“And with all the Sharons and Tracys you knew, there’s no one you could ask to go to Puerta Linda with you?”
Matteo knelt on the floor before her and took both her hands. “Not one of them could do what you did for me when I broke into your house. You’re the one I want.”
“Oh, Matt.” The directness of his plea was disarming.
“I wouldn’t ask this of you if there were any other way, Helen. I have to get home.”
“I know you do,” she responded softly.
“The terms would be the same as when I stayed at your house,” he added. “If you’re caught, I’ll say you were my hostage and that I forced you to go along in fear for your life.”
Helen didn’t answer, wondering if it was possible that he was proposing this scheme, and even more unbelievable, that she was actually considering it.
“I would offer to pay you,” Matteo said finally, a note of despair creeping into his voice, “but my men have investigated your background. I know that your family is wealthy and that money would not persuade you. I hope the cause of freedom will.”
“You investigated me?” Helen asked incredulously.
“It was necessary. I had to know more about you before I asked you to help. I could see that the house where you were staying was expensive, and I knew that your family must be well off, but there’s rich and there’s rich.” He smiled thinly. “I used to see the name Demarest on the trucks delivering fuel to my dormitory at school in New York. I didn’t realize you were that Demarest until I got the report.”
“And you still trust me?” Helen asked. “I would think that would be difficult for you now.”
“Why?” he asked, his brows knitting. “I know you; I know what you did for me. Information about what your father has in the bank or in stocks doesn’t change that. I just wanted to make sure that you didn’t have any... encumbrances.”
“Like what?”
“Like somebody who would come after you if you left the country.”
“Oh, I see. And you discovered that nobody really cares much what I do, right? I should think that would make me ideal for your purposes. Is that why I was chosen for this dubious honor?” she said flatly.
“You were chosen for my faith in you,” he answered huskily, and she closed her eyes, not wanting him to see the emotion there.
Matteo held both her hands to his mouth, kissing them. “As soon as we reach Puerta Linda, you can turn around and go back home. I just need you to get me there.”
Helen gazed into his lean, handsome face, unsure of what to do. He was asking her to take a terrible chance, and she didn’t delude herself about one thing: if he had made it back to his country on his first try he would never have contacted her again.
But on the other hand, this man had a purpose and a direction her whole family had always lacked. Everyone she knew was like the parasitic aristocracy he described in Puerta Linda. His dedication appealed to her strongly; she found it almost irresistible. He had given up the very things that her relatives thought spelled success and happiness for something that meant more to him, and she wanted to help him.
“The risk isn’t all on your side, Helen,” Matteo concluded. “I’m taking a chance in telling you this, because if you say no, as soon as you leave here you could turn me in. But you didn’t let me down before and I don’t think you will now.”
Helen smiled. Part patriot, part con artist, he was all persuasiveness and all charm. He used his natural gifts to get what he wanted, and she guessed she wouldn’t be the first person who found it impossible to turn him down.
“All right,” she said.
He bowed his head, too moved to speak.
“I’ll leave a message with my mother’s secretary that I’m taking a vacation.”
“Anything you need to arrange is fine,” he said quickly, finding his voice.
“If your men could take me back to my car, I’ll go home and pack,” she said.
Matteo knocked on the glass window, summoning the guard who still stood outside. The man entered and Matteo issued a rapid command in Spanish.
“He’ll take you back,” Matteo said to Helen. “He is my best man; you’ll be safe with him.”
“He looks like a skyscraper, Matteo; I’m not worried.”
Matteo chuckled, then kissed her quickly on the forehead.
“Go. Bring light clothes, summer things. It’s very hot in Puerta Linda. I’ll take care of everything else.”
“Okay.”
He put his hand on her arm as she turned to go.
“Helen, I haven’t the words to thank you.”
“You’ve thanked me enough for a lifetime, Matteo.”
“You’ve done me a lifetime of good, mi corazon.”
“Tell me that when you’re safely back in Puerta Linda,” Helen said.
“I will be soon. I know it.”
He raised his hand in farewell as she walked out with the guard, and Helen squared her shoulders, telling herself that she had made her decision and was not going to lose her nerve now.
And she didn’t.
* * *
When she got back to the beach house she left the guard, who seemed to understand a lot more English than he was able to speak, in the car and went inside to get her things together.
She telephoned her mother’s personal assistant and left her message, then packed up the piles of books and papers on the dining table and stowed them in a closet. The thesis would have to wait, and she didn’t want Adrienne’s kids making paper airplanes out of her notes while she was away.
Then Helen riffled the drawers for suitable clothing. The weather in Florida was never really cold, and over the years she had accumulated a wardrobe of sorts which she left at the house for her occasional use. As she folded blouses and pairs of cotton slacks she tried not to think about what she was preparing to do, because if she considered it rationally she knew she would chicken out. In her whole life she had done few unconsidered, spontaneous things, and now she was about to make a quantum leap into the realm of rash, impulsive behavior, leaving good sense far behind.
