Songs for Perri (19 page)

"I don't know."

"If she saw the symbol somewhere...after she had left Dad, she'd know what he looked like."

"She was to meet Mrs. Saunders for coffee."

"Let's say he was in the coffee shop...being careless."

"Okay."

"If the Scorpion saw her react to the symbol, he'd know it meant something to her. And that she could put his face and the symbol together. Joe could be right." He brushed his sandaled foot across the red tiled floor. "I wonder who he's after...and who he's working for. Has Dad been told?"

"Joe said he would tell him."

"Make sure he does. And, did anyone tell you...what I'm doing?"

"Yes. Joe did."

"Okay. Take my advice and go home, now. Just send Dad to this restaurant. Look, did you bring a camera?"

"No. I don't usually carry one except the one on my phone—”

"I want a good one. I need to take passport photos."

"I'll get Joe to bring one."

"Tell Joe to keep his distance. You bring it, tomorrow, on your way out. Have Joe stay just far enough away to guard you."

"And Papa?"

"Tell him to get things ready. As soon as the passports are made, he can get us out of here. Something weird is going on. I don't know what it is. Things keep happening that I can't explain. Like those two agents Luke Rogers sent down. Both were careful men, yet as soon as they contacted me, they vanished. I want Joe to watch your back."

"So, what should I do?"

"Get the camera, then come have lunch here again tomorrow. Step into the ladies' room and give the camera to the woman who comes in after you. If Alvaro is here, she’ll ask you to wait. If not, come back for supper and we'll reverse the process. Go on now. We've been in here too long. Give Dad my love."

"I will."

"Take care, Perri. And keep that worried look on your face. Don't go changing your expression now."

She smiled anyway, while promising not to.

"And Perri...we all loved Crystal. I can't say how much—” his voice broke and he wiped away the tears that had swiftly formed.

Perri kissed him softly, not able to take the time to offer more comfort. "I know. And Mom knew. I'll see you shortly, tomorrow, with the camera. Take care."

Opening the door, she hesitated, wondering what to do about the bill, but the waiter saw her, pressed some money into her hand, and motioned her to go. She strolled outside into the darkness. Night had fallen since she had gone inside.

Turning to her right, her mind whirling in thought, Perri walked quickly toward the main street where she'd be able to find a taxi. A hand under her left elbow startled her and she jumped sideways, emitting a half-squeal just as Joe spoke in that quiet way he had. "See him?"

"Yes." She caught her breath for a second time that night. These men! Likely to scare her out of two lives. "Yes, I did. He wants a camera."

"Passports?" Joe guessed.

"Yes." Walking down a street like this, it would be hard to ease drop on them, so Perri felt free to talk. "He knows who the `Scorpion' is. It's the name of a Cuban hit man. Have you told Walt yet?"

"No. How did Crystal know the name?"

"Owen told her."

"Did he say what the Scorpion looked like?"

"He said no one knew."

"Hmm. I'll take him the camera tomorrow. You point me out to him; then leave. Walt wants you out of this."

"Owen wants me to pass the camera...and you to guard my back. The men Luke sent reached him
before
they were killed."

"I don't like it. That means you're in the most danger now."

"He insisted."

"I don't care. Owen has no right—”

"I'll be all right, Joe."

"Two men are dead, Perri."

"Yes, but with you watching my back, I'll be safe," she argued.

"Maybe." He rubbed the side of his mouth. "I'd have to stay back...which means not being close enough if they come in fast. I'll ask Walt. Let him decide."

"Do you have a camera?"

"Yes. I'll bring it to you right away."

"Fine." She breathed deeply of the soft salty air, realizing that the tension had left her muscles, leaving her feeling weak and almost dizzy. "I'm so glad we've found him."

"Same here. I'll be glad when this is over. When it is ...I'll come see you, Perri."

It was a bald statement of fact, no begging or asking permission. They had reached the main street and he paused under a street lamp to face her.

"Joe...." She didn't know how to react.

He stared at her, gray eyes smoldering with a fire no longer damped down. There was nothing cool or casual about the look he was giving her. It was as disturbing to Perri as any of Hugo's. "When we get out of this mess; when I can be myself again...then you're going to find me on your doorstep."

