‘There are a few we’ll interview again. But no one really stands out.’
‘Well, now that you’re pretty sure you’re looking for a young man – and hopefully Peggy can give some kind of description – you can go back and take a second look at all the young guys you interviewed.’
‘We’ll do that. Once we have that description. If we have the description. But at this point it’s all supposition. I just wish we had something solid. If someone stole that bracelet from your room they were pretty clever. There were no fingerprints in there except yours, the woman from housekeeping and the server who dropped off the welcome tray.’
‘And I’m sure you’ve checked them out.’
‘Yep. The woman from housekeeping has worked here for twenty years. The server for eleven. Martin swears by them. And they were so upset during the interview. I know they felt threatened − their jobs, their livelihood. Martin reassured them, of course, but still, they were frightened. And there was nothing there. There’s no way either of them stole your bracelet.’
‘Why do you think the lights were smashed?’
‘I won’t tell you I’m not worried about that. Someone wanted that area dark last night. Maybe to see better into the suites once the inside lights were on, maybe to scare you and Peggy … or worse. I don’t know. But you and Peggy should reconsider staying in those rooms. I think the two … the three of you should move up to Annie and Martin’s house.’
‘I thought about those lights a lot. I just don’t think whatever it was, a warning, a threat, was that serious. I don’t really know anything, Thomas – I didn’t see that young man on the path and I couldn’t see who was in the car that picked Ariana up on Friday. I couldn’t possibly single him out. Just because I’m identified as the owner of the bracelet doesn’t make me a risk to whoever did this. So why would anyone want to break the lights outside my room? No, it must be something else. And Thomas, if Peggy is adamant about staying in her suite, and it sounds like she is, it’s much safer if I stay down there with her. Look, Peggy isn’t even sure the young man she saw was with Ariana. Hopefully the sketch artist can come up with a decent likeness, but we still don’t know if that’s him. I think you should clarify that at the news conference.’
‘You’re right. No sense in people thinking we have an eyewitness when we don’t. And that would make me feel better about you staying down by the bay beach. But we can’t be sure of any of this, Emily. And I don’t want to take any chances. I’ll get the security sorted out and someone down there asap.’
‘And besides, Thomas, Annie and Martin have enough to deal with right now. Have you looked … really looked at Annie’s face? I don’t want to add to that.’
‘It’s still taking an unnecessary chance, Emily.’
‘Let’s leave it for now. I promise we’ll be careful, and if anything else happens, we’ll move.’
‘You know once I hold the news conference this afternoon, the press will have your name … they’ll be all over you. And Peggy.’
Emily laughed. ‘I know, but I’ve dealt with that before. And believe me, there’s nothing worse than the New York press. I remember one time …’ she started, but she could see that Thomas had moved on. ‘It’ll be fine, Thomas.’
‘Do you think Ariana had a new boyfriend? I keep thinking about how her friends said she hadn’t been hanging around with them as much. Maybe she met someone who wasn’t part of her crowd. Someone local, maybe from San Nicolas, someone a little edgier than her school friends, and that’s how she ended up at Charlie’s.’
‘That certainly would explain it. But some of her friends must know about that. Young girls talk to each other – especially about boys. And you’re right; there’s a certain lure to the stranger. A little older, more worldly. Probably good looking. For these private school kids who’re so sheltered, that can be really tempting.’
‘And they don’t even know what they’re getting into. There’s a pretty rough crowd hanging out in some of those bars, especially in San Nicolas. Not so much Charlie’s, that’s more of a tourist thing, and we’re not talking about the hotel bars or the nightclubs. But Black & White, the Java, the American … there’s some pretty rough trade − plenty of booze and drugs. Prostitution. The closer you get to the old refinery, the seedier it gets. It’s hard to picture Ariana …’
An image suddenly flashed through Emily’s mind: Ariana on the beach. ‘Thomas. I just remembered. The afternoon that Ariana came to meet Peggy and Maggie, that first day, on the beach, she went to take Maggie down to the water and started to take off her T-shirt. She had a bruise on her upper arm, like someone had grabbed her. Annie noticed it right away and Ariana made some excuse, something vague … but she put the T-shirt back on.’