For once she had an opportunity to follow her heart, and she was going to take it. She believed that it was not the mistakes that haunted people in later life, but the chances missed, the roads not taken, and this was one road she was going to follow as far as she could.
Helen snapped the tabs on her suitcase and picked it up, along with her purse.
She was ready. She glanced around the beach house for a last look and then marched out the door to share Matteo’s fate.
Chapter 4
When Helen returned to the warehouse, Matteo was waiting for her. He took the suitcase from her hand and said, “It’s a rare woman who can pack for a trip with one bag.”
He was trying to lighten her mood, and she smiled briefly. Now that she saw the car standing ready for them and realized that she was actually going, the butterflies in her stomach were turning into hummingbirds.
“We’re leaving from the Jacksonville airport,” Matteo said as they walked out to the black sedan in the alley. “We’ll be taking a commercial flight; the private planes are being watched too closely.” He handed Helen’s bag to one of the guards and said something in Spanish. The man stowed it in the trunk.
“They don’t think I can be trusted, do they?” she asked Matteo suddenly, and he shot her a quick, intent glance.
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
“It’s just the way they look at me. Like they’ll go along with anything you want to do but they have their doubts.”
“You’re very perceptive,” he replied quietly.
“That’s not exactly encouraging.”
He smiled reassuringly, touching her hair briefly. “You let me worry about them. They can’t help their prejudices. The only thing they understand is that the United States is an ally of the government we’re trying to overthrow. But they don’t know you.”
“Why do you do business here, if the
y distrust Americans?”
Matteo shrugged. “Best prices on black market guns, the best supply. You have to go where the trade is, and you have to deal with whoever is running it.”
He handed Helen into the back seat of the car and slid in beside her. “The flight leaves in an hour. We have to go straight to the airport.”
“Is there a price on your head back in Puerta Linda?” Helen asked, as the driver started the car and pulled out of the alley and onto the road.
Matteo turned to look at her and then faced straight ahead.
“Don’t think about that,” he answered.
“Is there?”
“Of course, Helen. You know the answer to that. I’m an enemy of the government. My picture is in every post office.”
He picked up a briefcase from the floor and snapped it open. He handed her a sheaf of documents, some in Spanish, some in English.
“These are your passport, identity papers, everything you’ll need to get into Puerta Linda. Look them over. I doubt very much that you’ll be asked any questions, but just in case you are, try to get familiar with the information.”
The papers said that she was a textile importer out of Dallas, Texas, going to Puerta Linda to buy raw silk, which was apparently one of its biggest exports. Matteo was her husband, and they were planning to stay for five days.
“Do you think these things will hold up?” Helen asked doubtfully. “This picture that’s supposed to be me is so grainy it could be anybody.”
“The usual method of entry into Puerta Linda these days is by bribe,” Matteo answered dryly. “The papers are just a formality; few people actually look at them. All the airport officials are on the take. Getting a job there is considered a great coup.”
Helen thought that over; no wonder he wanted to reform things back home. “What about on this end?” she asked.
“Don’t you know how it works in America?” he said, turning to smile at her. “They’ll always let you leave; it’s getting back in that’s hard. And for that you have your real passport, right?”
“Right,” she said. He seemed to have all the answers.
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Relax. I’m going to take care of you.”
Since she really didn’t have a choice, Helen decided to follow his advice.
When they reached the airport the driver took off and left them in the company of the other front seat passenger, the man who had shown Helen his medallion. As they walked along the concourse and headed for the ticket counter, Helen was sure each person who saw them could tell that he was a bodyguard. He walked two paces behind Matteo and watched everyone who passed as if they were about to pull a gun.
At the counter Matteo produced two tickets and handed over Helen’s bag.
“You were pretty confident that I’d go along with this, weren’t you?” she said to Matteo as they walked to the passenger gate. “My ticket was in your pocket when you asked me.”
“I was hopeful,” he responded. “But there was every chance it would go unused.”
They left Matteo’s comrade at the luggage check. Matteo embraced him and said something softly to him in Spanish, and the man nodded. He remained watching them as Helen put her purse on the conveyor belt to be screened.
As she and Matteo passed through the line Helen glanced nervously at the security guards, waiting for Matteo to be recognized. He actually bore little resemblance now to the man who had burst into the beach house, but she was sure one of them would see through the beard and the Fifth Avenue haircut to the revolutionary hiding underneath. She walked through the arch of the metal detector, and then froze as it went off when Matteo followed her.
“Just a minute, sir,” the guard said, coming to stand by his side. “Please empty your pockets.”
“Sure thang, officer,” Matteo responded in a deep Texas drawl.
Helen almost fainted. He sounded like a B-movie cowboy.
Matteo displayed the contents of his pockets, and the guard held up a metal keyring.
“This must have done it,” he said. “Go on through now.”
