Chapter 10
"Fidel?" Humphrey called out as he entered the office.
"Here boss." Fidel got up from his desk.
"Ah, good, very good. Fidel, I need to ask you some questions; it's very important that you tell me only the facts as you know them personally, and nothing that you've been told by a third party. Now; how much do you know about Carla's life since you and she departed company and how she became involved with Franco?" Humphrey watched Fidel closely, waiting for his answer.
"Well... Carla and I split up three years ago. She saw a few other guys after that and then she met Franco the following Spring. She got a job, working for him as his secretary." Fidel recounted.
"Good. And you know this for certain?" Humphrey took a serviette out of his pocket and started jotting notes in biro.
"Yes, Carla and I used to bump into each other occasionally, we parted as friends and when we saw we would tell each other what we were doing," said Fidel.
"So she started working for Franco; so how did she end up becoming his wife?" Humphrey asked.
"Carla told me that she'd never felt that way about anyone; she knew that she wanted to be with Franco from the moment they met. Then the next time I saw her, she told me they'd got married; just a small, simple ceremony. I was shocked, of course; I'd hoped her feelings might change. But she was so happy, I understood this was what she wanted and I had to respect that. I didn't see her after that; not until this." Fidel sat down, sadly.
"And I have to ask this Fidel; has anyone else spoken to you, directly or indirectly, about Carla or Franco? Particularly in recent months?" Humphrey asked gently.
"Yes. How did you know?" Fidel asked. Humphrey didn't respond, but waited for Fidel to elaborate.
"Teresa. I didn't know she was Franco's ex wife; she was just a friend of my mother's. To be honest, a new friend, they'd met at bridge. Teresa told us that her ex husband had married a money grabbing young girl who she was sure was trying to kill him. She said that she and her ex husband were still good friends because they had a daughter who they both loved very much, and she asked my advice, knowing that I worked for the police. I did look into it. That was then I discovered that she was talking about Carla and Franco. I tried to reassure Teresa but she became tearful and said that I had been taken in by Carla and that she would be proven right in the end." Fidel looked at his colleagues desperately. "I know I should have told you all this before; but it seemed... well, it just seemed so unconnected. I knew Carla loved Franco, I knew she could never hurt him."
Camille walked up to Fidel and hugged him. Humphrey watched her for a moment and then sat down at his desk with the file of papers from the solicitor's office and proceeded to go through them once more.