The Case of Lisandra P. Read Free Page A

photo. What’s more, it’s true you look quite a bit older now. But rest assured, we do our job properly. Do you see that mirror over there? Well, they have had plenty of time to look at you, from every angle, and they have confirmed that neither one of them remembers seeing you this evening.”
    â€œThey don’t remember seeing me, but do they remember not seeing me? Did you ask them that? It’s not the same, to not remember seeing someone, and to remember not seeing someone.”
    â€œSpare us your doublespeak, Dr. Puig, we’re not your patients, once is enough for us to understand things; but it’s true we didn’t put the question to them from that angle. We don’t have your acute sense of questions, of nuances—we could learn a lot from you—but sometimes, you know, things are simpler than that.”
    â€œSimpler than what? Say what you have to say. Stop insinuating things.”
    â€œWe’re not insinuating anything.”
    â€œWell then, let me sign my deposition so I can go home. I’m exhausted.”
    â€œThat’s going to be difficult.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘that’s going to be difficult’? Because two women who spend their evenings watching a slew of faces go by don’t remember me?”
    â€œNo, not because of that.”
    â€œWhy then?”
    â€œBecause these two women are two
men
, Dr. Puig, and we’re very surprised you didn’t point that out to us, and yet in your case you were not subjected to watching ‘a slew of faces go by.’”
    â€œRight from the start you have been talking to me about women, so all I did was repeat what you said.”
    â€œSo if right from the start we had told you that you killed your wife, would you confirm that you killed your wife?”
    â€œI don’t remember who sold me my ticket, or who tore it in half. Was it a woman? Or a man? I don’t have a clue, I don’t remember.”
    â€œIt would seem that everyone’s memory is poor this evening. But we have to start our investigation somehow or other, and at the moment, people’s memories are the only tangible elements we have at our disposal. It’s the same as for you, you have to start your psychoanalysis somewhere, and a few memories, even vague ones, are enough, and in your case you don’t even have to verify whether people’s testimonies are real—you only get one side of the story, and with you the guilty parties are always the same. It’s straightforward: the parents, the father and mother. But rest assured, as far as we’re concerned it’s the truth we’re after, and that’s why we’re not going to stop there. And even if unfortunately these few memories don’t speak in your favor, we do not doubt for a single moment that the ongoing investigation will prove your innocence, so don’t you worry, it’s surely only a matter of hours. Tomorrow night you’ll be sleeping in your own bed.”
    â€œI refuse to stay here another second. I’m going home.”
    â€œCalm down, Dr. Puig. You mustn’t get upset like this. Not at the police station.”
    â€œWhat are you doing? What is the meaning of this? Remove these handcuffs!”
    â€œIt doesn’t mean a thing, but if you get agitated, we have to put handcuffs on you, that’s normal. Not everything always has to mean something in life.”
    â€œYou’re overstepping the bounds of your remit.”
    â€œWe’re not overstepping anything. By law any suspect can be taken into custody. Let’s just say that for the time being, unfortunately, you are a suspect.”
    â€œYou’re making a grave mistake! I want to see a lawyer. I demand to see a lawyer.”
    â€œOnce again—calm down. On the other hand, you have every right to demand the one thing you are now entitled to, so you see, it’s not so hard to come to an agreement. But first