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YASHEEDA

completely quiet until we started banging and yelling to wake up the night watchman.

‘Open up, please. Open the door! Are you there?’ Eventually he stirred and went to fetch the major, who was the only one with keys. The major arrived and looked through the gap between the gates. He was clearly not pleased about being woken up.

‘Buenos días, mi mayor. ¿Cómo está?’ I whispered politely, trying to sound sober. There was a long pause, during which I assumed he was looking for the right key. But the gate didn't open.

‘Are you there, major?’

‘Sí,’ he sounded tired and angry.

‘I'm sorry, my major. Can I come in, please?’ But he was obviously in no hurry to open the gates. He didn't answer.

‘Major?’ There was a long pause before he said anything. ‘What time is it, inglés?’

‘I'm sorry. I don't have a watch,’ I said, slipping off my earlier purchase and hiding it in my pocket. Jaime did the same.

‘Late.’

‘I'm sorry. Can I come in, please?’ It seemed ridiculous that I was pleading to be let back into prison, but that was what I was doing. In fact, I was even going to have to pay to be locked up again. ‘Can we talk?’ I asked, showing him my remaining money through the gap. I kept it scrunched up so he couldn't see the exact amount. I knew it wouldn't be enough, but I could promise to give him more later.

Finally, the heavy gates creaked open and I went through. Yasheeda waited outside and Jaime followed behind me, clearly drunk. The major must have been able to smell the alcohol on us, but he said nothing as he locked the gates behind us.

‘My major, a favour, please,’ I slipped the remaining notes into his top pocket so he wouldn't be able to count it until I was out of sight. ‘My girlfriend has arrived from Israel. I haven't seen her for a year and I want to spend more time with her.’

‘And?’ Although there wasn't much light, I could see the major raise his eyebrows. ‘Don't worry, my major. I will fix things with you later. We are friends. You have a wife. You understand,’ I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed firmly. ‘Please, I need your colaboración.’

The major said nothing for some time while he considered my offer. I had learned with the higher-ranking police that the length of