Dead in Four Corners

“Based on true events”

By David Alejandro Cestari

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Chapter I

The Stopped Ball

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At the break of dawn on a late August morning, the first rays of the sun began to color the ground of Four Corners, a small agricultural town nestled among the rolling hills of Trujillo State. Time had shaped its surroundings to give it a picturesque and forgotten look. The first light of dawn cast a golden glow on the facades of the modest houses, illuminating the village's tranquil scenery. The morning breeze played with the leaves of the trees, carrying the soft murmur of life waking up in every corner.

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The sun, like a celestial painter, began to wake the landscape with golden strokes. The first rays caressed the town of Four Corners, weaving a warm blanket over the fields and the small cobblestone streets. In this morning atmosphere, the village seemed wrapped in a mantle of mystery, with every corner hiding stories to discover.

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Carlitos, a thirteen-year-old boy with eyes full of curiosity and a thirst for adventure, waited impatiently in the kitchen for his mother to prepare breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee floated in the air, mingling with the sweet scent of empanadas his mother baked with care. The table, covered with a simple but clean tablecloth, awaited the boy before he set off for the baseball field.

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During the school holidays, the "José Luis Varela" field transformed into the vibrant epicenter of youthful emotions and rivalries in Four Corners. The baseball field seemed to hold the very essence of the dreams and challenges of the town's youth in its clay. The boys' laughter and shouts echoed among the hills, and the air was charged with the feverish energy of competition that electrified the atmosphere.

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Early in the morning, the village boys began to gather at the baseball field to be chosen among the first forming teams. There, on that field where dreams were woven between pitches and hits, Carlitos sought the thrill of competition.

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In this effervescent scene, team selection became a suspenseful ritual. The captains, respected figures among the young, meticulously chose players from those who arrived early at the field, often evaluating their skills and reputations from every corner of the village. Carlitos, always eager to be part of the elite led by Ezequiel, watched expectantly as the teams took shape based on the captains' decisions.

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The improvised teams consisted of a maximum of ten players, a number usually met during the holidays when the field was crowded with participants. Those who arrived late had to wait for other players to form a team, being "stuck" in the next game, awaiting the losing team to leave the field after three intense innings. These latecomers, along with the spectators, formed the audience that witnessed the epic battles unfolding in that setting. This dynamic created palpable tension among the players and gave each game an additional dimension of competition and anticipation. The field thus became a stage where glory and defeat intertwined in a unique dance, where each team, whether meticulously chosen or improvised, sought its place in the ephemeral history of Four Corners.

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Crossing his fingers with a mix of superstition and hope, Carlitos became an anxious spectator of the team selection ritual. But fate, always capricious in its designs, wove an unexpected twist for Carlitos. Instead of seeing his name inscribed in the elite forming Ezequiel's team, he found himself in the ranks of "Tuteca's" team, as he was popularly known. This team, though respected in the community, did not reach the levels of the players on Ezequiel's team at that moment, which included Jorge Luis, an excellent pitcher, and "Topo," whose real name no one knew, an outstanding batter. "Damn!" Carlitos thought to himself.

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The "José Luis Valera" field had been roughly built on a flattened small hill, with its right corner rising about two meters above the street leading to it. Its two flanks were bordered with a chain-link fence to hold back the powerful hits that crashed against it. At the entrance, a small wooden stand could tightly accommodate about thirty people.

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Games were played all day long, with no rest for that village field. The village boys spent all day and part of the night there, playing until the dim lights of the field allowed. There was no worse interruption than when a younger sibling delivered the relentless call: "Mom says come to eat!" "What a nuisance, having to go fulfill such a routine task and miss out on all the fun." And the worst of all was waiting for digestion to finish before returning to the field.

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With a coin toss, the team captains decided which team would start batting and which would defend. The coin danced in the air, reflecting the uncertainty of the moments before the first pitch. When the metal finally hit the ground, Tuteca's team was selected to start batting. Tuteca, pointing fingers like an arbitrary dictator, chose the players who would bat and in what order. Carlitos was sixth. If luck permitted and the opposing team did not quickly achieve three outs, Carlitos could demonstrate his skills as a player, even though he knew the pitcher was a tough opponent.

