Rick Mofina - In Desperation

Who would have thought that in all the galaxies of chance that this arrogance by the Americans-Salazar, Johnson, this Lyle Galviera-to plot a betrayal of the cartel, would actually lead him to Eduardo’s killer?

Anger began to bubble in the pit of Zartosa’s stomach.

At first Zartosa only wanted to use Galviera’s girlfriend’s daughter to draw him out, to retrieve their stolen millions and teach them all a lesson about the Norte Cartel.

He had even contemplated returning the girl-if they’d cooperated.

But now this happens.

Zartosa thought of Cora, thought of the piece of information the caller had given: Eduardo died with God in his hand .

This changes everything.

Zartosa picked up his house phone and pressed a button.

“Garcia?”

“Yes.”

Garcia was like a brother to Zartosa. Garcia had grown up with him, with Hector, with Eduardo and was the first to join their little gang after they’d avenged their father’s murder.

“Garcia-” Zartosa cleared his throat “-is everything still in play for Arizona?”

“Everything is in play.”

“You know Eduardo was the best of us all.”

“He was, Sam.”

“You know when we lowered him into the ground I made him a promise.”

“I was there beside you when you made it.”

“It is time to honor my promise.”

Phoenix, Arizona

As Cora, her lawyer and her brother were led through the FBI offices, she remembered that distant night when she’d given birth to Tilly.

She recalled the antiseptic smells, the blinding lights, everyone masked, leaving her afraid and alone, until the moment she held her baby in her arms.

Now her fear that she would never hold Tilly again grew with each step she took. It carried her along a blue hazy stream of sounds and images that flowed to the truth buried in her past.

They’d arrived at a large meeting room.

Here again were Hackett; Larson; their boss, Bruller; and the two San Francisco inspectors, Paul Pruitt and Russ Moseley.

“We’ll be observing,” Pruitt said after the usual greetings. “We helped Agent Hackett with some questions. Then we’ll talk to you afterward about your time in San Francisco.”

Cora nodded before turning to Oren Krendler, the FBI’s polygraph examiner. On the polished table beside him was a collection of files next to a hard-shell case.

“I will need some time alone to chat with you.” Krendler offered Cora an officious smile.

After the others left, he acknowledged her anxiety. “I’ve been doing this a long time and I know you’re nervous-that’s expected.” He unscrewed a fountain pen and for the next twenty minutes, asked her about her medical history, about medication, if she felt rested, able and willing to help with the investigation by undergoing the examination.

Satisfied that Cora was a capable subject, Krendler then snapped open the latches of his case and showed her his polygraph machine. He tried to make her comfortable with it, telling her that it was an older standard five-pen analog that he swore by.

“These models are very efficient.”

The machine worked by using instruments he would connect near Cora’s heart and on her fingertips to electronically measure her breathing, perspiration, respiratory activity, galvanic skin reflex, blood and pulse rate, recording her responses on a moving chart as she answered questions.

Krendler said the questions would concern her original statements to the FBI about the kidnapping, her relation to it and her time in San Francisco. He would look at how her answers fit with the facts and known evidence, analyze her chart and determine one of three possible outcomes: She was truthful, untruthful, or the results were inconclusive.

Cora understood and was ready.

When the others returned, Hackett came to her and said, “Before we get started, I want to advise you of your rights.”

She glanced at Baker-Brown, who nodded, and Hackett proceeded.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…” How did her life come to this? “Do you understand each of these rights I have explained to you?” No, I do not understand any of this . “Having these rights in mind, do you wish to proceed?”

“Yes.”

Hackett and the others took seats at one end of the room, behind Cora, who sat in a chair facing Krendler. As he connected her to the machine, she tried to remain calm.

This was her moment of reckoning.

Krendler began with establishing questions, reminding Cora to answer “yes” or “no.”

“Is your name Cora Martin?”

“Yes.”

“Did you change your name from Cora Gannon?”

“Yes.”

“Were you born in Buffalo, New York?”

“Yes.”

“Are your parents deceased?”

The needles scratched the graph paper. “Yes.”

“Do you have any sisters?”

“No.”

“Do you have any brothers?”

“Yes.”

“Is Jack Gannon your brother?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a daughter?”

“Yes.”

“Are you married?”

“No.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

Cora hesitated.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“I did.”

“Answer yes or no, please.”

“No.”

“Are you employed at Quick Draw Courier?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know Lyle Galviera?”

“Yes.”

“Did you have a romantic relationship with Lyle Galviera?”

“Yes.”

“Was your daughter kidnapped from your house?”

“Yes.”

“Are you in any way responsible for her kidnapping?”

Cora hesitated for one moment, then another.

“Are you in any way responsible for her kidnapping?”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

“I feel that I am.”

“Answer yes or no, please.”

“I don’t know.”

Krendler made notations on the graph paper with his fountain pen.

“We’ll move on. Prior to your daughter’s kidnapping, were you aware of Lyle Galviera’s involvement in any illegal activity?”

“No.”

“Did you know he associated with people involved in criminal activity?”

“No.”

“Do you presently know the whereabouts of Lyle Galviera?”

“No.”

“Since the kidnapping, have you had any contact with Lyle Galviera?”

“No.”

“Do you presently know the whereabouts of your daughter?”

“No.”

“Do you know who is responsible for your daughter’s kidnapping?”

“No.”

“Have you ever used illegal drugs?”

“Yes.”

“Are you currently using illegal drugs?”

“No.”

“Do you know Octavio Sergio Salazar?”

“No. Wait, yes. No. I mean I know that name from the news reports on the men murdered-”

“Answer yes or no, please. Do you know Octavio Sergio Salazar?”

“No.”

“Do you know John Walker Johnson?”

“No.”

“Do you know Ruiz Limon-Rocha?”

“No.”

“Do you know Alfredo Hector Tecaza?”

“No.”

“Do you know of Carlos Manolo Sanchez, or anyone using that alias?”

“No.”

“Did you ever reside in San Francisco, California?”

“Yes.”

“Were you residing in San Francisco in 1991?”

“Yes.”

“Were you using illegal drugs at that time?”

“Yes.”

“Did you commit any criminal acts at that time?”

Cora’s chin crumpled.

“Did you commit any criminal acts at that time?”

“Yes.”

“Were you ever arrested for your crimes?”

“No.”

“Do you know Donald Montradori?”

“No.”

“Do you know a man named Donnie Cargo?”