Death in April

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Literature · Subcategory: Literary fragments · Year: 2004 · Authors: José Luis Correa

Death in April is the second novel by Ricardo Blanco, the Canarian detective who loves jazz, women, cinema and noir fiction. Its author, José Luis Correa, is part of the so-called "Generation 21" of new Canarian novelists.

«[...] In one of the alleys winding through the heart of Vegueta there was a small bar frequented by court officials during their brief breaks. At that hour there were hardly any people. I decided to wait there for Elvira to finish her shift. I prayed that the law firm only had the main door and that the woman could not give me the slip by leaving through a back exit. On the other hand, I knew well that the terraced houses in the old neighbourhood hardly ever have a garage, apart from which it would have surprised me if Elvira used it after the experience with her rapist, whoever he was. At five to two I paid for the beer, which I did not get to taste, and returned to the cobbled street of Los Balcones. While waiting for the time, I read the announcements notifying the upcoming exhibitions at the CAAM, among which stood out a miscellany of modern Japanese painting. A horrendous mask made faces at me from a brightly coloured poster.

Not even five minutes passed when Elvira Verona left the large house accompanied by the girl who had been waiting for her inside. They walked arm in arm in that affectionate gesture with which women walk while sharing God knows what confidences. I followed them, keeping my distance, through the streets of Vegueta. I saw them turn the corner towards the Casa de Colón. They went down the alley leading to the Teatro Guiniguada. They crossed the motorway at the pedestrian crossing and went to sit under the white umbrella of one of the terraces on Bulevar Monopol. To mask my conspicuous presence—I must have been the only one walking alone on the terraces at that hour—I bought some magazines at the kiosk in Plaza de las Ranas and took a table near theirs but avoiding being in Elvira's sight. [...]»

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