Read Online The Butcher Beyond by Sally Spencer - Free Book Online Page A

of a holidaymaker – even if he were only
pretending
to be on holiday – could damage the tourist trade.’
    â€˜And that bothers you, does it?’
    â€˜Not especially. There are times when I think we have too many tourists – that they are destroying the Spain which I love. But it
does
bother the authorities – and in order to minimize the damage, they will insist that an arrest is made soon.’
    â€˜But it doesn’t really matter whether the feller who’s arrested is actually guilty?’ Woodend said, beginning to understand the way that Ruiz’s mind was working.
    â€˜It does not matter at all,’ Ruiz agreed. ‘We do not have trial by jury in this country, and most of the judges will do what they are told without a moment’s hesitation. So some poor man will be arrested. He will probably have a criminal record – but he will not be a serious criminal.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Because serious criminals often have powerful allies – some of them in government – and the man who is to take the blame for Holloway’s death must have no way in which he can defend himself. So he will be tried, found guilty, and executed. And everybody will be happy – except for his friends and family.’
    â€˜An’ you,’ Woodend said.
    â€˜And me,’ Ruiz agreed. ‘I have seen enough injustice in my lifetime. If I can prevent more, I will.’
    â€˜Can I tell you somethin’ that’s been puzzlin’ me?’ Woodend asked.
    â€˜Please feel free.’
    â€˜When I was arrested last night, there were very few people around. In fact, the only person I actually saw, before López arrived, was the hotel receptionist. Yet by the time I talked to López in the Guardia Civil barracks, he had already been contacted by the British Consul. Now the question is, who contacted the Consul?’
    â€˜I suppose it’s always possible that it could have been the receptionist,’ Ruiz suggested.
    â€˜It could have been,’ Woodend agreed. ‘But he didn’t look to me like a man with enough initiative to have done that. On the other hand, he might well have called somebody who
did
have the initiative.’
    â€˜Me,’ Ruiz said.
    â€˜You,’ Woodend replied.
    Paco Ruiz shrugged. ‘All right, I admit it. I heard you were in trouble, and I did all I could to get you out of it.’
    â€˜Because it was yet another example of the injustice of the Spanish authorities?’
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜It had nothing to do with the fact that it was in your own interest – or perhaps in the interests of the case you saw developin’ – to get me released from police custody as soon as possible?’
    â€˜That could have played a part in it.’
    Woodend grinned. ‘About all those warnings you’ve just given about the kind of country this is?’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜I don’t think they were ever really meant to scare me off.’
    â€˜No?’
    â€˜No. In fact, I’m almost certain they were intended to have exactly the opposite effect. You think you’ve got the measure of me, don’t you?’
    A small, knowing smile came involuntarily to Paco Ruiz’s lips. ‘Perhaps I do,’ he admitted.
    â€˜You’ve decided that the best way to get me interested in the case is to present it as a real challenge. As you see it, the more obstacles there are in my way, the more I’ll feel the urge to try an’ get round them. It’s nothin’ more or less than a classic con, Paco.’
    Ruiz’s smile became a grin. ‘I apologize,’ he said.
    â€˜For tryin’ to con me? Or for bein’ found out?’
    â€˜Possibly a little of both.’ Paco’s face grew more serious. ‘I should never have tried it. I really
do
hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.’
    â€˜It’d be hard not to, when I