A Greater Love by Rachel Ann Nunes

natural. No one’s come forward to identify her so far. I don’t think anyone will. We found no fingerprint match in the database, either. Perhaps she’s a vagrant. Normally it wouldn’t be such a big deal, but my office has been hopping this morning with concerned citizens—none of whom have any particular concern with the deceased, mind you. You see, there’s a new apartment complex not too far from the woods where she was found and some people are upset. The developers are taking advantage of the situation and trying to press the government into selling a large tract of undeveloped land—practically the whole forest—saying that building there will cut down on vagrancy and risk.”
    “And turn a lot of poor people out of the sorry homes they do have,” Daniel added with a grimace.
    “You got it. Money, of course, is at the root of all the mess. The developers are using people’s fear of strangers and vagrants to fatten their own pockets. Needless to say, if I could come up with an identification, perhaps a family who’s looking for this woman, things would die down a bit.”
    “I’ll keep watch over here for anything that might tie in,” Daniel said. “But aren’t you looking rather far afield? The answer probably lies with the people who live in the woods.”
    “There are about twenty families living in those makeshift houses right in the woods, but we’ve questioned all of them. If they know something, they’re not telling. There’s another shack community close by, but none we’ve questioned there admit that anyone’s missing. The problem is so big. Where do we begin? Those who might have information are suspicious of outsiders. The ones who scream the loudest seem to know nothing, or are only looking out for their own good.”
    “That’s community for you.” Daniel didn’t try to hide his bitterness.
    “It’s not all bad. I hear you guys over there are having a nativity scene in the park.”
    Daniel snorted. “News spreads fast. I only gave the final approval myself this morning, right before you called.”
    António laughed. “I read it in the paper last week. In the paper, you can read about anything before it happens. It’s one of the reasons why things happen at all. Well, you take care, Daniel. Let me know if anyone reports a missing relative. My secretary is calling the other cities now to tell them the same thing. And of course the police are starting an investigation.”
    “I’ll keep an ear out, António.”
    “I appreciate it.”
    “Let’s get together sometime.”
    “Sounds good. I’ll call you.”
    Daniel knew he never would. The times they had socialized outside of work had always been organized by Cristina—and she was gone. He stared out the window again for long moments but found no solace. At last, he forced himself to work, pushing aside his emotions. But one thought prevailed: how could he get Cristina back without sacrificing his ideals?
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    Tendrils of early morning light crept into the shack through the cracks in the boards, forcing Miguel awake. He fought the urge, wanting to let himself sleep until he was fully rested—like maybe for a year. Beside him in the warm blankets, Sara sat, yawning. Pushing up her sweater sleeves, she scratched at the countless flea bites lining her thin arms, standing out red against the soft white flesh. Miguel felt his own neck itching and wished it were summer so he could soak his body in the lake at Entre Campos.
    “Think she’ll ever let me wear it?” Sara unwound the red scarf from around her neck and gazed at it lovingly.
    Miguel made a choking sound. All thoughts of sleep fled from his body as he remembered the horror of the night before. He sat up stiffly and stared at Octávia’s empty bed.
    “No, I guess not.” A touch of rebellion came to Sara’s voice. “But I’m gonna wear it all the same—under my sweater around my waist.” She lifted both of her sweaters and her