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Ezequiel, the rival team's leader, placed Jorge Luis in the pitcher's position, a player everyone respected since only a few could hit his pitches, and Carlitos was not one of them. Tension thickened in the air, and the competition between the two teams took on a new dimension. With the first bat in Tuteca's hands, the lineup prepared to face Ezequiel's cunning.

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In an unexpected twist, the leader was quickly eliminated by three precise pitches from Jorge Luis. Carlitos bit his fingers, hoping that, by some unforeseen circumstance, his turn to bat would come.

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But luck was not on Carlitos' side. Before he could step up to bat, the opposing team deployed an impenetrable defense and managed three consecutive outs. The collective sigh of disappointment echoed across the field as Carlitos, with the elusive opportunity, waited to shine at the bat. The competition intensified, and the game's plot thickened with unpredictable turns.

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Excitement grew on the field as Ezequiel's team prepared to start their turn at bat. Topo, the town's feared batter, stepped up to face Tuteca's team pitcher, Pepe "el 7 cueros," who, though less skilled than Jorge Luis, commanded respect among his opponents. Carlitos was assigned to right field, but aware of Topo's skill, he feared that the impact of his hit would reach his territory, as it was common for Topo to hit the ball to right field.

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The first pitch resulted in a strike. "Strike," shouted the makeshift catcher in a village tone. The second pitch was met with a powerful and precise hit from Topo, sending the ball towards right field with impressive speed, as Carlitos feared. The ball soared, giving the impression it would clear the fence covering the field. However, Carlitos was determined to prevent the ball from becoming a home run. When he saw the ball change trajectory downward, he ran frantically and leaped in a desperate attempt to catch it.

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Despite his superhuman effort, the ball barely grazed Carlitos' glove and hit the chain-link fence. Due to the spin it carried, it rolled horizontally along the fence, slowing down before coming to a stop at the right corner of the field. While Topo reached second base, Carlitos picked himself up and hurried to retrieve the ball. But as he reached the corner of the stadium where the ball had stopped, Carlitos froze. Amidst the shouting from the players, Carlitos, with increasingly pale skin and a ghostly look, stood paralyzed next to the ball.

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Belisario, playing center field, approached Carlitos with concern and discovered with horror the cause of his paralysis. A small hand, barely visible in the dirt, held the ball ominously, as if that hand had wanted to participate in the contest by catching that splendid hit.

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Chapter II

Anabel and Belinda

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Minutes later, the stadium had been evacuated. The curious onlookers gathered outside. The area where the ominous hand protruded had been cordoned off by the local police, awaiting the arrival of the scientific police detectives. Lieutenant Medina, of the Four Corners police, had reported to his main station, which communicated the incident to the Scientific Police (CICPC) in Monay.

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Commissioner Pérez Roa, wasting no time and assessing the severity of the incident, strategically decided to commission two of his most distinguished detectives, Camilo Rojas and Mauro Molina, known for their ability to solve complex cases. Both detectives shared a long career in the Monay Scientific Police Department, having successfully resolved various cases in the past.

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Camilo Rojas, with sharp and astute eyes, was known for his ability to connect seemingly unrelated details, while Mauro Molina, meticulous and analytical, excelled in forensic evidence handling and crime scene reconstruction. Together, they formed a formidable team.

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Joining the expedition was the experienced forensic photographer Luis álvarez, whose skill in capturing precise and revealing images was crucial in cases of this nature. álvarez had documented numerous crime scenes throughout his career, providing a technical and forensic perspective that perfectly complemented Rojas and Molina's deductive skills.

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Two long hours passed before the CICPC team arrived in Four Corners. The wait seemed endless, and the suspense enveloping the stadium thickened with each passing minute. Finally, the silence was broken by the sound of a patrol car approaching, disrupting the tense calm that had settled over the place.

