Pedro looked up as the two detectives entered the room. Vargas sat directly opposite him, with Torres flanking him to the left. The only other person present was a young, newly graduated pro bono lawyer, appointed by the district, who sat alongside the accused man.

Vargas flicked on the tape recorder, the only object sitting on the table, and placed the folder down in front of the suspect.

“Good morning, Señor García. I’m Chief Inspector Vargas and I believe you’ve already met Inspector Torres?”

Pedro nodded.

“Señor García, we have good reason to believe that between the sixth and eighth of January you took part in a safe-deposit robbery at the Banco Estero, aided by Ricardo Gonzales and your cousin, Sebastian Ramos.”

Pedro tried his best to look unimpressed but couldn’t prevent his pupils slightly dilating. Vargas saw the telltale sign and continued.

“We believe the three of you split the haul and hid your respective shares in different places. Am I correct so far?”

Pedro couldn’t think of a decent reply so kept silent.

“Would you like to know where your associates decided to stash their shares?”

Pedro stared straight-ahead at the digital wall clock and remained silent. Vargas was only just warming up. He knew the best was still to come as, clearly, García had no idea his friends were dead.

“Ricardo decided to hide his share in a shed at the bottom of his father’s garden. He knew his old man was confined to a wheelchair, so figured it was a pretty safe location. Sebastian, on the other hand, decided to keep his share much closer to home. As you know, he was an accomplished carpenter and he hid it all under the floorboards in his flat.”

Pedro wondered if, right now, his two associates were somewhere inside the station being interviewed in separate rooms. But, at the same time, he had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right. He knew both men well and was convinced neither of them would have named him or handed over their share of the take.

“Now, Señor García, would you care to tell us where your stash is hidden?”

Pedro still refused to speak. Vargas knew it was time to play his ace card and slowly opened the blue folder. He retrieved two A4-size photos that showed the mutilated bodies of Gonzales and Ramos. He slid them across the table so they fell directly under the gaze of his suspect. Pedro reeled back in his seat but couldn’t take his eyes off the photos of his friends. Torres spoke for the first time.

“Now you understand why I told you earlier you are a very lucky man. Unfortunately for your friends, we were not waiting for them when they returned to their homes. But somebody else was.”