Crimes of August: A Novel

Four

[43] four “Is the money guaranteed? What about the house?” asked Alcino. “Yes,yes,didn’t I tell you that already?”replied Climerio.“And the job,too. Investigator.Besides that,if I go toVice,like they promised,I’ll take you with me. Getting a spot in Vice is better than winning the lottery.” “I got a wife and five kids to support,” said Alcino. They were at Climerio’s house,32 Rua Sicupira,in Cachambi,whereAlcino had gone to settle on the details of his undertaking. Climerio picked up a leather briefcase, and they left. They walked down the dusty unpaved street. In the middle of the street a group of urchins were playing marbles. Climerio was fat; Alcino, short and skinny. “When I was a kid, I was real good at that,” said Climerio, looking at the boys.“How about you? Were you good at marbles, too?” “I used to like building carts with ball bearings for wheels.Ever since I was a kid, I liked doing carpentry stuff. I don’t know why I liked that profession,” Alcino lamented. “Your life as unemployed carpenter is over,”said Climerio,clappingAlcino on the back. Climerio’s words failed to assuage Alcino. The obligation he had taken on of killing that journalist had become endless agony for him. But it had been the way he had found of satisfying his lifelong dream, to have a house of his own, for he was constantly late in paying his monthly rent of five hundred and fifty cruzeiros for the house where he lived. Since May Climerio had [44] been advancing him the rent money.As well as money for groceries.His wife Abigail, on one occasion, had gone to Climerio’s house to receive a thousand cruzeiros; other times she had received two hundred. They took a bus to Méier. In Méier they took a taxi. “Rua Barão de Mesquita,”Climerio told the driver.Their final destination was the São José school, where the journalist Lacerda was to make a speech. They got off at a bus stop on Barão de Mesquita. “Wait here,” said Climerio. Climerio went into a bar and asked to use the phone. He dialed. “Is Nelson there?” He wasn’t. Climerio made several phone calls trying to locate Nelson Raimundo de Souza, the driver of the taxi in which they planned to flee after Alcino killed Lacerda.He finally left a message for Nelson to come find him on Barão de Mesquita, at the bar whose address he left with the person taking the message. Climerio went to the bus stop to look for Alcino. The pair, now back at the bar, drank beer as they waited for the cab driver to arrive. “Is this Nelson guy reliable?” asked Alcino. “I’ve known him a long time. He stations his cab on Silveira Martins, that street beside the palace. I see him practically every day.” Night fell. “The Crow is gonna leave,and that son of a bitch Nelson doesn’t show up,” said Climerio. If he failed again, Gregório would skin him alive. Nelson arrived shortly before ten that evening. “Goddammit! Where the hell have you been?” “I got your message an hour ago,” said the cabbie. The three got into Nelson’s Studebaker taxi.First,Alcino noted the license plate, 5-60-21.“Tomorrow I’m gonna play those numbers.” They stopped on a cross-street with Barão de Mesquita, near the São José school.Climerio opened the leather briefcase and took out a .45 revolver.The weapon,a Smith &Wesson,had been stolen in 1949 from the Second Infantry Regiment in the military compound, by the sergeant who was head of the regimental arsenal.That sergeant had sold it to another sergeant.It had been bought and sold several times, until it was acquired by José Antonio Soares. Alcino’s hands trembled when he held the gun. He’d never had a .45 in his hands.Thesteelwascold,andtheweaponseemedtopossessenormousweight. [45] “All you have to do is pull the trigger, and this cannon will do the job for you.” Climerio gaveAlcino six more bullets,whichAlcino put in his pocket after sticking the revolver in his belt. They got out of the car.Alcino remained close to the entrance to the school. Climerio posted himself at the door. The plan was to kill Lacerda as soon as...