Cut and Run

by Fern Michaels

  It took Annie a few minutes to realize that the burning, knifelike pain in her shoulder and arm was gone, leaving only a dull ache to contend with. She let her gaze rake the room for a sign of a clock, but there was no clock that she could see. Her treasured oversize Mickey Mouse watch was gone, thanks to Enrico Araceli. She wondered what he would do with it. Evil bastard, she thought.

  Annie stared at Sophia. She was so glad that Sophia had stepped up to the plate and helped her. For that she would be forever grateful. God alone knew where she would be without the little woman’s help.

  Sophia stirred, then opened her eyes. “Señora, are you all right?”

  “Yes. Did I wake you?” What a silly question. She’d made no noise.

  “I was just dozing. How do you feel?”

  Annie pondered the question. “Overall, much better; the terrible pain is gone, but my arm aches. My knee is throbbing. How long did I sleep?”

  “It’s almost dawn. The doctor set your shoulder. He had to put it back in the socket. He said you would ache. He will drain the fluid on your knee later this morning. He is a very good doctor, señora.”

  “How do you know him? Is he your physician?”

  “Yes and no. He took care of my sister. She used to flirt outrageously with him. He never responded. This might surprise you, but he is only sixty-three years old. He has a medical condition that ages him prematurely. His practice is limited these days.”

  Annie was wide-awake now. “I am so grateful to you, Sophia. I don’t know how to thank you. When this is all over and done with, I’d like to take you to America with me. I know people who can arrange this. I can set you up in a house like the one Armand bought for you that will be truly yours. You can paint all day long. You can garden and grow your flowers and join a church of your choosing. I make this offer to you because, as I said, when it’s all over, you will have no one left here in the way of family. I’m willing to make you part of my immediate family, none of whom are blood relatives. Will you think about it?”

  Sophia hesitated, then nodded.

  “You didn’t like your sister very much, did you?”

  “No, in some ways I was jealous. She was the beautiful one. And she was truly beautiful. On the outside. That’s what men like, I’m told. Inside, she was not pretty. She was mean, manipulative, and calculating. She wasn’t a good mother, although, and I know that this will be hard for you to believe, Armand was a good father. I think he truly loved the children. I say this to you in all honesty, señora.

  “I do not know if my sister truly loved Armand or not. My opinion is she did not. But she loved his title, all the material things he bestowed on her. I do not want to hurt you, but Armand was besotted with her. He loved her very much. Often, he would talk to me of her and his feelings. My heart breaks for you the way he deceived and betrayed you.”

  “I’m past that now. Tell me something. You never call your sister by name. You just say, my sister. Why is that? What was her name?”

  Sophia got off the chair, rolled her shoulders to release the tension and stress from spending long hours curled into a ball on the chair, and approached Annie’s bed. She reached down for Annie’s hand and held it tight. “There was a reason for that, señora. I did not want to cause you pain. My sister’s name was . . . it was . . . Elena.”

  Annie stiffened in the bed as her own hand squeezed Sophia’s in return. It was such a blow, she almost blacked out.

  “I know,” Sophia whispered. “I know. I was so hoping that you would never ask.”

  “I wanted to name our daughter Angela Marie. Armand fought with me. It was the only time we ever argued. He was adamant that we name our daughter Maria Elena, and he said we would call her Elena because every other woman in Spain was named Maria. He finally wore me down, and I consented because I loved him. How could he have done that to me, Sophia? How?”

  “The heart wants what the heart wants,” Sophia said, sadness ringing in her voice.

  Annie struggled with her thoughts. She had to let it go, no matter how painful it was. “Is there anything else you think I should know about my deceased husband?” she finally croaked in a harsh whisper.

  Sophia squared her shoulders. “Isn’t that enough, señora?”

  “I think so, Sophia. And now that we’re on such an intimate level, please call me Annie. I hate being called señora. Makes me feel old. Like really old.”

  Sophia chuckled. “Very well . . . Annie.”