The abrupt change in his tone shocked her with the strength of emotion as he let her see, briefly, his interest in her.

Joe had struck her as a happy-go-lucky sort and the intensity of his manner left her speechless. The cool shutter fell once more and he turned to wave in a taxi.

Shaken, she stared at his back. Her heart was racing, and it wasn't because she had been exercising. His words had rekindled the initial attraction she had had for him.

This was a different Joe. All of a sudden she realized why Walt trusted him implicitly. There was real depth to his personality which he kept hidden under the nonchalant walk, snappy comeback and casual manner. This man meant business.

Yet...how could she be having such a strong emotional response towards Joe when she also felt it for Hugo? Both men appealed to her. If she'd met them one at a time, years apart, she wouldn't have questioned her feelings. But this wasn't right.

Confused, she watched the traffic passing by, trying to sort out her wayward feelings. It didn't help much.

She was strongly drawn to both men. Worse, when she was with them, she'd begun to confuse them in her mind. That would never do.

Both were strong, take-charge sort of men, the kind who attracted her immediately. Both were intelligent, sensitive, protective. Both could quicken her heartbeat and make her want to be closer.

Was there any difference? Joe had proven himself to be courageous; Hugo kind. Joe talked less than Hugo, although both had a sense of humor that showed itself at odd moments. Hugo was a rock star, which could prove to be a negative; but Joe was a private detective—or CIA.

There had to be something to help her decide between the two of them. If ever a person was on the prongs of a dilemma, it was Perri.

Something told her she'd be getting two marriage proposals before long and she wasn't ready for that. What would she tell them? Joe knew about Hugo, but Hugo didn't know about Joe.

What would happen when she told him? Hugo was very possessive. How could she keep things in control?

She didn't want them to fight over her...they were much the same size and a fight wouldn't solve anything. Joe was combat trained so he'd win, but that wouldn't make any difference to her. Like a child whose parents were involved in a divorce, her emotions were pulling her both ways. What a mess!

Once in the taxi, Joe took her hand in his. His was a strong hand, the fingertips and outer edge calloused. His touch sent a mixture of confused emotions skittering through her.

She had been attracted to him the first time she'd seen him; wishing he'd be her contact.

She had gotten her wish. Why wasn't she happier?

Hugo, of course. The dark-eyed man with his distinctive swagger and mellow voice had stormed her senses, even when she normally didn't care for that type of person. A quieter man like Joe would be better for her in the long run. Except Hugo already had staked his claim.

Joe turned, pulling her close, but even as she tensed to pull away, he whispered in her ear: "I'll leave the cab here. I've been with you too long already. When you get to the hotel, go straight to your room and wait for me. I'll bring the camera."

They were near the hotel. He paid the taxi driver and got out, giving Perri's hand a final squeeze. She rode the last four blocks by herself.

Hopefully, she could turn everything over to Joe and go home. Unless whoever had murdered those agents now had his sights set on her. Who was he?

The Scorpion. The name made her shudder. Where was he? And who was his prey?

Perri walked up to the doors of the hotel and stopped cold, suddenly alarmed. What if Hugo was in the lobby?

What would she tell him? That she had gone for a walk? But what if he'd seen her get out of the taxi?

Her mind came up blank—she certainly wouldn't make a very good spy—so she wished for blind luck and scurried quickly through the doors and straight to the bank of elevators. Like a trotting horse with blinders, she looked neither right nor left, as if her not seeing anyone would work in the reverse.

"Wait!" Anna joined her just before the doors closed. "How're you doing?" she asked as they started upward.

"Fine," Perri said. "How about you?"

"So, so. I tried to take a series of Vic. I guess some people just don't like their pictures taken. I got three of him before he spotted me and ducked."

"Vic?"

"The young man who rode back from the airport with us."

The door opened, and Anna grabbed it but didn't step out. "Join me, why don't you? I've got some super shots. If you like any, I'll make some duplicates."

"That sounds great, but I don't think—”

"I've got some great ones of that hunk of a man you couldn't get rid of."

