by Kim Hornsby
They got out of the car and headed for the open-air restaurant where the wind was blowing napkins off the tables and several waiters ran around grabbing them from the floor. Five tables were busy with large groups of customers, laughing and eating under the large palapa roof. The center of the restaurant was a bar area, and there was a kitchen off to the right in an enclosed cement building. They seated themselves at a table out of the wind, behind a large sign advertising rental boats while Diego went to speak with the owner.
“This is where I wait behind and you leave on the boat,” Tina watched Jamey watch Diego.
“Yup. I think this guy is telling the truth. What do you think?” Jamey lifted Kai out of the stroller seat and set him on his lap, bouncing the baby.
“I agree. He has a pure motive for helping us.” She ordered a mango juice from the waiter.
“No, gracias,” Jamey said to the waiter’s questioning face. “Looks like Diego is on that phone call. Hopefully the one that tells us how to find the island.”
“What’re you going to do if you get to the island and Kevin has a gun?”
“I’m counting on Kevin negotiating with me. I won’t turn him in if he’ll give me Wyatt.”
Tina hadn’t known this. All along she’d thought that once they had Wyatt, Jamey would do something to Kevin to make him pay. She’d assumed Jamey was filled with so much anger he wanted to deliver justice faster than you could say you’re guilty of smuggling and kidnapping. “Good. I’m glad you’ve dropped the plan to maim Kevin.”
“Oh I haven’t. I’m just going to say that until Wyatt is safely back in the U. S.” His face had Revenge written all over it.
Diego paced the tiled floor in front of the restaurant’s restrooms, then stopped at a table to write something on a piece of paper. He hung up, spoke to the man at the bar, who called over another man in jeans and a T-shirt. They spoke briefly, then Diego ran across the restaurant, back to where Jamey was now waiting. Just like in the dream.
“I got it. Directions.” Diego pointed to a cluster of small islands off shore. “The boat driver knows the house, but we have to go now. The boat is booked in an hour.”
“Good,” Jamey said, then remembered that’s what he’d said in last night’s dream. He changed the dialogue because he didn’t need to know what day it was.
Diego looked at Tina and the baby. “Is she coming with us on the boat?” he asked.
“Tina said she’ll wait for us.”
“My friend will take care of you.” He nodded at the man at the bar.
“Sounds good,” Tina found herself saying, just like in the dream.
This was where they’d woken last night. She crossed her fingers in case it helped keep them from ending up back in their hotel room bed.
***
The boat they took to the island was called a panga and was built for slowly touring around the islands, but once they were out of the small docking area, the driver took off at the punt’s top speed. “Shouldn’t we look like a tour boat, not a James Bond stunt?” Jamey said over the noise of the motor. “I want to look as inconspicuous as possible, maybe even sneak up on them.” He’d put his hat and sunglasses on, hoping that if Kevin was watching the water, he wouldn’t notice that Jamey was closing in.
“It’s an outer island, but we should be there in five minutes,” Diego said. “That’s when we’ll slow down.” Diego tapped his skull like he’d thought of everything.
Would Kevin feel smug about being in this Central American country, far from detection? Jamey wasn’t getting any sort of a reading here in the island group. As they wound their way through the islands, Jamey was once again impressed with the beauty of the area. Some islands were no bigger than a swimming pool, and others were big enough to hold several houses. One had a restaurant with a string of pointy flags around a patio and another had a monstrosity of a house, docks, satellite dishes, and water toys.
“Six hundred thousand U.S. dollars,” Diego pointed. “The island is 4,000 square meters. If you want to make an offer, let me know.”
The driver spoke to Diego and slowed down to cruising speed. They rounded a small island with a blue shack. Once they were close, the boat operator cut the motor and they drifted until several tiny rock islands and another just big enough to hold a house came into view.
“See the red roof over there?” The wind was blowing harder out here where there was little protection from the weather coming across the lake’s vast surface.
Jamey nodded. “That’s it?’