  Annie gave herself a mental shake. “What’s our game plan once your doctor drains the fluid from my knee? Oh, good Lord, does the doctor have a phone that will allow me to call out of the country? Does he have a computer?”

  “I don’t know. We can ask him when he comes in to check on you.”

  “If not, we have to find an Internet café.”

  “While you were sleeping, the doctor loaned me his car, and I rode to town. I wanted to check out the U.S. Consulate. I did not see anyone I knew. However, I did notice something that I thought was strange. There were men on the boulevard who looked like they didn’t belong there. They were just walking aimlessly up and down. I watched for over an hour from a very good vantage point. What I noticed in particular was there was always one man near the gate. From time to time, they would speak to each other on their phones. There were a total of six. I think they are working for my nephew. I do not think I am wrong . . . Annie.”

  “Then to be on the safe side, we have to scratch the idea of going to the embassy. By any chance, did you search out an Internet café?”

  “I did, but I also saw some people there who looked to me like they had no clue what an Internet café is. There was only one in the area. I think we would have to go to downtown, which is even farther, and try to find one that Rico can’t send his thugs to watch. He simply cannot have that many people on his side doing his evil bidding. I’m thinking we might have to take the doctor into our confidence if you have no objection. He can be trusted, Annie. I am absolutely positive of this.”

  “Maybe the good doctor can help us. If you vouch for him, then I’m okay with confiding in him. If nothing else, it’s a jumping-off spot. Let’s not worry too much until we talk to him. I truly believe there is a solution to every problem. One just has to find it. Thank you for all your help. I realize you did not sign up for this, and for that I am truly sorry, Sophia.”

  Sophia just nodded and returned to the chair she’d been sleeping in. “It’s starting to get light out. The doctor should be here soon. He once told me years ago that he does not sleep much. I think he stews and frets about his patients. He has never married and has no family. My sister told me that. I do not even think he has a housekeeper here. It would appear he takes care of himself and the few patients he sees to.”

  Annie did not miss the lilt in Sophia’s voice when she spoke of the doctor. Aha, she thought. But wise woman that she was, Annie kept her thoughts to herself.

  All conversation came to a halt when a knock sounded on the bedroom door. Sophia was off her chair as though she’d been shot from a cannon. She raced to the door and flung it open. Annie winced at how chipper her voice was, how welcoming.

  “And how is our patient this morning, Sophia?” The tone of the doctor’s voice matched Sophia’s.

  Well, well, what have we here? Annie mused. Before Sophia could respond, she said, “I feel much better, Doctor, but my knee is throbbing quite a lot. I feel rested. Thank you for your help.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. Sophia, the wheelchair is outside the door. Would you please fetch it, so I can take our patient to the examining room? And I do have a favor to ask of you.”

  Sophia’s face lit up like a Roman candle. “Of course, anything.”

  “While I drain the fluid from our patient, would you consider making us some of those delicious pancakes you used to make for your sister and her boys? Everything you need is in the kitchen. And some bacon. Good coffee. Mine always tastes like dishwater. I used to dream about those break
fasts long after . . . Well, for months and months, after I was no longer on call for your family.”

  “Of course.” Annie winked at Sophia, who became so flustered that she literally ran from the room. She gave the wheelchair a push at the door and it rolled across the floor, stopping right at the doctor’s feet. And then she was gone.

  An hour later, Annie hobbled behind the doctor down the hall and out to the kitchen, where delicious aromas welcomed them. The pressure from her swollen knee was gone. All she felt now was a dull ache that she was very hopeful would go away soon.

  The doctor made sure that Annie was comfortably seated before he motioned for Sophia to join them. “All right, ladies, let’s talk turkey!” he said sternly. “Isn’t that what you Americans say when you are about to speak of something that is deadly serious?

  “Do not think for one minute that either one of you fooled me with that ridiculously silly story on your arrival to account for our patient’s condition. TALK!” he boomed.

