Pearls

by Mills, Lisa

  My life has turned into a soap opera, he thought with resignation. Sighing, he took another swig of the coffee.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Isabel did not intend to sit in the booth suffering Raúl’s unwanted attention a single moment longer than necessary. The sooner they talked business, the sooner she could leave. “Raúl, Manuel and I have finished translating the journal, and we have an update for you. Would you like to hear it?”

  “Of course, mi amor. We can discuss whatever you like.”

  His tone suggested he only intended to humor her, and Isabel bristled at the condescension. “Manuel and I have translated all but a few Indian words. We couldn’t find definitions for all of them, but it’s clear that Rodrigo Velasquez did not directly reveal the whereabouts of his treasure.”

  Raúl nodded, and Isabel felt certain he faked the look of disappointment.

  “However, we found that Rodrigo and Karwa lived for long periods in three different locations. He included enough description of these places to allow us to identify them with reasonable certainty.”

  “Why does it matter where they lived?” Raúl asked.

  Isabel looked to Manuel, deferring to him to make this explanation.

  Manuel set his coffee down and leaned his elbows on the table. “Past finds of buried treasure have taught us that people usually hide their valuables in a place intimately familiar to them. Rodrigo did not mention the hiding place of his treasure. However, it stands to reason that he would have left it in one of three locations, possibly with the intention of returning and recovering it later after his treason was forgotten. Then he could safely use the pearls for trade.”

  “This doesn’t seem like much to go on.” Raúl sounded skeptical.

  “There’s more. The final line of the journal states that he buried his treasure in his home. We don’t know which of the three places he’s referring to, but it’s possible that if we find and explore the areas they lived in, we will uncover the treasure or at least other clues. With the modern technology used in archaeology today, we could fully explore the areas with a minimum of bother and expense.”

  “What will this adventure cost me?”

  Seeing Raúl’s skepticism, Isabel jumped back into the conversation, knowing she stood a better chance of convincing him than Manuel did. “We’ve been gathering figures and putting together a cost sheet. We can rent most of the equipment for a more reasonable price than if we purchased it. And Manuel and I are prepared to forego the luxuries and make do with simple accommodations. Equipment rentals, camping gear, and basic supplies add up to about twenty grand for a two-month search.”

  Isabel held her breath while Raúl sat in pensive silence. If he said yes, she and Manuel could have their gear packed and ready to go by the end of the week. She needed to put some distance between herself and her problems, namely Raúl. Time apart would be good medicine for them both.

  Raúl reached across the table and took Isabel’s hand before she had a chance to pull it away from him. “I would not deny you anything you asked, Isabel. Do you want to search for the pearls? Would it make you happy?”

  His touch unsettled her, but she forced herself to endure it. Now that she’d distanced herself from him emotionally, she saw him much more clearly. She’d once admired his elegance and influence, but now he appeared base and conniving. The games he played to control her and his need to maintain a position of superiority irritated her.

  Now he was turning his unscrupulous behavior on her. Well, if he wanted her to ask for his assistance, she could do that. A simple request for help seemed a small price to pay to rid herself of him for two months. She pushed back the inner turmoil and forced herself to give a polite answer. “Yes, Raúl. This project is very important to me. I’d like very much to proceed with our plans.”

  “Then it’s settled. I’ll have a contract delivered tomorrow, and the funds will be available by the time you sign it. I only ask that you keep receipts and records for my financial reports.”

  Isabel flipped her hand over and grasped his in a businesslike handshake. “Great! We can handle that. Now, Manuel and I have some work to do, so we need to go.” She slid out of the booth, hoping Manuel would take the hint and follow.

  Manuel moved slower than she would have liked, but he did rise. Standing by the table, he paused and offered his hand to Raúl. “I appreciate your support, Raúl. If you leave us instructions, we’ll be happy to contact you with updates on our search.”

  Raúl’s eyes held a cunning glint. “That won’t be necessary, Manuel. I’ll be coming with you.”