Diego handed him the binoculars they’d brought from the office. “That’s it.”
They came up behind the house, and the driver paddled them to the cover of an overhanging tree. This was an excellent vantage spot where Jamey could watch the island without being seen. He had a perfect view of the front of the house and so far, saw no activity. “Can you swim in this water or are there crocodiles and sharks?” he asked, scanning the edge of the island.
“The locals swim. No crocodiles,” Diego said. “But the lake has a type of fresh water shark. Probably not in here so close to shore.”
Jamey looked over the edge of the panga boat into the brown water. He wasn’t taking any chances. “Sharks love it murky.” He wasn’t going in. The island with the red-roofed house was small, barely big enough for the cottage-like structure. There was a stone wall built around the perimeter of the island. A crudely paved walkway led to the bright blue front door. This was where Kevin and Rose planned to live with a child? There was nowhere for Wyatt to play, run around, be a kid. How would he have friends over, or go to school if they ended up living here? Jamey had promised Tina he wouldn’t pummel Kevin into unconsciousness, but seeing the home they’d moved into, made him want to change that promise.
The house was for sale, according to Diego. “They’re renting with the option to buy.”
The plan was to tie up to the dock, then Diego would go ashore, knock on the door and tell them he had a showing. He’d ask permission to peek inside the house with his client. Then Jamey would come around the corner. If Kevin had a gun, which was entirely possible, Diego had been instructed to get out of the way fast. The realtor seemed perfectly used to this sort of thing and he nodded when Jamey said the word gun, like it was an everyday occurrence, which maybe it was in this country.
Jamey ducked down as the tour boat made its way to the island’s dock. Would Kevin recognize him if he was looking out the front window? He’d see a gringo wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses, bent over tying his shoe.
Diego hopped off the pointy bow onto the dock and called hello. “Anyone home? It’s Granada Realty checking in,” he called cheerily. The boat continued on to sneak along the wall, just out of sight until Jamey jumped onto the rock wall.
“Granada Realty,” Diego said again.
Jamey caught up to Diego near the dirt path to the house.
“No one home, looks like,” Diego said. The island was small enough that there weren’t any hiding spots. Still, Jamey didn’t trust Kevin. “You get back to the boat. I’ll take it from here.”
Jamey looked in the front window and didn’t see any sign of people in the main room, or anyone ever having been there. There were no dishes in the little sink under the window, nothing on top of the table, and nothing disturbed enough to show that people were staying in the house. Diego had passed him the key before leaving and Jamey let himself in. After a check of the bathroom and bedroom, Jamey was convinced that Kevin, Rose, and Wyatt were not on the island and probably had never been here. Maybe they hadn’t moved in yet. Or maybe Kevin was using this as another red herring and had continued south to Panama. No, he wasn’t that clever, and besides, Kevin and Wyatt would be at that parade on Sunday. They were still in the area. Unless the future had already been changed by something Jamey’d done. Had Kevin seen them in town?
Jamey whistled for the boat and headed for the dock, then something caught his eye. He rocked back half a step in an effort to locate what h
e’d seen; looking down, he spotted the only clue on the island that anyone had been here recently. Lying between two wooden slats on the dock was a single piece of breakfast cereal, Wyatt’s favorite. There was no mistaking that it was Wyatt who’d somehow dropped a pink marshmallow heart from a Lucky Charms box. Jamey picked it up, the confection still squishy and fresh. He smiled and jumped into the boat, handing Diego the key to the house. “No sign of them, but they were here. Recently.” He held up the pink marshmallow for Diego to see. “Wyatt’s favorite cereal. Always throws the hearts away, ever since his cousin teased him about them.” Where would they go? “Did the house come with a boat?” he asked Diego as they took off for the panga docks.
“No, but it would be easy enough to rent one for the week.” Diego shrugged. “Maybe they’ve gone grocery shopping in town.”