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Three individuals emerged from the patrol, appearing like shadows in the twilight. Two of them, in formal attire consisting of black pants, shirt, and tie, stood out for their serious and professional demeanor. Visibly, they carried pistols holstered at their belts.

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The third individual, dressed less conventionally but no less intriguingly, carried a briefcase and a camera. His presence suggested a different role, distinct from the solemnity of the armed agents. However, the seriousness in his expression and the air of determination around him indicated his crucial role in the investigation. The briefcase hinted at specialized instruments, while the camera pointed to the need to document every detail of the scene.

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After meticulous verification around the area for any criminal evidence, detectives Rojas and Molina, backed by the collaboration of two local police officers and two laborers, undertook the delicate task of digging the ground surrounding the cordoned-off area. The murmur of shovels hitting the earth and the tension in the air created a macabre symphony as each movement revealed the dark secret buried beneath.

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With patience and skill, the earth began to yield, slowly uncovering the body of a girl of approximately twelve years old. The scene moved even the most seasoned investigators, and a respectful silence descended over the area. The fading light of the evening cast shadows over the unperturbed face of the young victim, and the starkness of the discovery reflected in the somber expressions of those present.

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Before the first corpse was fully unearthed, attention abruptly shifted when one of the laborers, with sharp eyes, spotted another arm protruding beside the first grim discovery. The revelation of this second body intensified the shock among the investigation team. The disturbing juxtaposition of two truncated lives in that dark corner of the stadium sent a collective shiver among those present.

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The scene, like a surrealist painting of pain and mystery, unfolded before the investigators and witnesses, presenting a grim and puzzling panorama. The detectives, officers, and laborers, now at the heart of an indescribable tragedy, continued their task with the solemnity of those who had entered a realm where reality distorts and human cruelty reveals itself in its most sinister form. The dark dance of shadows and earth unveiled a chilling chapter that would require all the investigators' tenacity and skill to unravel.

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Gradually, the body of another girl emerged, this time an innocent of barely seven years old. The contrast between the fragility of childhood and the brutality of her fate created a palpable atmosphere of horror. The signs on the bodies indicated they had been buried for more than three days, casting an even more unsettling shadow over the macabre discovery.

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Once the girls were unearthed, they were delicately cleaned, an almost ritual gesture amidst the tragedy. Their bodies, now resting beside the hole that had kept them hidden, revealed the harshness of their shared fate. At that moment, Lieutenant Medina, with a mix of sorrow and determination on his face, managed to identify the young victims as Anabel Martínez, thirteen years old, and her younger sister Belinda Martínez, only seven. The news hit the small community like a blow to the heart, weaving a somber bond between the inhabitants and the tragedy that had unfolded in their midst.

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The revelation of their identities added another layer of desolation to the scene. Anabel and Belinda, two sisters who once filled the town's alleys with laughter and games, now rested in a shattering silence. Lieutenant Medina's personal connection to the victims deepened the tragedy, transforming the investigation into an emotional challenge for the detectives immersed in a case striking directly at the community's heart.

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The absence of the two girls, Anabel and Belinda, went unnoticed in the village's daily bustle. In life, both were active and vibrant presences, especially during the holidays when they filled the streets with laughter and games, sharing their youthful energy with school friends. The paradox of their silent disappearance resonated in the apparent normalcy of Four Corners, where days continued while a veil of confusion hung over the tragedy now revealed.

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Lieutenant Medina, with his gaze fixed in the distance as if trying to piece together a painful puzzle, shared a crucial detail deepening the context of the young victims. Anabel and Belinda's father had died in a traffic accident two years earlier, plunging the family into a prior tragedy that seemed to have unleashed an unrelenting succession of suffering until now. The mother, Carmen Elena Bejarano, faced the weight of raising them alone in a house with no number at the end of Four Corners' street 2, a residence now even gloomier with the tragedy striking it again.

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The story of the Martínez-Bejarano family, now entwined in the mystery of their daughters' disappearance and death, added a heartbreaking dimension to the investigation. The tragedy seemed to cling to them with unfathomable cruelty, leaving the town in a poignant silence where life continued apparently normal, oblivious to the dark chapter revealed in the heart of Four Corners.

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With the preserved bodies, the detective team, escorted by a police contingent, headed towards Bejarano's widow's abode. In line with the village's typical architecture, Carmen Bejarano's house stood amidst a small farm, a picturesque corner among animals and crops.

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Upon arrival, the officers established a cordon around the property. Detective Rojas, aware of the moment's delicacy, knocked firmly on the door, pronouncing Carmen Bejarano's name with a mix of respect and urgency. "Carmen Bejarano, it's the Scientific Police. Open the door," his call resonated in the unperturbed silence enveloping the place.

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However, the only response was resounding silence. The door closed before them, without any sign of movement inside, added a layer of intrigue to the tense atmosphere. Uncertainty grew as the detectives waited, aware that behind that door might lie crucial answers or revelations deepening the enigma of the missing girls.

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Carmen Bejarano's house stood in eerie silence, with its windows closed and hidden behind curtains suggesting an empty interior. The neighbor across the street, María Lourdes Roa, with a worried air, shared a version heard in neighborhood whispers. According to her, the Bejarano family had gone on a trip to the beach, an explanation contradicting the tragedy discovered at the stadium. Martín Andueza, Carmen Bejarano's boyfriend, had told María the previous day that Carmen and her daughters were going to the beach to meet Bejarano's family.

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The mention of Martín Andueza, Carmen Bejarano's boyfriend, who supposedly took them to the Monay terminal at dawn, raised more questions about Carmen Bejarano's current whereabouts.

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Armed with the need for visual clues, Officer Monterrey tried to peek inside through any crack or hole that might allow a fleeting glimpse. However, his effort was in vain, as the windows remained closed and the curtains blocked any inspection attempt.

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A disturbing revelation made itself present: a nauseating smell permeated the surrounding air, announcing the presence of decomposition and death. Officer Monterrey could not ignore the pungent odor filling the air. A chill ran down his spine. In a grave tone, Monterrey turned to Lieutenant Medina, his words laden with the situation's gravity. "Lieutenant, this house smells like death," he stated, revealing the unsettling truth the team was about to face. Confirming the smell of decay not only added a new dimension to the investigation but also heightened the urgency of uncovering the truth behind Anabel and Belinda's murder and Carmen Bejarano's fate.

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The front door was opened, revealing overwhelming darkness that enveloped Carmen Bejarano's dwelling. Upon entering, the air instantly filled with the pungent smell of death, a nauseating stench hitting everyone's stomachs forcefully, except for detectives Rojas and Molina and forensic photographer álvarez. This wasn't their first time facing such a harrowing scene.

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Faced with the intense odor, Rojas requested álvarez: "Pass me the menthol," a routine resource in their experience to mitigate the impact of the decomposition smell. "My wife will kill me when I give her these clothes to wash," álvarez commented with a touch of irony, aware of the persistent death smell that clings to clothes and skin for days. While álvarez's words might seem lighthearted, the raw reality of the work faced by detectives and the forensic photographer was reflected in every gesture and expression.

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Despite the discomfort, the team delved into the home, confronting a scene exceeding any expectation. Carmen Bejarano, victim of an atrocious act, lay before them in a nightmare come true. Her body had been brutally divided into two parts, each placed meticulously in fiber sacks. The harshness of the murder resonated in the room, leaving detectives Rojas and Molina with the task of not only identifying the perpetrator but also uncovering the motive behind such a gruesome execution.

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Local police officers, drawn by morbid curiosity, ventured into the scene but quickly left. The detectives, aware of the need to preserve the crime scene's integrity, swiftly cleared them out. The urgency to analyze every corner and meticulously collect all evidence became an irrefutable priority for Rojas and Molina.

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Once the scene was clear of intruders, the detectives proceeded to extract Carmen Bejarano's two body pieces with extreme care. The shocking reality of her being cut precisely in half left both investigators breathless. The torso, separated from the legs, displayed unsettling surgical precision, with no organs or intestines affected by the violent act.

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The scene's starkness left detectives Rojas and Molina with more questions than answers. The absence of internal mutilations posed a disturbing puzzle. What motivation could drive someone to commit such a methodical and ruthless act? The room, once filled with intruders and now silenced by tragedy's weight, became a space of meticulous analysis where every detail could be crucial in unraveling the dark enigma surrounding Carmen Bejarano's death and the circumstances leading to such a heinous murder.

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Detective Rojas lifted Carmen's eyelids, noticing petechiae in the skin, the color of her tongue, and nail marks on her neck, indicating Carmen had died by strangulation.

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While examining the crime scene, Detective Molina observed a blood-stained kitchen knife with a partially dulled blade on the floor, along with a small rock. This was the weapon used to cut Carmen Bejarano in two.

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Molina, with a hint of sarcasm, couldn't contain his sharp observation while examining the macabre scene. "That's the Ginsu 2000 knife they advertise on TV," he quipped with irony. "It seems it's as good as the commercial says." His words exuded a mix of bitterness and disdain, almost as if testing the knife's effectiveness in the most insidious context possible. His companions' response was immediate. Laughter broke the tense atmosphere as the three, accustomed to facing challenging situations, shared a camaraderie inherent to their work.

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The trio, experienced in the harsh reality of criminal investigation, handled the horror with a cold-bloodedness contrasting with the macabre scene before their eyes. They collected evidence with precision and efficiency, even amid sarcastic jokes intertwined with the tragedy's echo.

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Following Molina's comment, álvarez jokingly said, "I'll send a photo to the advertisers to include among the objects they show cutting. It can even cut your wife!" The statement provoked a wave of laughter that resonated in the place, creating a relaxed and humorous atmosphere among those present.

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However, outside that circle of laughter, the police officers guarding the entrance watched the scene in amazement. The comment's peculiarity surprised them, and they exchanged glances reflecting disbelief and confusion at the unexpected direction the conversation had taken.

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They also collected a farming tool identified as a hoe, displaying soil and mud adhesions. The initial assumption was that this implement might have been used to dig the hole where the girls were buried.

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The meticulous forensic photographer, Luis álvarez, played a crucial role in documenting every detail of the crime scene. Every angle, object, and trace were captured exhaustively, providing a comprehensive visual record essential for subsequent investigations.

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Later, a revealing procedure was carried out by spraying various objects with luminol, a chemical compound capable of illuminating blood traces when exposed to ultraviolet light. This step allowed investigators to trace the sequence of events, suggesting the incident originated in the master bedroom, where blood traces and splatters were identified on the bed. Applying the luminol clearly indicated that Carmen's body was dragged to the living room, where it was sectioned and placed in separate sacks.

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The surprising scene didn't end there, as a round-seated wooden stool also showed blood traces. Although the investigators couldn't deduce the reason behind this intriguing finding, it didn't go unnoticed and was collected as potentially crucial evidence for the puzzle they were trying to solve.

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After completing the arduous detective work, the Scientific Police officers embarked on the journey to Monay, carrying the valuable evidence collected during the investigation and the three bodies, unfortunately, the palpable proof of a tragic event.

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The return trip to Monay not only represented the physical transfer of the investigation's key elements but also the beginning of a new phase in the judicial process. The evidence, carefully packed and recorded, included personal items and crucial forensic evidence to be presented during the investigation. Preserving the chain of custody was a priority, ensuring the integrity of each puzzle piece to clarify the facts and determine those responsible. The three bodies, mute witnesses to the tragedy, were respectfully and dignifiedly escorted as the patrol headed towards Monay.

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The evidence would undergo rigorous analysis, and the testimonies collected during the investigation would be evaluated to link the chain of events and reconstruct the incident. The detectives' mission was far from over; they now faced the challenge of building a solid case to bring those responsible for such tragic events to justice.

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Chapter III

Forensic Analysis of the Bodies

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In the special room of the forensic medicine department, Dr. Gallegos immersed himself in the meticulous task of performing the forensic analysis of the bodies, unraveling the mysteries hidden in the mortal evidence. Concentrated and methodical, he began his examination with Carmen's body, whose marks showed unmistakable signs of having been subjected to a violent act: strangulation.

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With expert skill, the forensic doctor explored every anatomical detail, identifying marks on Carmen's neck that revealed the cruel reality of her death. The detailed report highlighted the severity of the strangulation marks, providing a clear conclusion about the cause of her death. Dr. Gallegos left no detail unnoticed, meticulously describing the lesions and contusions that testified to the violent act that had taken the victim's life. He noted that the astonishing cut separating Carmen's body into two halves had been made post-mortem, suspecting it was done with the intention of disposing of the body.

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The meticulous examination of Carmen's body revealed not only visible signs of violence but also subtle indications adding complexity to the forensic panorama. While exploring carefully, the forensic doctor identified some light bruises scattered on Carmen's body, unmistakable signs of an altercation prior to her tragic death.

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Moreover, the most revealing detail was found under Carmen's nails, where skin remnants indicated active resistance. This finding pointed to a possible struggle or fight before her death, suggesting Carmen had tried to defend herself from her attacker. The marks on her nails thus became palpable evidence of the desperate fight to preserve her life.

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The chronology of the tragedy began to clarify as the forensic doctor continued his work. Based on the rigor and decomposition of Carmen's corpse, Dr. Gallegos estimated that the death had occurred approximately 76 hours before the examination.

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Next, Dr. Gallegos turned his attention to the second body, Belinda, a seven-year-old girl whose small figure bore unmistakable marks of an atrocious act of violence. With the same professionalism characterizing his work, the forensic doctor immersed himself in the cadaver's analysis.

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The results were shocking: Belinda had been a victim of strangulation, a fact that filled the forensic medicine room with heavy silence. But the atrocities didn't stop there. The meticulous examination of her body revealed the presence of a hematoma on her right cheek, accompanied by a partial jaw fracture. The forensic report indicated these injuries resulted from a brutal impact, presumably caused by a blunt object, possibly a human fist.

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The inference that little Belinda had been beaten and then strangled generated a wave of indignation and sadness among those present. The room, previously cold and aseptic, became a silent witness to the brutality that had struck the innocent girl.

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The estimated time of death, like in the previous case, was placed at approximately 76 hours before the forensic examination. This macabre synchronization began to reveal a temporal pattern.

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Having completed the analysis of two of the three corpses, Dr. Gallegos faced the last and most heartbreaking one: the body of Anabel, a 13-year-old girl whose life had been brutally cut short. The main indication was that the primary cause of her death had been strangulation, but what he discovered next added additional layers of horror to the already somber forensic panorama.

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Observing Anabel's body, the forensic doctor identified a hematoma on the left anteroposterior side of her head, resulting from a blunt impact with an unidentified object. This finding sparked the doctor's scientific curiosity, leading him to explore further the circumstances surrounding the young girl's violent death.

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When he lifted Anabel's eyelids, Dr. Gallegos found an astonishing revelation: her eyes were bulging, and her pupils were extremely dilated. This ocular anomaly clearly indicated a brain injury preceding the strangulation, providing a crucial clue to understanding the sequence of events leading to her tragic fate.

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The intrigue led the forensic doctor to take additional steps, determined to unravel the enigma surrounding Anabel's death. When he opened the skull, he found a subdural hematoma in the brain, suggesting the head blow had been significantly more severe than initially imagined. In a moment of astonishment, Dr. Gallegos exclaimed, "This could not have been caused by a simple punch; this girl was hit with a heavy, firm object, like a baseball bat."

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Urgent to uncover more details about Anabel's shocking death, Dr. Gallegos dialed Commissioner Pérez Roa's number without delay. "Commissioner, please send the detectives on the case over here," he requested with seriousness in his voice. "I need to deduce an injury." His promptness reflected the urgency and gravity of the case.

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Shortly after, detectives Rojas and Molina presented themselves to the forensic doctor, ready to collaborate in the search for answers. "Tell us, doctor, how can we help?" they asked with determination.

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Dr. Gallegos, with a grave expression, posed a crucial question: he wanted to know if any blunt objects, such as a bat or an axe handle, had been collected at the crime scene, which could have been used to strike Anabel's head. The detectives shared their findings, but the most shocking revelation came when they mentioned "the wooden bench."

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Chapter IV

Chain of Events

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The relentless narrative of the detectives wove itself between the shadows of the night and the traces left by the tragic event. The forensic analysis, the meticulous study of the crime scene, and the detailed comparison of evidence guided them to the baffling truth hidden behind the triple homicide.

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The plot centered around Martín Andueza, the dark protagonist of this detective story. The sentimental bond that tied him to Carmen Bejarano now turned into a macabre connection with the triple murder. The bed shared by Martín and Carmen, a silent witness to passions and disputes, became the epicenter of a tragedy no one could have anticipated.

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The detectives, skilled in interpreting every trace, unraveled the details of the fateful night of August 26, when the main bedroom of the house turned into the scene of a quarrel that transcended words to become violent. The small bruises on Carmen's body and the skin remnants under her nails told the story of a desperate struggle, where screams intertwined with blows and defense.

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The plot further thickened with the entry of the girls, Belinda and Anabel, who, brave in their attempt to protect their mother, found themselves engulfed in Martín's uncontrollable fury. The wooden bench, previously insignificant, turned into a deadly weapon that left fatal consequences. Belinda, hit in the face and with a fractured jaw, fainted, while Anabel, stronger but not immune, received the fatal blow from the wooden bench, causing a subdural hematoma that would eventually lead to her death.

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After dealing with the girls, the dark night gave no respite. Martín, in a violent trance, proceeded to strangle Carmen and then each of the girls. Any resistance they might have put up in their physical weakness was nullified by the effects of the previous blows.

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The narrative reached its climax when Martín, like a sinister burier of secrets, moved the girls' bodies to the baseball stadium, carrying out a macabre burial with the cold precision of the hoe. However, the dark chapter did not end there. That same night, he returned home to dissect Carmen using a kitchen knife and a small rock, placing both parts in fiber sacks and spending two more nights alongside Carmen's corpse.

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Chapter V

Martín Andueza

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Martín Andueza, a recent resident of Four Corners, was in his forties, standing out for his height and lanky figure. His black, curly hair was a true rebellion against any comb, and his eyes, as dark as the night, revealed no emotion. Despite his isolated nature and irascible character, his physical attractiveness did not go unnoticed by women. His arrival in Four Corners resulted from an altercation in Monay, his hometown, with the son of the owner of a farm where he worked, forcing him to flee due to death threats. In Four Corners, an old acquaintance offered him a job on his father's farm, giving him a new opportunity.

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On one of the routine Sundays, after leaving mass, Martín met Carmen Bejarano, a woman who had been widowed for over a year. The introduction was made by Jacinto Uribe, who quickly acted as an intermediary between the two. Just a week later, Martín and Carmen started dating, sharing nights at Martín's house and others at Carmen's. The relationship quickly evolved, and after several months, they decided to live together.

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However, the shadow of violence loomed over the couple. The community knew that when Martín got drunk, his behavior became violent, especially directed towards Carmen, on whom he vented his frustrations with all kinds of insults. Domestic violence became a constant in their relationship, leading to temporary breakups that, paradoxically, ended with the couple's reconciliation weeks later.

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Evangelina Ramírez de Bejarano, Carmen's mother, deeply hated Martín, becoming her daughter's emotional support whenever these tragic episodes occurred. Matilde, Carmen's sister, tried to persuade her to leave that destructive relationship, warning her about the potentially fatal consequences of violent relationships.

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Tragically, Matilde's advice turned prophetic. The Bejarano family was now plunged into mourning, with Evangelina crying inconsolably over the loss of her two granddaughters. In her grief, she cried out to the heavens, wondering why her treasures had been taken from her, highlighting the tragic outcome of a relationship marked by violence.

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The heartbreaking tragedy that enveloped Four Corners had its inhabitants shocked and furious, mobilizing with determination in search of justice for Carmen and her two little girls, who were cherished by the entire community. The need to find Martín, the main suspect in the crime, drove the villagers to explore every corner and turn every stone in hopes of avenging the Bejarano family's loss.

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The forces of law and order, represented by joint commissions from the Four Corners police and surrounding localities, had organized to hunt down Martín Andueza. María Lourdes Roa, Carmen's neighbor and known for her love of gossip, provided a crucial piece of information: Martín's motorcycle had been started in the early morning, around four o'clock.

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Martín, with his characteristic Honda enduro 200cc motorcycle, had the ability to travel on paths inaccessible to four-wheeled vehicles, suggesting the possibility that he had fled through mountainous areas until finding a rural road that would take him to seek refuge in a distant town.

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With palpable urgency, a regional operation was deployed, contacting all police forces by radio and distributing Martín's photo collected from Carmen's house. The National Guard received orders to inspect all motorcycle riders at checkpoints.

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Among messages and calls, a resident of a small village about seventy kilometers from Four Corners claimed to have seen someone resembling Martín. This lead was taken seriously, and the CICPC commission, in collaboration with the local police, headed towards the village of Burbusay.

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Upon arrival, they interviewed "Mocho" Casta?o, a local resident, who pointed to a small isolated house on the outskirts of the village as a possible hideout for Martín. Hope and tension grew as the search intensified in this new scenario, where justice and pain intertwined in a community eager for answers.

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A stealthy surveillance was established near Martín Andueza's house and at strategic exits from the village. The night's darkness revealed signs of activity inside the dwelling when the police agents maintaining their position observed a light being turned on and the television activated. Despite these indications, an unsettling silence prevailed, with no trace of voices emerging from the house.

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In response to this new situation, reinforcements arrived in the form of a police contingent, accompanied by CICPC detectives Rojas and Molina. Keeping a prudent distance, Detective Rojas, with a firm voice and imperative tone, announced their presence: "Martín Andueza, we are the police. We have the house surrounded. Come out with your hands up."

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Tension gripped the atmosphere, extending for a few seconds that, in the midst of the moment's adrenaline, felt like eternity. Breaking the silence, a series of gunshots echoed from inside the house. The local police, mixing fear and tension, responded with a volley of shots, generating a deafening roar, while Detective Rojas tried in vain to stop the fire: "Cease fire!"

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With the pistols unloaded, Detective Molina took more drastic measures and aimed a gas grenade launcher at one of the house's front windows, launching a tear gas bomb. The sounds of coughing and curses from inside indicated that the irritant substance was taking effect. Meanwhile, a police officer watching the back of the house spotted Martín attempting to escape. In a failed attempt to catch him, the officer was injured in the arm by a knife Martín held in his right hand, who then hid back inside the house, plunging the scene into chaos filled with danger and desperation.

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Martín, a prisoner of unfathomable fear and trapped in a whirlwind of dread, experienced a terrifying sensation that his heart was about to break free from his chest, pounding with overflowing fury. His agitated breathing, initially an anxious whisper, turned into a weak moan, like a prelude to the impending tragedy. Martín's knees barely held his weight, wobbling under the weakness that overcame him, as if dark forces conspired to drain his last drop of strength.

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In a terrifying instant, his right arm began to move against his will, as if an invisible entity had taken control. The hand holding the sharp knife rose to his neck, sliding with ominous movement. In a sinister twist, the sharp weapon found its final destination, making a precise cut that violently sliced through his trachea and punctured his jugular. An agonized gasp accompanied the macabre dance of death as Martín's life inexorably slipped away between his fingers.

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On the living room floor, Martín lay confused and terrified, choking on his own blood, feeling life slipping from his body. In that hellish moment, reality distorted and his vision blurred. It was then that shadows materialized before him, three spectral figures holding hands, whose presences watched him with morbid satisfaction. They were Carmen, Belinda, and Anabel.