“Okay. I knew all of the men whom Rick might have considered his boss. None of them had wives named anything remotely like Melda. So I flew to Chicago to check the main personnel files, in hopes of finding something there.” He paused. “I did, all right. Edna Iveson. Maiden name: Winters. Onetime occupation: dancer under the name of Esmelda.”
`Edna?” I was incredulous.
Charles’s face was grim. “I left a friend to keep checking further, and flew back down here to get you out of the Ivesons’ house. I knew it might all be coincidence, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I thought of calling you from Chicago, or sending a telegram, but I was afraid it might endanger you even more if they were involved; might trigger some kind of action.”
“I still can’t picture Edna as a dancer,” I said firmly. “Or as Rick’s girlfriend.”
“Edna only danced for a short while, years ago, and gave it up as soon as she met Greg.” Charles hesitated. “She wasn’t Rick’s girlfriend, Ellen. She was his boss! She organized the route from here to the United States, using her import business as a cover. And she was careful. For the first year, when customs would be most likely to make random searches, she stayed clean. Later, she started including the gems.”
“And Senor Iveson?” Carlos asked, his hand still on my shoulder.
“At first, I don’t think he even knew what was going on. But maybe that’s prejudice on my part. Now he’s certainly in it, up to his neck.”
I shook my head. “I still don’t understand why they had me kidnapped. Or how you guys found me.
Carlos took over the explanation. “Senor Whitford, he came to the office this morning, and we explained about my promotion. He seemed upset and called the Ivesons’ house. The maid said you and the senora had gone down to Cuernavaca. Next, Senor Whitford called the policia and was told Ramirez was on his way to Cuernavaca. So, what could we do but follow?”
He paused, and Charles said, “We weren’t sure whether Edna was bringing you to Cuernavaca, or Xochicalco. So we stopped at the police station in the town. Ramirez was there, so was Edna, and so was the policeman who had been tailing you. I’d guess that Edna had planned to wait a while before reporting you missing. Unfortunately for her, your policeman saw the kidnapping. He couldn’t stop it, but did manage to get a good look at the car they were using.
“On his way back to the parking lot and his car, he found Edna, told her what he had seen, and urged her to report it at once in Cuernavaca. What could she do? She had to keep pretending she was an innocent bystander, so Edna followed the policeman into Cuernavaca. Meanwhile, Ramirez had had a man following someone named Pepe. As soon as he heard Pepe had left Mexico City, headed south, Ramirez followed. You see, he’d already had a report you were headed south, too.”
I nodded. “So you just followed Pepe here?”
Charles shook his head. “No. His tail lost him in the middle of town. No, we found you by the description of the car that your shadow gave us.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why was everyone after me?” “Rick double-crossed his fellow smugglers. He found a jeweler to hold the stones for him, temporarily, until he could make other arrange ments. When he was caught, Rick tried to protect himself by claiming you had them. And he was believed. At least, by his partners. Ramirez was skeptical and quietly tracked down the jeweler through the earrings you told him about. As for the Ivesons, I gather Edna had your things searched repeatedly that was what was behind the invitation to stay with them. And she tried to pump you for information. But it was no go. So the Ivesons arranged to have you kidnapped in such a way that no one could possibly suspect them of being involved. They were pretty desperate. The New York end was getting impatient.”
“And now?” I asked.
“Now it’s over. For you,” Charles said firmly. “They may need you to testify, but that won’t be for a few months, at least. Meanwhile, I’d guess you’re free to go back to the States.”
I stared at Charles, waiting for him to say more. Instead, Carlos spoke. “I think, Ellen, Senor Whitford, we are not needed. You have a car here, senor. You can drive Ellen back to Mexico City. I will drive my friends.” He faced me. “We will see you again, Ellen, before you leave Mexico, Si?”
I smiled warmly at the men. “Si!”
They moved away, and I noticed Ramirez and his policemen were also ready to leave with their prisoners. Charles looked at Ramirez, then said to me, “I’ll be right back. Then we’ll go, too.”
He went off to talk with the police while I retrieved my purse, trying to ignore the angry women who watched me. Then we got into the car: a small Volkswagen, grimy from the dusty drive down. Gently, Charles eased me into the passenger side, then went round and got behind the steering wheel. Noisily, the car started. I kept twisting my hands together in my lap, having so much to say to Charles and not knowing where to start. As we pulled onto the road, Charles broke the silence. “I’m not going to try to get to Mexico City tonight. I’m too tired to drive that far, and you’re exhausted, too. Instead, we’re going to try to get a couple of rooms in Cuernavaca.”
Cuernavaca. I shivered, wanting to get away from there. Charles understood. “I know. But we really are too tired to go back tonight. I’ve spoken to Ramirez and we’ll have discreet, but sufficient, protection.”
“Okay,” I said, too tired to argue.
It was getting dark already by the time we reached the center of town. And a hotel. I have a pretty good idea what the desk clerk must have been thinking of us. He looked astounded when Charles said we wanted separate rooms. But he did let us stay. After we paid in advance.
As we walked away from the desk, Charles asked me, “What now, Ellen? Dinner? A shower, first? Talk?”
“Talk,” I said. “I’m not very hungry, and when we do eat, I’d rather we just got something from room service. I don’t much feel like facing crowds of people tonight.”
He nodded, understanding. “Okay.”
Our rooms were just down the hall from each other. We went into mine. I suppose it was well decorated, and I remember that the furniture was of some heavy wood. But that’s all I remember; I’m afraid I didn’t much care.
Charles and I both seemed oddly shy. I walked over to the window, needing something to stare at, besides the man I loved. Charles hesitated, then followed. He looked down at me, no more than a foot away now. I met his eyes. “I have so much to thank you for, Charles,” I said. Then I added, “I’m not usually so clumsy with my life.”
He shrugged impatiently. “I didn’t think you were. Ellen, forget about Rick. We all make mistakes about people sometimes. So don’t brood on this one. Above all, don’t blame yourself for what happened. Any of it. You couldn’t have guessed what he was really like. He was too good at hiding who and what he was.”
Charles paused, and I nodded. He went on. “Ellen, I know this is terrible timing, especially after all the stupid things we’ve said to one another, but I love you. I know I should have waited to say it. Should have given you a chance to know me, away from here, where we could be ourselves. But so many things have happened that I don’t want to risk not having a chance to tell you at all!”
I cut him off before he could say anything more. “Charles, it’s okay!” I stopped and smiled wryly. “I love you. Oh, I’ve tried to tell myself I’m crazy. I’ve tried to tell myself it won’t last. I’ve tried …I’ve tried every way I know of to run from the truth. And I’m tired of running, Charles. All I know is that I love you, love you, love you. And I will forever.”
As an answer, Charles kissed me. We spent a while on that sort of thing, and in between made plans for our wedding back in the States. Eventually, between kisses, Charles remembered about room service. I think it was close to midnight when we ate.
My Love Betrayed Page 14