“Let us know when you get it”, replied Cristina. “I think this ankle, high-heel trouble excuse is not going to last too long without raising suspicions”.
In fact, the security agents had paid little attention to the couple’s incident, but the tactic had not gone unnoticed by Ramona. Other guests were arriving.
“I think those heels are the perfect excuse”, said Guzmán. “Are you alright?”
“That’s four times now…”
Herrera’s dress had an opening on the side that exposed her slender legs; the detail did not go unnoticed by her colleague. Cristina gave her colleague a reproachful look.
“Hurry up, TJ, Álvaro can’t stand the pressure”.
TJ worked on his computer on a panel with the power company’s logo and controls everywhere.
“I think I’ve got it now… Fingers crossed”.
Ramona walked towards the couple.
“When I say ‘now’, turn it off and on. It will be like a power drop. We just need a second”. Guzmán addressed his friend who was still massaging her ankle, “ready?”
Cristina stood up and reached for Guzmán’s arm, another congenial couple walking towards the security control. In front of them, a man in a tuxedo walked through the control. The police couple did not pay any attention to him. They had not recognized attorney Eduardo Aster. Ramona stopped and followed them with her gaze.
“OK, TJ… now!”
Álvaro and Cristina walked under the metal detector, close behind attorney Aster. It happened in less than a second, the light went off and the systems fell. The security people looked bewildered for a moment. Ramona looked to the sides and walked inside to see what had just happened.
They had made it into the party.
A security guard directed the facial recognition camera to the three guests and waited, looking at his tablet.
“Welcome Mr. Aster, enjoy the party”. He looked at his tablet again and gazed at the couple that had just walked through the metal detector.
From the van, commissioner García informed:
“Don’t worry, we hacked the archive and added you to the list, stay calm”.
“Welcome…” he said, and read the names, “Mr. and Mrs. Ortega, enjoy the party”.
Over two hundred guests wandered around the garden; they greeted familiar faces and drank at Juno Coentrao’s mansion, Don Nassar’s associate and Esther Nassar’s boyfriend. The waiters served champagne and wine of all kinds and origins, there was a bar with cooks preparing sushi, and in one end of the garden, decorated with marijuana plants, was a buffet loaded with all sorts of cannabis-based food.
“This is the new trend, Álvaro, smoking your stuff belongs to a different age”, Cristina said.
“Absolutely, I belong to the old school and still haven’t tried alcohol”.
“Cristina, you’re like a mother”, said commissioner García and regretted it as soon as the words came out of his mouth. “I’m sorry, sometimes my mouth is just too big”.
“Don’t worry commissioner; you’re right. One never stops being a mother”.
She stared at the pool’s surface where psychedelic images were being projected, moving to the sound of music.
“There really is a lot of money involved in this party”, said Guzmán. “You need to throw together all the salaries earned in a policeman’s lifetime to put up something like this”, he added and gestured with his head to the group that stood just a few meters from them.
Juno held Esther Nassar, his girlfriend, by the waist and spoke in a group of exquisitely dressed people where everyone used cautious words and moved about gracefully. Ramona watched them from a distance. Juno whispered something in Esther’s ear, he apologized to the group and walked into the mansion. Ramona followed.
“This is when we divide”, said Guzmán and followed Juno and Ramona into the mansion. “I’m going to the bathroom… you act natural and go flirt with that guy…” He pointed at a young man in a tuxedo who was concentrating on a plate heaped with food. Anthony Somoza.
Cristina recognized her son’s face in the young man’s, ‘that could have been him in a few years’ time’, she thought. Anthony felt the inspector’s intense gaze, a look of nostalgia at the sight of her little boy incarnated in an adult.
“My name’s Anthony”, said the young man, offering his hand.
“I’m Cristina, lovely to meet you… Anthony, did you know that the name Lucas suits you?”
“Lucas is my eldest brother’s name”.
“Isn’t that a wonderful coincidence?” she said, trying to be friendly.
A man with a shaved, shiny head and muscly build, waved a hand at Anthony from the other end of the pool and continued walking towards the group that had gathered around cannabis area, ready to try its delights. Carlo Stamas wanted to find a place among the lawyers that stood with attorney Aster, chatting and eating appetizers prepared with the narcotic herb.
“A friend?” she asked.
“Not really; I guess you could say we work together”.
“Right…”
A few minutes later, Juno and Ramona returned to the garden, Juno looked up at the sky and Ramona checked the lit screen of the phone she was carrying. Behind them came Don Nassar followed by two men of Chinese phenotype in suits. Esther, his daughter, went to greet him accompanied by a young couple, Julián Konks and Ana Riccoli, who were dressed like Armani mannequins, both in black. Esther introduced the young couple to Don.
Cristina noticed Álvaro with a poker face walking out from a side door. Inspector Herrera remained vigilant at her shy companion’s side. Anthony’s plate was still full of canapes, he had barely tried any during their exchange of banal phrases. She apologized and left to find her colleague, who was returning from his incursion. He whispered in her ear:
“Something odd is going on here, this doesn’t make any sense”, and he added, addressing those who were listening outside, “commissioner? I think this is a waste of time and, besides, we don’t even know what we’re looking for”.
At that very moment, a drone appeared hovering above the pool. The sound and the blue lights announced its presence at the mansion’s zenith. Juno and Esther pointed at it and everyone started clapping with excitement. The music stopped.
A waiter handed Juno a microphone.
“Hello everyone! Thank you for being here with us on the truly magical night of our engagement party…”
All the guests clapped.
Álvaro looked puzzled at Cristina.
“We’ve come to a fucking engagement party?”
Juno continued:
“Esther and I thank you all for your support and have prepared a little surprise in return”, he said, pointing at the drone. “Here it is… Synchro’s exclusive first shipment. Enjoy!”
People started clapping even harder, as if the Rolling Stones had just