Matteo complied, and the buzzer was silent. The guard handed him the offending object, saying, “Thanks for your cooperation.”
“You bet,” Matteo yodeled, and Helen grabbed his arm, pulling him after her toward the passenger lounge.
“What is the matter with you?” she hissed at him as soon as they were out of earshot. “Did you think you were in a Marlboro commercial? I’ve heard more authentic accents in fourth grade Christmas pageants.”
“The papers say I’m from Texas, and I had to talk that way because they might have checked them. I had a roommate in college from Abilene; I thought I sounded just like him.”
“Do me a favor, will you? Next time you order up a set of dummy papers, get them to say you’re from Jersey City.”
“We have to take what’s available,” he replied, grinning at her.
Helen stared back at him, beginning to realize one thing that she should have understood from the start. He actually enjoyed this. He enjoyed the close calls, the aspect of living on the edge, which was so much a part of his work. She sank gratefully into a lounge chair, hoping that her heart would hold out for the duration of the journey.
When their flight was called, Matteo put his arm around her shoulder and walked next to her as they lined up for the plane, like any husband. He squeezed her gently as he handed their boarding passes to the bored stewardess, who glanced at them routinely and gave them their stubs.
“See how easy?” he whispered to Helen as they took their seats.
“Don’t give me that,” she muttered in response. “We’re much more likely to encounter trouble on the other end, and you know it.”
“Still mad about my Texas accent?” he said to her, smiling slyly.
She turned her head to stare out at the landing strip and he laughed.
“The flight is four hours,” he added. “You’d better get some rest.”
Helen thought she would be far too nervous to sleep, but it wasn’t long before the drone of the motor and the comforting presence of Matteo beside her had lulled her into slumber. She woke to find herself curled up in his arms, her head on his shoulder and one hand draped loosely over his muscular thigh. He was calling her name.
“What is it?” she said, sitting up and stretching.
“You have to fill out your landing card. The stewardess just distributed them.”
She searched his eyes, concerned.
“It’s all right. Just use the information on the papers I gave you and everything will be fine.”
Helen did as he directed, listing her name, address, age, and the purpose of her visit to comply with the documents in her purse. She handed hers in when the stewardess collected them and then glanced at Matteo when the pilot announced that they had begun their descent to San Jacinta.
“You’re doing fine,” Matteo said.
Helen didn’t answer, wondering what conditions were like in Puerta Lindan jails. Every scene in Midnight Express flashed across her mind. That was Turkey, she reminded herself. Puerta Linda had to be a little more advanced, a little more civilized.
She changed her opinion as soon as they stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac. She looked around apprehensively, instantly wishing that she were back in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Soldiers in green fatigues were everywhere, all carrying machine guns, riding three and four in a jeep or walking in incessant parade to and from the reception terminal. Barbed wire fences surrounded the open area leading to the debarkation building, and marksmen were perched in gun turrets at strategic places all along the route.
“Welcome to Puerta Lindan democracy,” Matteo said sarcastically into her ear.
“Oh my God, Matteo,” she responded, clutching his arm. “This is awful.”
“This is what I want to change,” he answered simply.
Helen tried not to gawk as they walked with measured pace to
the long white building at the end of the paved lane. The humidity was crushing, stealing the breath from her lungs and causing her clothes to cling damply to her skin. The sky was overcast, threatening rain as they entered the reception area and got in line.
“Here we go,” Matteo whispered. “Courage.”
“Matteo, I’m frightened,” she answered. There was no doubt in her mind that those military men in mirrored sunglasses, carrying Israeli Uzis and American M-16s, meant business.
He embraced her and held her close for a couple of seconds, kissing her hair.
“So am I,” he answered. “I always am, and I’ve never been caught yet. Take a deep breath, Helen, and try to calm down. I didn’t bring you this far to let anything happen to you. You believe me, don’t you?”
Helen nodded, looking up at him. Strangely enough, she did.
“I just keep thinking that all of these people must have seen your picture,” she said, putting her lips directly to his ear.
She thought of the price on Matteo’s head and her heart sank. In a poverty stricken country like Puerta Linda, a reward could be a pretty powerful motive.
They were moving closer to the desk, and just as Helen was telling herself not to panic and to leave everything to Matteo, a dispute arose in front of them. A woman who had traveled on the plane with them was led away, screaming and crying, between two soldiers.
Helen stared out the terminal window at the palm trees swaying in the breeze. She couldn’t look at Matteo because she didn’t want him to see the terror in her eyes.
They were next. After she placed her papers on the table before the official examining them, Helen shoved her hands in her pockets to conceal their trembling.
“Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell, from Dallas, Texas,” the man said in a heavy accent. “You will be staying here for five days?”
“That’s right,” Helen replied, staring straight ahead. Why was he asking her that? It was written on her card.
The man looked up at Matteo. “Mr. Caldwell?”
Here it comes, Helen thought.
“Yes?” Matteo said, drawing out the word, making it two syllables, as an American would.
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