El baterista infiltrado
Media hora después que Claudio había llegado al bar, llegó Alex. Su aroma, su porte y su vestimenta hicieron que todos los clientes voltearan a verlo. Todo Alex transmitía poder y Claudio se arrepintió de haber llevado una franela y unos jeans raídos. Se levantó, le extendió la mano y Alex se la apretó fuertemente:
_Disculpa la tardanza. Tuve que buscar el contrato en la oficina –dijo Alex y sacó de un sobre, unos papeles.
_Me gustaría leerlo primero –expresó Claudio tomando los papeles.
_Ahí dice lo que hablamos, Claudio. Todo es confidencial. Quiero que toques por dos horas en la fiesta y que luego recibas el dinero. La única condición: no comentar con nadie lo que veas. Como dice el dicho: lo que se hace en Las Vegas, se queda en Las Vegas –puso una sonrisa burlona en su rostro perfecto- Si no lo haces tú, lo pueden hacer las otras bandas que represento. Quiero darte una oportunidad, así que no la desaproveches.
Sin mirar el contenido del contrato, Claudio firmó rápidamente, mientras Alex le pedía al mesonero un vaso con whisky.
Al llegar, fue trasladado a un cuarto donde había botellas de muchos licores y sustancias ilícitas. Una chica semidesnuda le ofreció unos cigarrillos y una copa que llevaba en una bandeja, pero Claudio prefirió rechazar todo con una sonrisa. La muchacha también le sonrió, pero de manera forzada, como si sonreír fuese su trabajo.
Como a las dos de la madrugada, un hombre gordo, como de dos metros y con muchas cadenas doradas, le informó que era su turno. Nervioso, Claudio se levantó y caminó detrás del tipo que parecía una pared de lo ancho que era su cuerpo.
Al llegar al escenario, la batería estaba allí. Claudio, de manera torpe, comenzó a armar algunas cosas. Alex se acercó a él:
_¿Qué haces? –le preguntó algo molesto.
_Estoy arreglando algunas cosas, pero ya comienzo.
Entonces Alex bajó del escenario y al instante Claudio comenzó a tocar la batería. Sus habilidades con aquel instrumento eran de otro mundo: parecía un genio con las manos. El público estaba encantado y comenzó a moverse por la pista. Aunque las luces no ayudaban, desde el escenario, Claudio pudo ver que muchos de los asistentes eran personas muy mayores, atendidas por chicas muy jóvenes, con rostros y cuerpos infantiles, que estaban, al igual que la chica que lo había recibido en el camerino, con el torso desnudo.
De manera imperceptible, Claudio movió el bombo con el pie y una pequeña luz, mínima, inapreciable, se encendió. Claudio continuó con la presentación y fue ovacionado por la audiencia varias veces.
_¡Decidiste ser pobre toda la vida, miserable! –le dijo Alex cuando pasó cerca de él y le escupió los pies. Claudio, le respondió:
_Y tú preferiste envejecer en la cárcel, estúpido –respondió Claudio sintiendo que ya Alex no olía a poder.
HASTA UNA PRÓXIMA OPORTUNIDAD, AMIGOS
La imagen principal es de libre uso y editada en Canva, y el texto está traducido en Deepl.
![Click here to read in englis]
The undercover drummer
The meeting was scheduled for 4 p.m., but only Claudio was on time. The boy ordered an ice-cold beer and sat down in front of the door to watch Alex enter. Within the music business and the national show business, Alex was well known, not only for being the manager of very important rock and pop bands, but also for throwing the most exclusive and luxurious parties in the country.
Half an hour after Claudio had arrived at the bar, Alex arrived. His scent, his demeanor and his clothes made all the customers turn to look at him. All Alex breathed security and Claudio regretted having worn a flannel and threadbare jeans. He stood up, held out his hand and Alex squeezed it tightly:
_Sorry I'm late. I had to look for the contract in the office,” said Alex and took some papers out of an envelope.
I would like to read it first,” said Claudio taking the papers.
It says there what we talked about, Claudio. Everything is confidential. I want you to play for two hours at the party and then receive the money. The only condition: don't tell anyone what you see. As the saying goes: what's made in Vegas, stays in Vegas -he put a smirk on his perfect face- If you don't do it, the other bands I represent can do it. I want to give you a chance, so don't waste it.
Without looking at the contents of the contract, Claudio quickly signed, while Alex asked the waiter for a glass of whiskey.
On the day of the party, a chauffeur picked him up at 12 o'clock at night. The trip lasted an hour and as the windows were completely smoked, Claudio did not know where they were going. One of the conditions was not to carry a cell phone, so Claudio was distracted by moving his hands as if he was rehearsing for the concert: his drum set was in the back of the van.
Upon arrival, he was taken to a room where there were bottles of many liquors and illicit substances. A half-naked girl offered him some cigarettes and a drink on a tray, but Claudio preferred to refuse everything with a smile. The girl also smiled at him, but in a forced way, as if smiling was her job.
At about two o'clock in the morning, a fat man, about two meters tall and with many golden chains, informed him that it was his turn. Nervous, Claudio got up and walked behind the guy who looked like a wall because of the width of his body.
When he reached the stage, the drum set was there. Claudio awkwardly started to put some things together. Alex approached him:
_What are you doing? -he asked somewhat annoyed.
I was fixing some things, but I'm starting.
Then Alex came down from the stage and instantly Claudio started playing the drums. His skills with that instrument were out of this world: he looked like a genius with his hands. The audience was delighted and began to move around the dance floor. Although the lights did not help, from the stage, Claudio could see that many of the attendees were very old people, attended by very young girls, with childish faces and bodies, who were, like the girl who had received him in the dressing room, with their naked torso.
Imperceptibly, Claudio moved the bass drum with his foot and a small, minimal, inappreciable light came on. Claudio continued with the presentation and was applauded by the audience several times.
Two days later, a whole police commando raided Alex's exclusive apartment. There they found not only drugs and weapons, but also videos and photographs showing evidence of trafficking in women. Alex was arrested and taken to jail and to trial. Only when Alex saw Claudio did he understand everything. The young musician was an undercover police officer who dedicated his leisure time to playing the drums:
_You decided to be poor all your life, you wretch! -said Alex when he passed by him and spat on his feet. Claudio, answered him:
And you preferred to grow old in jail, stupid, replied Claudio feeling that Alex no longer smelled of power.