CHAPTER 30
THE RESTAURANT WAS SOMETHING surreal for Sandro, not even in the most absurd dreams he imagined that one day he could eat there...
And for free... I think I would spend two or three salaries in this restaurant... Elisa would like to be here...
He looked at the stratospheric beauty of his company and realized that his wife truly wouldn't want to be there...
But work is work, after all, who am I to deny the president of the United States anything?
— I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM you, that everything that is said here must be kept strictly confidential, the security of the United States of America, and in a way, the world, is in this conversation.
She realized that even if she hadn't talked about it, he wouldn't have said anything to anyone at all, he had a reputation that went beyond the mess in his office.
— You can rest assured about that, first of all, I am a professional who cares a lot about my image and the result I produce, I believe that one of the prerequisites for coming after me was exactly that.
She nodded.
The waiter brought the menu and Sandro couldn't understand anything that was written, it was as if they were written in hieroglyphics.
She smiled, noticing his awkward way of seeing the Frenchman.
— Do you have any dietary restrictions?
— For those who went hungry in the northeastern hinterland, I'm only restricted to cactus and calango soup.
The girl smiled again and signaled to the waiter.
— What's the specialty of the house?
— I would recommend the risotto, it is divine, madame.
— I'll have two then, please… — she turned to Sandro — what would you like to drink?
— A soda please.
— For me a smooth red wine.
The waiter nodded and left.
— My name is Tammy Mendonza, I'm a special agent for the FBI here in Latin America, I handle confidential matters of mutual interest.
— I'm Sandro Palmeira, a detective for the Civil Police of the State of São Paulo, I don't know if this means much to you, but I try to solve everything that comes to me, simple as that, but my greatest quality is surviving on the salary I receive.
She smiled and continued:
— Your resume says much more than your profession or public office, but surviving on that salary really qualifies you for the mission we are interested in delivering into your hands.
She smiled kindly and continued.
— I'm sorry for the rush to get into the matter,— he said, putting mutual jokes aside, — but the president didn't see any faster and more efficient solution than to appoint you to a case we're trying to solve before it ends up in a way that all humanity suffer once again with the consequences of Nazism, everyone says that you are the best in the world, and seeing your resume, you live up to the fame.
— I don't know who invented this world's best bullshit, is there any cash prize for that? — Like FIFA.
She smiled again.
— Unfortunately not, but if you accept the mission, you will have a good reward, I can assure you, the President of the United States himself mentioned your name and told me not to measure efforts to join the team that will save the world from chaos.
Sandro looked really impressed.
If I loved people as I loved myself, I would have chosen another path...
In a sudden reminder of that thug's little girl, it made him understand the importance of his mission as a police officer.
— We know that you recently participated in two missions involving Nazi sects.
— You guys are really good, basically it was all very confidential.
— In fact, the Federal Police feeds any information and movements from Nazis or neo-Nazis to the CIA, and in your case, at least internally, there was great commotion.
— I even won a medal from each country for the feat.
— You might even win the Liberty Star, America's highest award for acts of bravery on the field.
I simply have to love people like I love my son, as a policeman I have to give my life if possible for them...
— And what do I have to do?'
The waiter arrived with the dishes and served them.
— Eat first, Sandro, I like you to think and work on a full stomach.