Chapter 2: In the Land of Strauss

The land of Strauss, Mozart, Freud, and the waltz academies was still in the midst of Spring with rising temperatures; tulips and other flowers blossomed in a sea of colors; the leaves on trees sprouted again, absorbing the sun’s warmth and spreading new joy. The scene was enchanting, perfect for tourists who were beginning to invade the country. But, Clara was there on a mission and every minute to find her sister was precious.

As soon as she arrived in the city and without checking in at the hotel, she went directly to the morgue to ask if a non-identified body had been delivered since the end of February. Irritated with the clerk at the front desk who gave her a form to fill out and request information, Clara almost rubbed her bronze badge from the Federal Police in his face, saying that she was there officially to find a missing Brazilian citizen. She was warned not to use her position as a foreign federal agent, nor use aggressive methods, the type often shown by police heroes in American movies, to proceed with her investigation, under penalty of being expelled from the country. Clara was smart, but far from being a riveting film star.

Her tactic with the clerk worked and in less than two minutes was taken to meet with the head of the morgue, an elderly man, polite and very professional. Despite his willingness to cooperate, Clara discovered nothing that could further her mission, yet relieved to know that her sister was not among the frozen bodies kept there. On the other hand, the head of the morgue suggested that she visit the local hospital where they might have a registry of a Brazilian patient. He offered to call the hospital director to let him know of her arrival. Clara appreciated his cooperation and left with new hope, giving the apathetic clerk a look of disapproval on her way out.