Jamey had felt something in that house. Almost a sense of regret. From Kevin or from Rose? When he lay down on the bed to try to pick up a clue, he’d felt a surrender. Maybe Kevin realized this was a bad idea and they were going to arrange for Wyatt’s release today. Maybe Tina had already caught a sight of them at the marina, but couldn’t go after them with Kai. It wouldn’t have been so long ago that Wyatt dropped the Lucky Charm. The three of them were probably on their way to the grocery store right now. But why did the house look completely abandoned? There was no sign whatsoever that anyone had been inside, aside from the feeling of regret.
***
On a hunch, Tina asked Diego if he knew anyone in the surfing town south of Granada.
“We have an office there,” he said.
“Can you fax the photo over and ask them to keep a lookout? Maybe have them send the photo on to the surf shops in town?”
Jamey agreed it was a good idea and Diego headed back to the office after depositing them at the Hotel Plaza Colón to call San Juan del Sur. Although she didn’t want to admit defeat, Tina was beginning to lose hope that Wyatt would be found today. It was already midafternoon and they’d been driving around for an hour in Diego’s car in hopes of seeing someone. First the grocery store, La Colonia, then on Diego’s recommendation, Jamey had paid a taxi driver to rush to the Managua airport with the promise of a big reward if he identified the threesome. The driver hadn’t phoned yet. Did Kevin know Jamey was in town? He could have seen Jamey, skipped town with Rose and Wyatt, and been half way to South America. If they’d left town, Wyatt would escape his death on Sunday by not even going to the parade, and that was a good thing.
Once Kai was fed, burped, and diapered, they walked the few streets over to El Camello, a restaurant that Diego had recommended. “Best ribs this side of Kansas City,” he’d said. It would be a nice change from all the rice and beans.
Settling at a table overlooking the street, Jamey and Tina watched the traffic at the intersection outside until the waiter arrived. Jamey guessed he was the owner of the restaurant, a mid-thirties, tan, non-Spanish-looking man. “Hi Folks. How’s your day so far?” He gave them menus. “”I’m Leroy. Can I get you drinks first?” His first language was obviously English.
“I’d love a really cold Diet Coke,” Tina said.
“Tona for me,” Jamey said. “And a glass of water, please.”
“Sure thing.” The man walked around behind the restaurant’s bar.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Tina said. “Avocado fries with cream cheese dip. I have died and gone to heaven.” Too late, she realized her words were inappropriate seeing they were trying to change the future so Wyatt wouldn’t die on Sunday. She looked apologetically at Jamey.
Jamey reached over to move a wisp of hair from her face and smiled. “I feel like we’re close again, but not close enough to grab Wyatt.” he leaned over to pick up Kai’s toy from the floor and wiped it with a napkin before handing it back to the baby in the stroller. “The floor looks clean,” he said. They read the menu in silence for a minute. “I’m going to have the Kafta. What do you think we should do this evening?”
He sounded unsure.
“It’s only Friday. Remember that. We have time.” She closed her menu.
“True,” Jamey said. “I’m changing to the green curry with fish. I feel like some spice.” He snapped his menu shut.
“I thought you’d order that,” she said. “And not because I’m psychic.” This was one of their jokes lately. Adding those last few words to sentences.
Jamey laughed.
She smiled at Kai. He was such a sweet baby. So satisfied to go everywhere and see everything. “I think after we eat, we’ll feel better and should walk the town again. If Kevin and Rose think they’re safe here, someone has to see them eventually, right? Let’s go to every restaurant, every grocery store. They have to eat something. And the truck is large enough that someone has to have seen it.”
“If they’re still driving that truck,” Jamey added. “Knowing I have their plates, they might have sold the thing.” When the waiter set the drinks on the table, Jamey grabbed the photo of the threesome. “Have you served these three in here recently?”
“Who are they?” He studied the picture.
Tina and Jamey were used to this question. People wouldn’t give up information without knowing they weren’t risking getting someone killed.
“See that little boy?” Jamey said. “He’s my godson and these two have abducted him from his mother in Seattle.”