  Isabel’s mouth dropped open with surprise. “What?” she exclaimed.

  “I have a vested interest in this project in more ways than one.” His eyes flashed over her with possessive intent. “I intend to accompany the two of you and oversee my investments.”

  Isabel’s stomach seemed to fold in on itself. He laid the trap and we walked right into it. She tried to gauge Manuel’s reaction, but he’d masked his response with a carefully neutral expression.

  “We’ll be in touch,” Manuel said. Suddenly in a hurry to leave, he propelled her toward the door with a firm hand on her back. When they were out of Raúl’s earshot, Manuel expelled a noise that could only be described as a growl.

  “My sentiments exactly,” she agreed. The car ride home was long and quiet.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  He didn’t want to make the call, but he knew that if he didn’t, he’d have even more trouble on his hands. Forcing himself to the task, he dropped a coin into the payphone.

  A gruff voice answered the other end of the line.

  “Listen, I’m calling to let you know I’ll be out of touch for a while.”

  “You’re not trying to escape your commitments, are you?”

  “No, of course I wouldn’t try anything so foolish.” A sweat broke out on his forehead.

  “Good because your grace period is almost up. When can I expect a payment?”

  “As soon as this bit of business is complete, I’ll have your payment in full, I swear.”

  “I certainly hope so, for your sake.” The line clicked, cutting off the connection.

  He stared at the phone, willing his panicking heart to slow to a normal rhythm. “Yes, I understand. My life depends on it.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “So, you will be going away soon?”

  Isabel smiled. Doña Montez never bothered with trivial small talk. Somehow Isabel had guessed that her grandmother had a mission when she had suggested a walk in the garden. With arms linked, they strolled the flagstone paths, enjoying the sweet fragrances and vivid colors of the tropical blooms. “Yes, Abuela. Just for a month or two.”

  “Your decision to interrupt your schooling surprised me.”

  Isabel patted her grandmother’s arm. “The university will be there when I return. Right now, I need a change.”

  “Something has been bothering you, I think.”

  “That business with Raúl was pretty upsetting to me.”

  “I think something was disturbing you before that.”

  Isabel sighed. Her grandmother was so perceptive—sometimes too perceptive for comfort. “You’re right. I’ve struggled with discontent for years. I’ve never really felt like I belonged anywhere, you know? I’m always an outsider.”

  Her grandmother nodded. “Every heart needs to find a place of belonging.”

  “So, you understand, Abuela?”

  “More than you know.”

  The old woman’s cryptic smile puzzled Isabel. “I think you’re talking riddles again.”

  Doña Montez winked. “Do you think you will find what you are searching for on this journey?”

  “I hope so. Are you worried about me?”

  Her grandmother cocked her head to one side, her face pensive as she considered her answer. “I trust Manuel to keep you safe.”

  “What about Raúl? I’m sure he’ll look out for me too.”

  Her grandmother snorte
d, as if the idea was preposterous. “He will have enough trouble taking care of himself. You will depend on Manuel for support if you are smart.”

  The comment piqued Isabel’s curiosity. “You never liked Raúl, did you, Abuela? We never had a chance to discuss my relationship with him. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner, but I’d like to hear your thoughts now.”

  “Your Raúl, he is beautiful to look at, but inside, he has no substance. This is the way of many men, not just in this country, I think. Beauty and wealth are double-edged swords. They can offer tremendous advantages to those who wield them correctly; however, skill with a sword does not make one a victor.”

  “What are you saying, grandmother?”

  “Success can be measured in many ways. God measures a man by his fruit—fruit of the Spirit, that is. Despite Raúl’s many favorable attributes, he lacks godly character. You could not see it at the time, Nieta. You looked with your eyes, and his beauty deceived you. Now you know to look with the discerning eyes of the Spirit. They are more reliable than your natural vision.”

