“Where?”
“Irene had grown up in the shacks of Bogatell beach, and although she’d made a name for herself dancing and acting in the clubs on the Paralelo, she still belonged to that place. She told me she’d taken Marlasca to see a woman they called the Witch of Somorrostro, to ask for protection from the person to whom Marlasca was indebted.”
“Did Irene mention the name of that person?”
“If she did I can’t remember. As I said, they’d stopped coming to the séances.”
“Andreas Corelli?”
“I’ve never heard that name.”
“Where can I find Irene Sabino?”
“I’ve already told you all I know,” Roures replied, exasperated.
“One last question and I’ll go.”
“Let’s see if that’s true.”
“Do you remember ever hearing Marlasca mention something called Lux Aeterna?”
Roures frowned, shaking his head.
“Thanks for your help.”
“You’re welcome. And if at all possible, don’t come back.”
I started toward the door.
“Wait,” Roures called suddenly.
The little man observed me, hesitating.
“I seem to remember that Lux Aeterna was the name of some sort of religious pamphlet we sometimes used in the sessions in Calle Elisabets. It was part of a collection of similar books, probably loaned to us by the Afterlife Society, which had a library specializing in the occult. I don’t know if that’s what you’re referring to.”
“Do you remember what the pamphlet was about?”
“The person who was most familiar with it was my partner, Jaco—he managed the séances. But I seem to recall that Lux Aeterna was a poem about death and the seven names of the Son of Morning, Bringer of Light.”
“Bringer of Light?”
Roures smiled.
“Lucifer.”
33
When I left the shop I returned home, wondering what to do next. I was approaching the entrance to Calle Moncada when I saw him. Inspector Grandes was leaning against a wall and enjoying a cigarette. He smiled at me and waved and I crossed the street toward him.
“I didn’t know you were interested in magic, Martín.”
“Nor did I know that you were following me, Inspector.”
“I’m not following you. It’s just that you’re a difficult man to find and I decided that if the mountain wouldn’t come to me, I’d go to the mountain. Do you have five minutes to spare, for a drink? It’s on police headquarters.”
“In that case … No chaperones today?”
“Marcos and Castelo stayed behind doing paperwork, but if I’d told them I was coming to see you, I’m sure they’d have volunteered.”