The waiter didn’t look surprised, but he shook his head. “Granada attracts some strange dudes. I wish I had, but no. They haven’t been in here recently, and I’ve worked every day this week. I’m always here because I’m the owner.” He looked at the picture again. “That’s rough.” His expression was genuine.
Jamey handed him the business card with his cell phone number. “If you do…”
Tina had to add something. “We have reason to think they just came in this morning from one of the islands.”
“That’s a good hiding spot, the islands. But they’ll turn up,” the waiter said. “This place isn’t so big that someone could hide from the rest of us living down here. Except for tourists, I know pretty much every gringo in town. I’ll ask my wife if anyone new registered at the English school recently. Can I take the picture to the kitchen?”
Tina handed over the photo and smiled her gratitude. “Thanks.”
“Today is the day.” Jamey swigged his beer and narrowed his gaze, looking out at the trucks and taxis. “Today is the day, Tina.”
When the meal came, the proprietor had news. “Ana hasn’t seen them at the school but says she maybe saw them yesterday, but the hair is different.”
It would make sense they’d changed their looks since Mexico.
“Where?” Jamey asked.
A beautiful Nicaraguan woman came out of the kitchen, followed by a little girl about six years old.
“This is Ana, my wife,” Leroy said.
The child was a gorgeous mix of both parents with her father’s smile and her mother’s big brown eyes.
“Ana said the woman has short black hair and the boy was dressed in a Star Wars costume and has really short hair. They were at a little bar near Cana Castilla on the road to Tepeyac, at about sunset yesterday,” he said.
“What time?” Tina looked to Jamey to translate, but the woman nodded.
“Six, maybe.” Ana shrugged.
The little girl was playing with Kai, shaking his rattle and making him laugh.
Tina looked at Jamey and back to the woman. “You sure it was them?”
Ana nodded and spoke in rapid Spanish to her husband.
Jamey translated. “She noticed the boy because he had a light up saber sword, just like in this photograph. He was playing in the bar’s courtyard while the parents were at a table nearby.”
Ana showed the photo to the dimple-faced little girl and she nodded. “Yes,” she said, then added a few whispered words to her mother.
Leroy spoke, “They both saw them. Anaise said the sword was a blue light.”
Tina smiled at
the threesome. That was Wyatt all right. “Gracias.”
Jamey spoke. “Do you think a taxi would be able to find this bar?”
Leroy watched a family enter the restaurant and seat themselves near the bar. “Definitely, just say the road to Tepeyac and have him stop at the little bar on the right with Christmas lights, off the main road.”
“Thanks.” Jamey nodded at Tina. “Let’s eat and get going.”
***
Diego called just as they were paying the bill to say he was finished work for the day and could drive them around. “Come get us at El Camello,” Jamey said, leaving a thirty dollar tip for a very inexpensive meal. Diego was there within five minutes in an old Chevy pickup truck. He waved to Leroy before they took off down the street.
Tina settled into the backseat with her baby strapped in beside her. “So what happened to the Honda from this morning,” she asked.
“That’s my town car.” Diego said. “If we’re going up Mombacho, we need this thing.”
Tina was sure her husband missed his truck back on Maui. Men loved trucks and as it turned out, she did too.
Passing a large gated cemetery, Tina hoped that she’d get a feeling from this bar with the Christmas lights. She wanted to get a clue as to where they’d gone. Every breath she took was filled with hope. They’d sit at each table, touch every napkin holder, whatever it took. This was the best clue since the pink marshmallow. They were closing in.
As they dodged various obstacles on the road, like a donkey pulling a cart of sticks, various people crossing, and a broken down bus, Diego told them that he lived up Mombacho. “The bar just opened for business. I pass it every night on my way home. Might not be open yet, tonight, but the owner lives on property and we’ll be able to talk to him. Nica people are very family-oriented. We don’t like this type of thing, stealing a child,” he said passing a slow bus by crossing a solid yellow line.