  Though her grandmother spoke with compassion, Isabel felt the sting of the rebuke. “I was having trouble adjusting at school. I wanted so much to make friends and feel like I belonged. I think I let my loneliness get the best of my judgment. When Raúl came along, I was vulnerable.” Isabel fell silent, still wrestling with the fresh wounds of her failed relationship.

  Her grandmother seemed to sense her need for solitude and remained quiet for a while. After they rounded the back corner of the garden and began the walk back to the house, she spoke. “Do you think this Manuel has the character to match his attractive face?”

  Isabel pondered her grandmother’s words in silence for a moment. “I don’t know, Abuela. I guess I haven’t really talked to him much, at least not about personal issues. He’s shared a little about himself, but we mostly talk about the journal or archaeology.”

  “Perhaps he feels reluctant to discuss personal matters with you because of your relationship with Raúl.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You should talk to him sometime, Isabel. I mean really talk. You would like him very much.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “He is a good man. Loyal, hard-working, committed. And he is a Christian.”

  Isabel stopped near a rose arbor and turned to face her grandmother. “How do you know all of this, Abuela?”

  “While you hide in your room, he sits in the kitchen and talks with me. Sometimes we walk in the garden, or he drives me to the store. I enjoy his company. You would too.” Her grandmother’s lips parted in a mischievous smile.

  “Just what are you saying, Abuela?”

  “You have my blessing if you want to date him, Isabel.”

  A hot flush climbed Isabel’s neck and face. “I don’t think I’m ready for another relationship, and even if I was, what makes you think Manuel would be right for me?”

  Doña Montez lifted her chin to a defiant angle. “I am old, but I am not blind. I see what you refuse to acknowledge.”

  They resumed their walk and soon the back wall of Casa Grande came into sight. Bending, Isabel laid a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek. “I love you, Abuela, even when you talk in riddles.”

  Her grandmother tipped back her head and laughed. “You will see when you are ready, Isabel.”

  Ten

  Isabel hefted the last box into her arms and carried it to Manuel, who arranged the supplies in the cargo bed of one of the jeeps they’d rented for the journey. Still groggy from rising before dawn, she yawned as she handed over her load.

  “Is this the last one?” He lifted the box from her grasp as if it weighed nothing. Since meeting her for breakfast at five o’clock in the morning, he’d shown no signs of weariness or fatigue. Isabel might find his energy irritating if she were awake enough to care. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she ambled toward the house, wanting to nurse a cup of black coffee while they waited for Raúl to arrive.

  “Wait, Isabel. I need your help tying down the supplies.” He held a coiled length of rope aloft. “I don’t want our gear bouncing out of the jeep when we hit the rougher roads.”

  “Okay, sure.” When she walked back toward him, she stumbled over a root hidden by the grass and fell against Manuel’s chest, clutching at him to steady herself.

  His arms wrapped around her as his deep, pleasant laughter met her ears. “Falling for me, are you?”

  She lifted her face until she met his gaze. The look in his eyes set her pulse throbbing in her neck, and embarrassment about her clumsiness faded away. The tenderness in his eyes wreaked havoc with her heart.

  When she didn’t move to break the contact, he tightened his embrace, his gaze shifting from her eyes to her lips. Isabel felt the breath leave her lungs as he lowered his face toward hers. Wanting to experience his kiss, her eyes fluttered shut, and she surrendered herself to the moment.

  The blare of a horn startled them both, and they jumped apart as Raúl’s car skidded to a stop beside them. His eyes blazed fire. Raúl climbed from his car in silence, though the looks he flashed their direction spoke volumes. With tight, jerky movements, he pulled his suitcase from the trunk and thrust it into Manuel’s hands. “Go pack this in the jeep.”

  Manuel seemed to take the incident in stride, appearing almost amused at Raúl’s behavior. Isabel did not feel so charitable. The condescending way her ex-boyfriend ordered Manuel around infuriated her, and she wondered how long the two men would be able to work together before Raúl’s attitude caused a fight. She felt partly responsible for the animosity, yet helpless to amend the problem.

