Dying for You. BEVERLY BARTON

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СКАЧАТЬ take a big straw hat and a colorful outfit.”

      Cara draped her arm through Lucie’s. “Then let’s go. And buy whatever you want at the clothing boutique. Don’t even look at the price tags.”

      WHEN HIS CELL PHONE RANG, Arturo glanced at the caller ID. Josue did not telephone him unless the matter was urgent.

      “Good day, my friend.”

      “The package must be obtained today,” Josue said. “The client insists that this matter cannot wait.”

      “I will not take undue risks, but if it is possible to collect the package this afternoon, we will do so.”

      “Our client will wish to be informed. