"El Duende, Carlos?! El Duende! Are you fucking kidding me?"
"Hey man, don't take it out on me. Orders came from above."
Morazan slapped the file folder on the desk and sent its contents flying across the floor.
"Tranquilo brother," implored Carlos.
"This is about the Calderon investigation, isn't it? That corrupt son of a bitch wants me out of the way." He picked up one of the newspaper pages that had fallen on the floor. The headline read: El Duende kidnaps two girls in Santa Clarita.
"What a load of shit," he said shaking his head.
"On the positive side, you get to go to Santa Clarity. I hear it's beautiful this time of year."
Morazan glowered at him.
"Tranquilo. Pull yourself together and put your affairs in order. You're leaving Thursday."
Morazan slumped on his chair.
"Do be careful, brother. El Duende is a tricky devil. If you see him, hide your thumbs like this." The grinning Carlos raised his hands and covered his thumbs with his fingers.
"Go to hell."
Laughing, Carlos closed the door and left.
Morazan looked down at another piece of newspaper on the floor. It showed the image of a small elf-like creature wearing a big hat and looking up at him with menacing and mischievous eyes.
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