"I didn't try very hard," Perri confessed. "Like you guessed, he doesn't respond to ‘No.'"

"You want to see them?"

Very much. The temptation was great. "Well...yes, but....I only have a few minutes."

"Hugo coming by?"

"Yes," Perri lied and allowed a silly grin to take over her features. It wasn't hard at all. All she had to do was think of Hugo.

"Come on then."

“Okay.”

She did have some good shots, including some of Perri with Hugo. Two people in love. The photos said it all.

“Pull out the ones you want. I’ll make duplicates.”

"I'd better not," Perri suddenly put the breaks on herself. Joe was waiting. "Later, perhaps."

"Okay. Look, I might have to go home abruptly. My boss didn't want to give me this vacation, so I'm waiting for a call. Give me your address and I can send some of the better ones to you."

"Sure." Perri pulled out her business card and wrote her address on the back. "How about yours?"

Anna handed her a business card. A travel company.

"Thanks."

Joe was in the hallway, stepping away from Hugo's door as she walked up. She looked a question, and he put his finger to his lips.

"He's in there," he whispered. His cheerful, unassuming smile made him look like an uncomplicated young man with not a care in the world. Certainly not like a man involved in the dirty business Walt and Owen had hinted at. "Where were you?"

She told him in a whisper as she unlocked her door.

"You gave me a bad moment when you weren't in your room." His eyes were friendly, gazing steadily into hers as he handed her the camera. "Here you are. I wrote out some instructions. Owen should have no trouble."

"Good." Perri flashed him a warm smile as she took it and set it beside her picture of Crystal on the desk.

"Crystal." Perri turned at the tremor in his voice and quickly re-assessed his coolness. Steel gray eyes, in pain, filled with an overwhelming sadness, stared at the photo of her mother, then blazed into hers in anguish. Reaching out, he mutely pulled her close, hugging her almost desperately to him.

He didn't say anything, just held her close, tightly; and her arms hugged him back in sympathy. It was the same way Owen had held her and she realized that Joe, too, was still fighting an overwhelming grief. Unlike Walt and herself, Joe and Owen had been denied the comfort of a funeral and any time to recover.

They stayed that way for several minutes, without speaking. Perri felt the weight of her own emotions lift from her shoulders as she offered the comfort of shared grief.

"Sorry," he muttered at last, haggard face downcast.

"Don't be. Please. I'm glad she meant so much to people."

"You're so much like her. Your hair color, the way you walk, your smile. It's like having her in the room again."

"That's what Walt says."

"It must be twice as hard on him."

"He's doing better. It didn't help when Owen couldn't make it home for the funeral."

"I'd better go, before Hugo decides to call." He released her, stepped back and wiped his eyes.

"What should I do about him?" she asked.

He sighed, looking reluctant to tell her. "As much as I hate to say it, act like you're falling in love with him."

"What?"

"Your dad's instructions, not mine. If anyone wonders about you two, they'll figure you're just a couple of love-birds, enjoying Mexico. Actually, you've been putting on a pretty good act so far, anyway."

"That wasn't an act, Joe. I told you, I like Hugo."

His proud head lifted and there was no hesitation in his next statement. "Like him all you want to. I'll still be around to see you when I get off this job. Then I'll give Hugo a run for his money."

His voice was flat, positive. Dead serious. "I'd better go," he added with a grimace, as if reminding himself that the job came first. "See you."

"So long."

"Make sure you keep your door bolted."

"I will." She walked over to the door with him. He touched his fingertips to his lips, then to hers...lightly; nevertheless it sent an electroshock of excitement bolting downward to her toes. Her interest aroused, she stared at him as he left.

Slamming shut the bolt, she wondered if he also had felt that jump of electricity. Or was he so intent on telling Walt that Owen was found, he hadn't felt it? Perri knew it was possible for one person to feel love, and the other not.

Would someone try to kill him, too? Or herself? When she had hugged Joe, she couldn't reach around his muscular chest very easily and had dropped her hands to his waist, feeling the gun that nestled in his waistband in the hollow of his back.