‘So if it is a new boyfriend, it’s not a very nice one. Time to put some more pressure on those friends.’
Thomas was on his cell phone before he’d even left the veranda. ‘Keary,’ Emily could hear him say, ‘we need to …’ And he was gone.
‘Has Thomas left?’ Annie was standing alone by the door. The others were all seated in the living room.
‘He has. He’s going to Kat’s, then back to headquarters for the five o’clock press conference. I’m not looking forward to that. I’m sure you and Martin feel the same.’
‘We’ll manage. We’ll have to. You know, it’s hard to consider anything as too difficult when I see what Christiaan and Kat are going through. Thomas is sending over some support, hopefully in plainclothes, and the forensic guy is going to check out those lights. We’ll have the sketch artist come up here. We’ll use our office – keep it out of the Reception area. I just wish …’
‘We’ll be fine down below, Annie.’ Emily saw Annie’s mouth tighten.
‘I wish …’
‘Really Annie, Thomas is going to put on increased security – we’ll be fine.’ Emily hoped she was right.
TWENTY-THREE
He stood at the end of Helfrichstraat, cigarette in his mouth, left hand fiddling with the change in his pocket. He waited impatiently for the contact, late now by twenty minutes. He knew this would be unpleasant, maybe worse than unpleasant, but he was ready – the snub-nose revolver in his right pocket he’d bought six months ago was his insurance. He had asked for the meeting knowing that his plan had fallen through, and knowing he had to put them off. They wouldn’t like it, but there was no choice now.
What to tell them? Nothing about Ariana. They didn’t know her name, and he couldn’t let them think he was connected to her. No, just a change of plans – a postponed trip, two weeks, maybe three. He had this under control. The shipment would go through, just a little later. He’d have to come up with someone else to carry it by then, but it would buy him time. And right now, that was what he desperately needed.
He slouched against an abandoned car and peered across at the old refinery. In its heyday, it had employed most of the workers down here. Now it was an empty shell. This part of San Nicolas was run down and quiet – during the day, at least. Nighttime was a different story. He hadn’t really chosen to live down here. It was all he could afford. But he had been so sure that soon he would be making enough to live where he wanted, do what he wanted. He punched the fender. That stupid bitch.
Adolfo wasn’t usually late, he thought as his phone rang.
‘Yeah,’ he said, seeing the caller. ‘Where the hell are you?’
He listened for a moment. ‘I told Lenny, it’s just a delay. Yeah, yeah, I know.’ He tried to control his voice but he could hear the slight tremble. ‘What the fuck? You told me to set up this deal and it’s set. We just have to change the timing … I know what I said, but the end of the week doesn’t work anymore. Hey, what can I tell you, she changed her plans. Tell Lenny there’s nothing to worry about …’ But Adolfo had hung up.
Billy stomped out his cigarette, ground it into the dirt and headed toward the Java. The sun beat down on him and swirls of dust kicked up from the road. In a side alley a woman, p
robably from Colombia or Venezuela, lingered by a back door. She wore satin short-shorts and a halter top, and for a moment she looked hopefully at Billy. There were a lot of these women down here, working. Most operated out of upstairs rooms in the bars, a cut for the owner, stay for a couple of months and then leave. The bar was open, dark inside – there was only one other customer sitting at a table in the back. Time to put his plan into action.
‘Hey, Rico, can I get a Balashi,’ he said to the bartender cleaning glasses at the sink.
‘Billy! Where you been?’ Rico said, putting his beer up on the bar.
‘You know – around.’ Billy took a long swallow of his beer and sighed with satisfaction.
‘Lenny was in looking for you last night. Didn’t look too happy.’
‘Fuck Lenny,’ Billy said, slamming the bottle on the bar.
‘Hey, hey,’ Rico said, holding his hand up. ‘Take it easy. I’m just tellin’ you.’
‘Sorry,’ Billy said. He’d come on too strong. ‘Lot on my mind.’
‘Yeah, know how it is. You workin’?’
‘Day stuff, here and there. Waiting to start a new gig. Look, I got a favor to ask. My car’s giving me some trouble and I have an interview later over at Eagle. Wondered if I could borrow yours?’ he asked. Rico was always good for a favor and Billy had helped him out lots of times. He didn’t want to use his own car.
