HE LOOKED AT himself in the mirror. He was ready to go. He decided to double-check before getting to the door. He chose an all-black look, betting on versatility. He touched his hair, careful not to mess up his hairstyle. It was an important night. And he grabbed his cell phone, sending him a message:
…I'm coming down. Kisses.…
He replied:
…Almost around the corner here. I will wait for you.…
The lights went out suddenly.
"“What the hell…”"
He heard two footsteps in his direction. Since everything was dark, he didn't know which way to go. Before he could even calculate a reaction, a flashlight beam was shining in his face.
"“Stop right there,” a robotic voice ordered. “Now.”"
Hugo wasn't alone. He knew it as soon as he saw the gun barrel pointed in the same direction. The only instinctive reaction was to raise both hands.
"“Who sent you here?” It was the only question he could manage."
The shot was deafening.
…****…
HUGO WOKE UP STARTLED. The clock read one in the morning. The TV was still on. “Are you still watching?” He didn't remember what he was watching on Netflix before he fell asleep. He turned on the lamp and turned off the TV. He needed to write down every dream he had, he reminded himself. No matter how insignificant. That nightmare was far from it. It was in the top 3 worst. He grabbed his notebook and pen, beginning to write. After he narrated, trying to be as accurate as possible, he began to describe feelings:
If I didn't die now, I'll never die. My heart is still pounding. Maybe this nightmare has something to do with seeing my ex on Leblon beach. If he had the guts to try to kill me by throwing a big vase in the mirror and then chase me around the apartment using a big, sharp piece… I would expect the worst from him. Would it be a bad omen? Get out of this apartment so I don't have to go through this again… In the dream, the room was similar; the mirror was in the same place. The incandescent light too. Could this Transfer not be a matter of destiny? I have no doubt… Or am I just too freaked out by this dream? I can't lose my mind. It was just a nightmare. As I put it all on paper, I realize that was all it was: a nightmare. And, as always, a nightmare is forgotten when you go back to sleep and the memory is occupied with another dream. A very realistic nightmare. I will take it as a warning to stay away from the unspeakable.
He tried to sleep when he put the notebook aside with the pen, but couldn't. He grabbed his laptop and opened his email, to get a better look at the Transfer Letter that had arrived that afternoon while he was with Chiara. It's not just a transfer. Hugo has been promoted to work as an investigator for the Federal Police. A promotion that requires starting from scratch.
…*Your activities inherent to the position of FEDERAL POLICE INVESTIGATOR** will begin at the new unit, PF — SAO PAULO - SP, from August 3***. Compliance with the function from the aforementioned date is essential.…
Hugo returns from vacation that day.
…****…
ANOTHER DAY. Eleven in the morning. Pedro Henrique was feeding information into the report he needed to deliver to Alex: regarding the testimonies he had collected and the lead he was going to follow.
"“Excuse me,” Alex entered his office."
"“Speak of the devil…” Pedro joked. “I finished the report and just sent it to your email. Was that it?”"
"“No, but thanks.”"
"“So what is it?” Pedro folded his arms on the table. “Anything new?”"
Alex sat down in the chair across from the young man.
"“You will work as a duo on this case,” he said."
"“Wow.”"
"“He's from Rio. Just got promoted. He has a very good profile.”"
"“You've already been evaluating, haven't you?” Pedro went back to typing on the computer."
"“It was necessary. Anyway… He starts next month. The Transfer Letter has been delivered and he must be, at this moment, organizing his life there to come and live here.”"
"“Aren't you ashamed to change the boy's life so suddenly…?” Pedro's tone was dry and ironic at the same time."
"“Occupational hazards, my friend.” Alex took a long sip of coffee."
Pedro frowned, looking at the Delegate. He censured in a playful tone:
"“Aren't you afraid of overdosing? It's the fifth cup before noon.”"
"“The fear I have is not being able to take a single sip of this here.” He held up the black and white mug as if indicating it. Stood up. “I just came to bring you this message.”"
"“Okay. Bye.”"
"“Are you going out?” Alex raised an eyebrow, the door ajar."
"“In a bit. I'm going to have lunch and follow a lead. Not necessarily in that order…”"
"“Good boy.”"
Alex closed the door.
…****…
"“TRANSFER?” CHIARA WAS surprised when Hugo announced the Letter he received by email. They were having lunch together at the bistro."
"“Yes, girl. I went to check my inbox as if it were nothing… Lie, I wanted to,” he amended in a playful tone, laughing. “I just wanted to know if there was anything important, because, you know… Then I read the huge name Letter. I was left without knowing what to do with my life for five minutes.”"
"“And I thought the promotion was here. That you would continue here, working.” Chiara frowned."
"“I thought so too,” Hugo shrugged. “But since I accepted, I'm not going to chicken out. Being an investigator has been something I've been wanting to do for the past few years.”"
"“No more being a clerk, right?”"
"“That's right.”"
"“But, so, have you thought about what you're going to do with the apartment… the furniture…?”"
"“I'm taking some of it with me. I'm going to have to get rid of the other part, and it's going to be by selling things.”"
"“You're practically going to have to start all over again, huh, friend…”"
"“That's right.” Hugo stared into space. “And I still have my vacation starting this weekend.”"
"“Did anything change?”"
"“No. Thank God.”"
"“Good thing, right?”"
"“I just need at least fifteen days. Only. Because I have a slight feeling that they are going to interrupt.”"
"“Why?”"
"“Looks like there's a new case out there. Polemic.”"
"“Hmm…” Chiara took a sip of juice. “Tell me more.”"
Hugo rested his arms on the table, leaning closer.
"“International Human Trafficking,” he whispered."
"“No way. Here in Brazil?”"
"“I'll find out more when I get there.” Hugo chuckled. “Cesar didn't want to tell me many details. But I just heard that. I arrived in the morning to talk about the Letter and he told me little." He said he would continue the conversation after lunch.”
"“He wants to talk more calmly.” Chiara shrugged. “To tell you the details. It is a really controversial case. If it's here in Brazil, then…”"
"“Let's see later.”"
There was a brief silence.
"“Found the new apartment in Sao Paulo yet?”"
"“What if I told you I found it right away?” Hugo picked up his cell phone, opening an app. “I'll show you the pictures…”"
…****…
HUGO DECIDED TO STOP by the house. With time to spare, he took the opportunity to check the ads he had posted on the Buy & Sell website. He is going to hand over the apartment this weekend—on Saturday.
Walking around the living room, he looked at much of his belongings that were already boxed up. The moving truck will pick everything up tomorrow—the things he won't need. He packed his suitcase for vacation, left some clothes to continue wearing… Anyway. A madness he needed to manage. In the end, it was working out.
He sat down on the wooden floor, cell phone in hand, just imagining the good times he had in his apartment: the motivation behind the move; the moment he first saw the space; the closing of the contract; receiving the keys; the small inauguration he had with a few friends; the space slowly being occupied with his things.
The first place he could call *his*.
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