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Camarena s car. When I finally found him, he was
running down the field with the ball in front of him,
trying to avoid other players rushing around him. I
hadn t shot sports in years. Most of the people I took
pictures of had been fairly stationary, either because
they were ducking for cover or were dead. The little
guys on the soccer field were far from dead. I panned
Camarena s kid as he moved down the field and was
intercepted by a bigger boy.
I shot pictures of several of the boys and had to
smile when they scored. The looks on their faces were
animated, and their excitement was genuine, unlike
professional athletes who are expected to score points
and have long since lost the joy of winning for the
sake of winning. After a short break, the second half
of the game got underway. I was rewinding a roll of
film and holding a new roll in my mouth when
someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder. I glanced
back and saw Camarena standing behind me.
 Getting any good shots? he asked with a smile.
 I won t know until I develop them.
 Are you a parent?
 No. Just happened to notice the game and
stopped. Pretty fast moving and I thought I could use
the practice.
 Felix Camarena, he said, extending a well-
manicured hand to me.  My son is number four in the
blue and yellow. I d be interested in getting some
pictures of him playing. Some of the other parents
might also.
 Well, I hadn t planned to sell them. Like I said,
I m just getting a little practice with action shots.
They might not be any good, but I d be glad to send
them to you if they turn out.
 Great! he said with a broad smile.  You know,
you could probably pick up quite a bit of money by
taking pictures at games like this.
 Think so?
 Sure! Everyone wants pictures of their kids.
 I suppose that s true. I hadn t thought about it.
 You have kids?
 A son. But he s grown now. Wish I had more
pictures of him when he was younger.
 See what I mean? Once they re grown, all mama
and papa have left are pictures.
 Or if something should happen to them before
they get grown. I almost lost mine not long ago.
Camarena shuddered and looked out at the field.
 I don t know what I would do if anything happened
to Marco.
 I ll see if I can get some good shots of your kid,
I said as I advanced the film. I reached into my
camera bag and pulled out a notepad and a pencil.
 Write your name and where you want the pictures
sent. Probably be a few days though.
 Listen, send me all the pictures you think are any
good, and I ll get them to the other parents.
 Okay.
 I didn t catch your name, he said as he wrote.
 Joanna Carlisle, I said matter-of-factly as I
looked through the viewfinder of the Minolta and
refocused the lens.
Camarena s hand made an almost imperceptible
pause as it wrote, but he didn t look at me. He was
smiling as he handed the pad back to me. We were
now formally introduced.
I left before the game ended and returned to
Pauli s house.
 Where the hell have you been? he demanded.
 Watching a soccer game. What s for breakfast?
 Shit, Jo, you done missed breakfast. About time
for lunch.
Over a couple of sandwiches, I told him what I
had done, and I could tell that he wasn t happy about
it,
 Look, I said,  Kyle and Sarita are out of town.
There s nobody here now except me.
 Thanks a lot. I ll remember that when they re
blastin the plaster off my house.
 I can move to a motel if that makes you feel
safer.
 Then I d just have to go over and identify your
body. It don t matter anyway. We ll have the rest of
this nailed down by tonight anyway. I hope.
That was twice he had alluded to an end to the
story and hadn t elaborated. But I had learned a long
time ago not to push Pauli for information. When he
thought you needed to know, he told you. He finished
his sandwich and cleaned up the kitchen.
 You look beat, Jo. Why don t you take a nap for
an hour or so? We have to meet someone later, and I
don t want you dead on your feet.
I was full of coffee but too exhausted for it to be
effective. He promised to wake me later. I wasn t sure
what time it was when I heard the phone ring, but I [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]