Chapter 02

2
ESTADO MELLO – SAO PAULO

Catalina Veloso closed the folder and relaxed back on her chair. Removed her spectacles and thought for a moment. What was fate like in the islands of the Maldives? She heard about hurricanes in the Caribbean and environmental degradation in the Malvinas. It was Friday, 13th February 2009, she’d better think about the weekend but felt tired to pack and go home.

Suddenly the phone rang. “Good evening! Miss Veloso,” she answered.

“I’m Dr Rehene Greene from Maldives. My Swiss Branch hospital has sent me confirmation with regard to DNA you posted to the Interpol. They have recovered the body parts now in Switzerland.”

“How did they get those body parts?”

“It was showcased in a European country.”

“What was the country? I understand there are countries in Europe that do not allow showcasing body parts.”

“Not even to deal with,” Rehene added, “Some European countries have adopted the new law only very recently. Anyway, this kidney is to be transplanted in a French person’s body, a young gentleman. He is a son of a French minister. The organ is legally purchased. I have the details. You can still reject or bring about a lawsuit but we have to act promptly. The patient is waiting for the treatment. My Swiss Branch has obtained authority to deal with and I’m appealing for a court case. I have in possession an agreement from the victim’s family and I am acting on their behalf.”

“Are you Swiss?”

“I’m Maldivian.”

“I’m waiting for confirmation from the police at this end. My boss asked me to go ahead with lawyers to bring about this case to find answers. We still do not know who killed Hythem Wasym and his body is lying in a morgue. I look forward to repatriate the body once the investigation is over with and the police certifies. I have referred to the victim’s family history.”

“Well, I understand your company is affiliated to Faruman Riyal in the Maldives and you are supposed to appoint them at this end in repatriating the victim’s body. I’m sending a commitment and documents to you and to Faruman Riyal that Southern Cross, my firm, will act on behalf of the victim’s family. I want to know the situation and how long do we have to wait for the Police Report?”

“In case of an unnatural death it’s difficult to say but lawyers prefer to wait. Isn’t it a miracle to find the match right from nowhere?”

“Oh! It’s kind of an Interpol job but within EU, nothing goes untested. I have sent DNA samples from Hythem’s parents and examined with yours, they are a perfect match. Apparently you hold a stronger position over the body parts actually since the body is with you. I am trying to transfer this claim to us because we need to go ahead with the transplant and the victim’s family appealed on us, extremely concerned to bring the body home.”

“Of course, I will see to that. I wait any moment now to obtain the results and the family consent signed through Faruman Riyal,” said Veloso.

Hythem Wasym was seventeen in 2008 when he got a scholarship in Brazil, sponsored by Faruman Riyal Company in the Maldives, to study a foreign language and accomplish a cooking course. His body was found dead in the outskirts of Sao Paulo. He was murdered, mutilated, cut open and body parts removed.