‘No problem,’ Rico said, putting the keys on the bar. ‘I’m here till eleven, so I don’t need it. It’s in the lot out back. The AC don’t work, though.’
‘Thanks, Rico. Owe ya one,’ Billy said, heading out of the bar.
Step one, he thought, and drove the two blocks to his apartment. Now what?
He’d have to change. Put on his khakis and a shirt. Look like he belonged. Bring a couple of things with him, just in case. Then he’d drive over to the Bluffs.
He’d certainly be stopped at the gate and he was ready. When he got there, it was the same security guard as yesterday. Hopefully he’d remember him.
‘Hey there,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure if you remember me. I was here yesterday for an interview with a Detective Keary?’
The guard nodded but said nothing. ‘Problem is, he asked for my driver’s license to make a copy and I don’t think I got it back. Looked for it everywhere. Must have been left sitting on the desk.’
‘OK, just go through to Reception. Someone there can help you.’
‘Thanks,’ Billy said, driving in through the gates. He parked the car and checked to see if the guard was watching. Luckily, he wasn’t. Because Billy wasn’t heading into Reception, not just yet.
He walked slowly around the main house. Then he headed to the bay beach. He actually waved to a couple of people in the distance, trying to look like he belonged. They hesitated, but then waved back. So stupid. People always do that – one of those things Billy had picked up early on. They don’t want to look like they don’t remember you, so they fake it.
He stopped at the beach bar. He would’ve loved a drink, something to steady his nerves, but he couldn’t risk it. They’d ask for a room number and he didn’t want to take the chance. Other places, he’d done that. Got a ton of free drinks that way – the bartender would write down the room number and no one would be the wiser until later when the guest complained about the bill.
He sat for a moment, watching the activity on the beach. Not as much fun as watching the girls at Eagle. They were older here and more modestly dressed. Only a few in bikinis, but there was a younger woman a little further down the beach in a neon green one who had a nice rack. He went a little nearer. Sat on the sea wall, figured he’d get a closer look. Hmm, he could watch this one all day, but he had things to do.
‘Hi,’ he said to the girl behind the desk at Reception. Same one as yesterday. She smiled. ‘I was here yesterday for an interview with Detective Keary …’
‘Yes, how can I help you?’ He couldn’t tell if she remembered him or not.
‘I … gave the detective my driver’s license and I didn’t get it back.’
‘Hmm, let me see …’ She paused to talk to the porter in the doorway. ‘Oh, DJ, those bags go to room 403. Sorry, I thought you knew. Thanks … Now, where was I?’ she said, turning to Billy.
‘My driver’s license?’
‘Oh, right, sorry.’ She looked in the cubbyholes on her desk. ‘I don’t see anything here. Let me check in the office.’
While she checked, he slipped his driver’s license in among a pile of papers on her desk. Just in case. Then he watched as the redhead and the one with the baby came down the path that stretched behind the main house. The Maitland’s house, he thought. He hadn’t even noticed it before but he knew it was up that way. It stood by itself on the bluff.
‘Sorry, I don’t see it anywhere. If you leave your name and phone number, I’ll keep my eye out for it and call you if it turns up.’
‘Thanks,’ Billy said with a smile. Job done.
He headed outside and watched as she dealt with another guest. Quickly, he got in his car and drove to a back parking lot close to the bay beach – the one used by the staff. There were a decent number of cars here; this one certainly blended in. He jumped into the back seat, stripped off his khakis and shirt and pulled on a bathing suit and T-shirt. If he was going to hang around here for a while he’d better look the part. He needed to get a better look at the bay beach and those rooms down there. How many were there? How close together? He’d only gotten a quick look when he’d broken those lights. It had been dark and he’d had to move fast. And then he’d heard the redhead coming down the path and he’d had to get out of there. He put on a faded Yankees baseball cap and a pair of aviator glasses, picked up the magazine he’d swiped from Reception, slipped the gun into his pocket and casually walked back to the beach.
