Fire on the Moon. V. J. Banis

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СКАЧАТЬ thought Philip might still be here,” she commented.

      “He didn’t meet me,” I said.

      She turned sharply. “He didn’t meet you? Why that no-good louse. But how did you get here? I hope you didn’t take one of those infernal taxi cabs? They cheat the life out of you if you aren’t familiar with the rates.”

      I laughed. “No, someone by the name of Neil picked me up.”

      Carlotta stared at me. Her eyes were wide with what appeared to be shock, or fear. Her eyes moved nervously from side to side. “Neil? Good lord. I knew I should have stayed and met you myself. Wait until I get my hands on Philip Alenquer.”

      “But it’s all right, Auntie. Neil was a bit surly, but he got me here in one piece, for which I’m grateful.”

      “That isn’t the point,” she said. “Neil Alenquer isn’t anyone to trust. He’s just not the kind of man I want to have around you.” Her expression was ominous. I’d never seen Carlotta look like this before.

      I was innocently confused. I could see no reason for her sudden alarm. “He seemed a perfect gentleman,” I said. “He was surly and a bit forceful and silent, but otherwise he seemed harmless enough.”

      “Well, he isn’t harmless. Just remember that.” She leveled a finger at me, then resumed her pacing. Suddenly she stopped, whirled around to face me and put her hands on her hips. “He’s a murderer, that’s what he is,” she said.

      CHAPTER THREE

      My hand went to my throat. I stared at her.

      “Oh, I’m sorry, kid,” she said, turning away from me. “I shouldn’t have said that. It isn’t altogether true—at least nobody could prove anything.”

      She came to me and put her arms around me. “I’ve upset you. I wish I hadn’t. Forget what I said. Come on, let’s get you settled. I want to stretch out in a tub then have a couple of stiff belts before dinner. My housekeeper’s off for a couple of days so you’ll have to put up with my cooking.”

      I wasn’t listening. All I could think about was that I’d just spent a wild ride with a so-called murderer. In spite of the covering up Carlotta was now doing, I couldn’t ignore what she’d said. It was horrible. I’d been with a murderer—alone with a murderer.

      Carlotta took note of my dismay. “I didn’t mean all that,” she said. She looked embarrassed. “I sometimes wonder which is worse, my big mouth or my bad temper. No wonder I turned out to be an old maid.”

      I shook my head. “But he seemed so harmless,” I said. “Who did he kill?”

      “Oh, nobody, child. Nobody at all. Neil’s wife died and the local gossip is that he was responsible. Of course he wasn’t,” she added emphatically. “There was an investigation and everything, but nothing was ever proven. I didn’t mean what I said. Put it out of your mind.”

      Carlotta was avoiding my eyes. There was more to her story but I could see I’d have a hard time getting it out of her. She looked most uncomfortable, so for her sake I tried to do what she asked, to push it out of my mind—for the time being. However, the more I tried, the more it remained. I’d have to pretend to forget, I decided.

      “I’m not here a day and already excitement is crowding in on me,” I said, smiling. “Mystery. Intrigue. All I need now is the romance.”

      Carlotta smiled too, looking relieved. “Oh, I’ve arranged for a bit of romance too. I’m afraid, however, my original plan along that line got off on the wrong foot.”

      “That Philip Alenquer fellow? Is he the one you intend throwing at me?”

      “Now, I wouldn’t throw anybody at anybody. I’ll just introduce you, that’s all. From that point on you’re on your own.”

      “Auntie, you know I’m not ready for any of your matchmaking.” I meant it.

      She turned and eyed me. “Still carrying the torch for that Andy Fuller character, huh?”

      I looked down at my shoes. I couldn’t answer. Hearing his name spoken made me think of him—something I tried to avoid. But the moment Carlotta said “Andy Fuller” all the hurt, the disappointment, the humiliation came rushing back.

      “He wasn’t any good,” she said. “I told you that when I met him back in the States. He was after your old man’s dough and you know it.”

      “Please,” I said, “let’s not talk about Andy now. That’s over and done with.”

      “Is it?”

      “Yes.” I picked up my larger suitcase and started toward the stairs. In spite of its weight, it suddenly seemed lighter than my thoughts. Carlotta picked up my other case and followed me.

      “Who is the man who called for me at the airport?” I asked as we got to the top of the stairs.

      “Neil Alenquer. He’s Philip’s older brother.”

      “Do they live around here?”

      She tossed my bag on the bed and nodded in a westerly direction. “They have the old castle on the next bluff. They’re my nearest neighbors. We kind of share this isolation.”

      “What do the Alenquers do?”

      “Do?” She laughed. “Now that’s a typical American question. Here in Europe when a family lives in a castle and comes from a long line of blue-bloods, they generally do nothing.” She shrugged. “Oh, I suppose they look after their land holdings, but that’s about the extent of it. They’re quite well off, although to look at that Neil character one would never suspect it.”

      I recalled Neil’s attire when he picked me up at the airport. “Yes,” I said, “I know what you mean.”

      “I bet he looked like an unmade bed. He has always looked like that, ever since....” She let her sentence go unfinished. She turned and started toward a door that I knew connected with her suite of rooms. “I’m going to soak in a tub. How about getting yourself unpacked. And for heaven’s sake, Jen, put on something with a little more flair. That travelling suit looks like you borrowed it from your grandmother.”

      Carlotta didn’t hurt my feelings. I knew I had no eye for style. “Is it really all that drab?” I asked, eyeing myself in a full-length mirror.

      “Drab isn’t the word. It makes you look like a doddering old woman. But don’t fret, kiddo. We’ll change all that with a trip over to Nice or up to Paris. I’ll have you looking like a femme fatale in no time at all.”

      “But I don’t want to be a femme fatale.”

      “Every woman wants to be a femme fatale. Even me.”

      She went into her rooms but left the door open. I heard her chattering away but couldn’t understand any of it.

      I started to unpack. With each dress I unfolded I looked at it as though seeing it for the first time. I wondered if Carlotta would approve of any of my dresses. I had the feeling she wasn’t going СКАЧАТЬ