  Both women’s words came faster than a runaway train, faster than flying bullets as they spoke over each other. They were shrill, subdued, and tearful as they talked over each other in order to get everything out into the open as quickly as possible. Somehow or other, perhaps from years of listening to distraught patients pouring out their stories, the doctor managed to make sense of it all. He nodded, rubbed at his freshly shaved chin, and then signaled to indicate that Sophia could get on with the pancakes.

  Annie took a deep breath. “I need your help. Actually, Sophia and I both need your help. I don’t trust Enrico not to return to harm her once he finds out she helped me escape.”

  “Yes, yes, yes, I understand. Tell me what you want me to do. I have no patients today. I am at your complete disposal.”

  “First things first. Are we safe here, Doctor?”

  “Yes, Enrico forgot about me months ago. Since we’re going to be partners here, I suggest we go with first names. You may call me Andres. My full name is Andres Miguel. Dr. Andres Miguel. I am an internist with a nonexistent practice. By my own choice,” he added hastily.

  “I suppose I should explain that. I have a rare medical condition that required that I curtail my practice. I couldn’t afford all the equipment I would need to treat patients. I wish I could have X-rayed your knee to be certain a bone wasn’t chipped. Back when I was practicing medicine full time, I would have sold my life away for an MRI machine. A CAT scan machine. But even then, I still couldn’t afford those costly machines. I’m just a simple country doctor these days. I can’t even afford a nurse or a day lady. My fees are mostly paid in produce or chickens. All right, enough of me. I think we should now avail ourselves of those delicious-looking pancakes. We can talk again when we finish eating.”

  Annie smiled, thinking about Charles’s rule of not discussing business while eating. She didn’t feel particularly hungry but surprised herself by cleaning her plate and drinking two cups of coffee.

  As she chewed, she let her mind wander. She liked the good doctor. More important, she trusted him. God was indeed smiling on her by leading her first to Sophia, then to the doctor.

  Andres surprised both Annie and Sophia when he said, “I’ll clean up since Sophia cooked. Annie is a patient and a guest, so she doesn’t enter into the equation.” He bent over and kissed Sophia on the cheek. “It was a wonderful breakfast, Sophia, just the way I remembered. I can multitask, ladies, so we can talk.”

  Sophia’s face turned beet red. Annie grinned and looked away.

  “Do you have a computer, Andres?”

  “I did, but it died on me a few years ago. I couldn’t afford to replace it.”

  “I assume you have a phone. Can I call out of the country on it?”

  “No, it’s just your basic phone. However, I can ride into town and go to the Internet café that Sophia checked out. I think I can handle that. I’m known in town. People might wonder what I’m doing in a place like that, but I don’t think they’ll talk among themselves. If I act like I belong, in case someone is watching the café, I’ll just be a local availing myself of the café’s computers. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open. Tell me what you want me to do.”

  “I’ll write down the e-mail addresses and the phone numbers in case you can send texts. I’m sure someone in the café will be able to help you with that. I’ll need a pencil and paper.”

  Andres dried his hands on a pristine hand towel before he rummaged in a drawer for paper and pencil. He handed them over.

  Annie carefully wrote down everyone’s e-mail, then wrote out a short script for Andres to follow. You will have to wait for a response to the e-mails. If you don’t hear back within twenty minutes, try texting the numbers I listed. Your keyword is ‘Annie’ on the subject line.

  “I don’t know for sure if my people are here or not. Enough time has gone by for them to have made the trip. Tell them to come and get me. You know my full story, so if they question you, you know how to respond. Are you sure you can do this, Andres?”

  “I can do this. When you see me next, I hope to have good news for you. In the meantime, stay off your leg for the next few hours. Keep it propped up the way you have it now. Are you sure you don’t want any pain pills?”

  “I’m sure. But I will take a few aspirin. Good luck, Andres.”

  Andres wiggled his eyebrows. “This is the most excitement I’ve had in years. Behave yourselves, ladies, until I return.