TWENTY-FOUR
Emily and Peggy ate lunch quickly. They finished just as the sketch artist arrived. Martin showed him into the office and came to get Peggy. The color drained from her face as she left the room. Emily played with Maggie – focusing her attention on the toys scattered on the living-room floor. Annie sat with them, distracted and worried.
‘Do you think this will help?’ she asked Emily, her voice cracking.
‘I hope so. But Thomas thinks they have so little to go on.’
‘If there was this new boy, man – whatever – wouldn’t Ariana’s friends know about it?’
‘Some of them must. Thomas said he’ll put more pressure on them, but … If they think that they’re protecting her or her reputation, or maybe their own involvement in this, they might not come forward with anything.’
‘Well, someone has to make them see! Understand. This is important. This guy is out there and …’
Emily could see the fear in Annie’s eyes, looking towards Maggie. ‘You’re right.’ Emily needed to change the subject. ‘How are things running down below?’
‘They’re fine,’ Annie said off-handedly. ‘Martin and Nelson have everything under control. I suppose I should go down to help, but I just can’t seem to get up the energy and—’ The phone interrupted. It was strange to see Annie so disinterested in the goings-on at the Bluffs. She stared at the corner of the room as she listened to the voice on the other end. The call finished.
‘That was Martin,’ she said plainly. ‘He has some questions about tonight’s dinner menu and there’s a mix-up in the rooms.’ She paused and then gave a soft smile. ‘Things I know he could handle, but I think he feels it’s better for me to be doing something. He’s probably right. I’ll head down to the office. Will you stay until …?’
‘I’ll wait until Peggy’s done. Then I thought I might head to the beach for a while. Maybe Peggy and Maggie will want to go too.’
It was a half hour before Peggy came out of the office with the police artist trailing behind her. He seemed satisfied with the sketch and showed it to Emily − a good-looking young man, early twenties, light hair a little too long, wide set eyes
and full lips. To Emily, he looked familiar but not really recognizable. She shook her head no.
As soon as he left, Emily turned to Peggy. ‘I was going to head down to the beach. Are you going to stay up here at the house?’
‘I’m not staying up here! No. No!’ She caught herself. ‘I’m sorry, didn’t mean to sound so sharp. It’s just … I don’t want to feel like a prisoner around here. I can see how worried Annie is and, well, I think Maggie and I would love to go to the beach.’
They were quiet as they walked down the path. Emily felt unsettled. She couldn’t really relax and just enjoy the Bluffs at this point, but there wasn’t anything else to do, really. Her mind kept going back to Ariana and the incredible loss that Christiaan and Kat had suffered. It was hard to move on to anything else.
‘We’re leaving tomorrow,’ Peggy said. ‘I can’t do this anymore. I can’t take a chance with Maggie.’
‘Does Thomas know?’
‘Not yet. I just talked to Ted a little while ago. I haven’t told Annie and Martin yet either. That’s part of the reason we’re not moving up to the house. Just one night … it’s not worth it. It’s not that I don’t care about what’s happened, Emily. But I can’t take this kind of risk with Maggie. We’re leaving in the afternoon.’
‘I understand. Look, let’s try to forget all this for a while. Enjoy the sun and the beach.’
Emily headed to her suite to change. Peggy settled herself and Maggie on the sand. The beach was crowded and lively. Things seemed to be getting back to normal. Emily came back and found a lounge chair near Peggy and Maggie. A young man from the beach shack immediately came over with two fluffy blue beach towels. ‘Bon tardi,’ he said as he spread one on her chair and left the other rolled at the bottom.
‘Danki,’ Emily answered.
The sun was bright and there was a soft breeze. Emily looked towards the water. Several brightly striped sunfish sailed lazily along the shore. They reminded her of her morning sailing with Thomas. It was hard to imagine that was just a couple of days ago. She saw Marietta and Nora at the water’s edge, doing their usual beach routine – bending down to scoop up a few handfuls of water that they then dribbled on their shoulders and arms. Marietta was wearing her cat’s-eye sunglasses and a sheer black sarong over her two-piece bathing suit. Glamorous, as always. Nora wore a practical one-piece, simple and functional. She was a swimmer and a runner, Emily remembered, and her strong, muscled body was proof of that.
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