Do you really have a husband? he asked suddenly, turning his head to look at her.
It seemed two could play the cat-and-mouse game. Caught by surprise, she answered quickly, Yes, of course. Too quickly. Too breathlessly. She could feel the heat of the lie in her cheeks, and looked away, fighting for composure. Hehe was supposed to go with me, you see-yesterday evening, too. We both thought it was just a stomach upset-you know, the turista thing? But then last night they had to fly him to Florida for emergency surgery. Appendicitis.
So, you decided youd go it alone. He spoke very quietly, staring straight ahead again, only his staccato fingers on the steering wheel betraying inner turmoil. Jeez. Must have been some important business.
Ellie nodded eagerly. Oh, it was. Wed been working for months to set up a meeting. Thats why I couldnt just let it all be for nothing.
Uh-huh. He reached into his shirt pocket and took out a battered pack of cigarettes, tapped one out, put it in his mouth and lit it. When he had everything stored away in his pocket again, he settled back, blew smoke carefully out the window and said in a gravelly voice, So tell me-what was it you were buying with that wad of cash?
I told you-its not drugs, Ellie said stiffly.
Not drugs?
That I promise you. But he held her eyes, refusing to let it go at that, and after a tense few moments more she folded. Animals, she said on a gust of released breath.
Animals? He repeated the word as if hed never heard it before.
She nodded. Birdsreptilesyou know. Some of them are very rare, and worth a lot of money. A lot. She paused, and when he continued to stare at her in frowning incomprehension, added lamely, I told you last night, remember? We own a pet shop. In Portland, Oregon.
Rare he said slowly, as if he hadnt heard that. As inendangered?
Well, some maybe, but-
As inillegal?
She could feel the warmth in her cheeks again. Oh, I wouldnt know about that, she hurriedly said. The important thing is that these animals are being shipped regardless-
Smuggled, you mean.
-and most of them die en route. Because the people who do theshippingdont know anything about animals, you see? My husband and I do know about animals. So, we thought, if we could go directly to the source-
The source.
She really wished hed stop repeating everything she said. Thats right-the man in charge of shipping-
The head smuggler, you mean.
Ellie just looked at him, fighting hard to hold on to her temper. That envelope he gave you back there in the cantina, she said, speaking slowly and carefully. It should have the instructions-directions, I mean-for the meeting. Maybe a map. If were supposed to be at the meeting place by day after tomorrow By the way, can I see it, please?
Her rescuer parked his cigarette between his teeth and pulled the envelope from his shirt pocket. You mean this one? But instead of handing it over he just went on holding the envelope and looking at her, an odd, wary look in his eyes.
Almost as if he was waiting for something.
She held out her hand. Yes-can I see it? We have to- And that was when it hit her.
Ohno she whispered. She felt herself go cold.
Her companion took a long drag from his cigarette and said mildly, Just who in the hell is this we, Kemo Sabe? You and your husband? His lips had a sardonic tilt, but the glint in his eyes was anything but amused. Ah-thats right. He snapped his fingers. According to you, hes in a hospital somewhere in Florida. Man, I hope he heals fast. But then
Hed been wondering when it was going to occur to her.
Shed clamped a hand over her mouth. Now she peeled it away, leaving a white, pinched look around her lips and the imprint of fingers on her flaming cheeks. Her voice was uneven, hushed with dismay. As far as those guys are concerned, youre my husband.
Uh-uh, said McCall flatly, shaking his head. Dont even think about it, sister.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again without saying anything. Just went on looking at him. Looked at him for so long those golden eyes of hers seemed to shimmer. It struck him suddenly that begging and pleading werent in this womans repertoire. That asking for-even needing-help would never be easy for her.
It also struck him that the fact shed had to accept his help, not once but three times, meant that he was probably never going to make it on to her top ten list of favorite people. He didnt know why he minded that, but he did.
What are you looking for?
Shed dragged her handbag onto her lap and was rummaging around in it like a hungry dog digging for a bone.
Chocolate, she said shortly, without looking up. I dont supposeah! She fished a small plastic bag with several foil-wrapped lumps in it out of the depths of the purse and held it up with an air of triumph that reminded him of himself, out of smokes and discovering a lost pack with a couple of bent and crumpled cigarettes still left in it.
He watched with a kind of revolted fascination as she unwrapped one of the lumps.