  Men! Maybe I’m crazy for even considering this trip.

  As soon as Manuel turned his back, Raúl grasped her hand and pulled her out of hearing distance. He turned her to face him, his hands caressing her upper arms. Before her eyes, his angry mask transformed into one of sympathy and concern. “Has he been bothering you, mi amor?”

  Isabel stepped back, moving out of range of his touch. “Who? Manuel?”

  “Don’t worry, Isabel. I won’t let him pressure you in any way. I’ll have a talk with him when we reach our first location.”

  She scowled at Raúl. “I think you misunderstood.”

  “I misunderstood nothing,” he snapped. “Manuel is trying to gain your affections so he can use them to his advantage. If we find this treasure, you stand to gain a great deal of money. Men like him, los pobres, the poor, they will do anything to attain wealth, and that includes taking advantage of a woman’s heart.”

  “Is that what you’re trying to do, Raúl? Are you using me?”

  “No!”

  Isabel had to give him credit. The outrage reflected on his face looked genuine.

  “I love you, Isabel. I only want to see you safe and happy. As your fiancé, caring for you is my duty.”

  Isabel shook her head in disgust. “You were never my fiancé, Raúl, and we are no longer even dating. So I’d say your duty is to mind your own business.”

  She tried to stalk away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “I can see that Manuel has confused you. I was unwise to allow you to spend so much time with him these last weeks.”

  Isabel’s shoulders tensed with fury. “Allow me? Since when are you in charge of my life? I will do what I want, when I want.”

  He smiled down at her as he might a small child. “Calm down, Isabel. Hysterics won’t solve our problems.”

  “I don’t have any problems, Raúl. You do. That’s why we’re not dating anymore.” A hundred angry and cruel comments rushed into her mind, but she clamped her lips together and refused to say more, recognizing that despite her anger she wanted to conduct herself in a manner that upheld her values.

  Manuel chose that moment to interrupt their conversation. “Hey, you guys ready to go?” he called from his position near the jeeps.

  “Yes!” Isabel hurried to his side before Raúl had a chance to protest.

  Manuel
gave a final tug on the rope securing the load and turned to face her. “You riding with me?” he asked.

  Before she could answer, Raúl stepped in between them, and hissed a reply through gritted teeth. “No, she’ll ride with me.”

  Manuel reacted like a bull with a red flag waved in front of him. His hand snapped out and latched onto the collar of Raúl’s designer shirt. “Why don’t you let her decide?”

  Isabel stepped between them before punches started flying. “It’s all right, Manuel. Raúl and I have some issues to discuss.” She gave him a pleading look and hoped he’d understand her intentions from the businesslike tone of voice she used. For some reason, she wanted to assure Manuel that no romantic feelings remained between her and Raúl, at least not on her end.

  Manuel released his hold on Raúl’s collar and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Let’s go then.”

  She climbed into the passenger seat of Raúl’s jeep, trying hard to ignore the smug smile on his face. God help me. I think these men will kill each other before a week passes … if I don’t beat them to it.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  The jeep’s engine and the rush of air through the open cab created too much noise for conversation. After several failed attempts at shouting her thoughts at Raúl, Isabel resigned herself to riding in silence. They would have to discuss their relationship later.

  On their way to the main road, they passed through several villages. Most consisted of little more than a few tumbledown buildings arranged in haphazard proximity. Isabel thought the modest villages were quaint, like still lifes from another era. She especially liked one in particular. A run-down shack served as a general store to the inhabitants of the countryside. The old-fashioned gas pump beside it offered the only fuel for miles around. As they approached, Isabel leaned against the door of the jeep, preparing to enjoy the picturesque setting.

  Instead of the rush of pleasure she expected, she felt a jolt of terror. Lounging atop a rusted-out truck in front of the general store sat the man whose mug shot the police had shown her, the man involved in organized crime.