  “It looks to be a nice day, but rain is expected soon. Sit in the wheelchair and go outdoors and get some fresh air. Sophia, make fresh coffee, please. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Oh, give me your phone number so I can call you if I run into problems.”

  Sophia left the room and returned with the black Nike duffel. She dumped the contents on the kitchen table. If Andres was surprised to see the gun, he didn’t show it.

  Sophia pawed through the phones until she found the one that was hers. She turned it on. “I didn’t bring the charger, but I still have two bars.” She rattled off the number. Andres copied it onto the paper Annie had handed over.

  Andres waved airily. Minutes later, they heard the engine of his car come to life.

  “He’s a nice man. Thank you for bringing me here, Sophia.”

  “Yes, he is a nice man. He cares about people.”

  * * *

  Andres Miguel liked going into town. Not that he did it often, but sometimes on the weekends, he would treat himself to a Sunday morning breakfast at an outdoor café. Invariably, people who had known him and been treated by him years earlier before he’d retired to the country would stop by. He loved the short meetings and playing what he called catch-ups. It was also a good time to read his medical journals, so he could keep up with the latest medical news. Sometimes, he would even allow himself to feel sorry about the path his life had taken, but those feelings never lasted long.

  He loved this town, or as he thought of it, the village of thirty thousand inhabitants. It was modern and up to date. But at the end of the day, he was always glad to get back to his little gabled house in the country. He thought then about Sophia and how he’d felt when he opened the door to see her standing there with her strange friend, whom he had liked instantly. He remembered how his heart had skipped a beat and how his ears and neck turned warm. He made a mental note to himself to think about that, but later. Now he had a mission, and he did not want to disappoint the ladies.

  Andres drove cautiously. He did everything cautiously, more so these days than when he was younger. Something else he needed to think about later on.

  Andres searched for a parking space and almost laughed out loud when he saw an elderly gentleman pull away from the curb just two buildings down from the Internet café. He knew this area well because of the pharmacy and the café where he used to go on Sunday mornings.

  Mindful of Sophia’s report that there were men on the boulevard who looked like they didn’t belong, Andres decided he needed to do some reconnaissance. He laughed silently as he envisio
ned himself as some sort of super-spy. He walked up to the pharmacy and looked at the window display. Cosmetics on one side. He closed his eyes and sniffed. Even through the glass, he could smell the perfumes and powders. He liked the smell. It brought back a memory of his many house calls to Elena Araceli’s bedroom, which had contained more cosmetics and perfumes than the pharmacy’s show window.

  He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was here to spy, so he needed to start spying. He stared into the glass to see which people were walking by and who was loitering. He spotted two men dressed in jeans and T-shirts, baggy shirts, big enough to hide a gun if it was tucked into the back of the men’s jeans. Maybe he had the makings of a supersleuth after all. The thought pleased him for some reason.

  Andres moved to the other side of the pharmacy door to look at a display of vitamins. He moved on, past a hardware store featuring battery-driven wheelbarrows, and then to the Internet café. He carried a folder with several other folders tucked inside. Something had told him to take it when he left the house, and he’d just grabbed it. Part of his MO. He grinned to himself. He was playing a part, and he loved it.

  Just as his hand reached the handle on the door, one of the men he’d seen in the plateglass window of the pharmacy came up to him. Andres tried to push at the door, but the man stuck out his arm. “Why are you here?”

  “What? Why are you asking me that? It’s none of your business why I’m here. Move, young man.”

  The man didn’t move. “Do I have to call the police?” Andres asked.

  The man finally stepped aside, and Andres walked inside. The first person he saw was the man’s double, standing near the counter, where customers signed up for computer use. Andres felt his heart start to beat faster. He approached the young girl behind the counter and smiled. “Stephanie!”

  The girl was perhaps fifteen or so, and he’d delivered her at her birth, then saw to all her medical needs for years until he’d moved to the country. “How is your family?” he asked in Spanish.