Damn-melted She made a face at the brown goo that had oozed out of the foil, but managed to suck the mess into her mouth-most of it, anyway. She carefully licked her fingers, then her lips, and crumpled the foil into a tiny ball before diving back into the bag for another lump. She repeated the whole process for the second chocolate, then a third, each time returning the foil wrapper to the plastic bag after it had been licked clean of chocolate. Then she briefly closed her eyes, took a deep breath and paused, before finally dropping the plastic bag back into her purse.
So? Some people smoke, she said pointedly when she looked over and saw him staring at her. I eat chocolate-so what?
Hey, he said with a shrug, whatever works. But he hoped she hadnt noticed the way he kept swallowing. He for sure hoped she never guessed how the sight of those ripe-cherry lips of hers drenched in melted chocolate was making his mouth water.
He had his hand on the ignition key when she said quietly, Id pay you. Very well. Theres a lot at stake
A lot of money, you mean.
She jerked her head to give him a sharp, almost guilty look. Of course, what did you think I meant? Yes, theres a lot of money involved. I-my husband and I-would be willing to split it with you- she paused, and he could see her thinking it over -three ways.
McCall shook his head, but he couldnt keep from smiling as he turned the key. Sorry, he said, as the Beetles ignition, for the first time in memory, fired on the first try.
Fifty-fifty, she said breathlessly. He put his hand on the gearshift. She reached over and placed her hand on his. Please-think about it. Thats a lot of money. I dont think you realize-
I have all the money I need, he growled, shaking his head. Not looking at her. Wishing shed take her hand off his. Hoping shed leave it there.
I have all the money I need, he growled, shaking his head. Not looking at her. Wishing shed take her hand off his. Hoping shed leave it there.
She made a little sound of frustration as she took her hand from his, finally, and gestured with it toward the jumble of canvasses in the back seat. Business must be very good. Hard to miss the sarcasm.
In spite of it, he kept his face and tone serene. My needs are simple. He tossed away his cigarette and waited for a bus full of tourists returning from a visit to the ruins to go by, then pulled out into its exhaust wake.
He thought about lighting up another cigarette, but for some reason didnt. Beside him, Cinnamon sat in silence, staring as intently as he at the road ahead. After a while she said in a voice that was even scratchier than usual: What if I said to name your price?
He didnt know why that got to him, but it did. He smacked the steering wheel hard with his open palm. Damn it, woman, its not about money.
Again that breathlessness. I said price. It doesnt have to be money.
He shot her a look. Surely she hadnt meant that the way she could have meant it. Not this woman-Miss Goody Two-Shoes from Iowa with her cinnamon freckles and Nikes, smuggler of illegal animals, wholesome as molasses cookies Ah, hell.
I meant, he said between clenched teeth, that money isnt everything. Maybe youre not old enough to have found that out yet, but its true. Some things are more important than money-like my life, for instance. I mean, my lifestyle. I like my life. I live simply, quietly, no hassles. Live and let live. I dont bother anybody and nobody bothers me. Zero stress-you get it? Thats the way I want it. And one thing Ive found out, sister, is that the more money you have, the more stress. Let me tell you, Ive had it and I dont want it anymore. You can keep your money.
You could give it away. There must be something you care about. Her voice sounded shaken; he could feel her eyes on him, so intense he felt their heat. Like sitting in the sun.
He stuck his lip out, pretending to think about it, then shook his head. Nope, he said, cant think of a thing. Just numero uno
So, she said tightly, suddenly angry, youve dropped out of the world, is that it? Now you justsit here with your head in the sand and let somebody else take responsibility for what happens to this planet and the creatures that live on it.
He gave a hoot of astounded laughter. Listen to you, Miss Goody Two-Shoes! Dont tell me you care about this earths poor creatures.
Of course I care, she shouted, and to his astonishment her voice cracked, as if she were only a good breath away from crying. I own a pet shop, remember? Do you know what its like to see those animals, the way they ship them? Those parrots you paint-can you imagine one of those beautiful creatures crammed into a cardboard tube designed to hold tennis balls? They even stuff them into the wheelwells of cars. To cross deserts! They arrived cooked. She paused, breathing hard. Im just trying to put a stop to it, she said, and after a moment finished in a whisper, Thats all.
Well, damn. She sure sounded as if she meant that. Damned if he didnt almost believe her. Which was more than he could say for some of the things shed told him. That way she had of blushing, sometimes, while she was telling him something ordinary. He had to wonder about that blush.
He drove in silence, thinking about it as he threaded his way along the main tourist street, pastel tourist hotels on one side, palm trees and beach and aquamarine water on the other, para-sailers gliding through the afternoon sky like butterflies darting and dipping above the lazy surf. Familiar sights to him, after so many years.
I like my lifeits the way I want it. No hassles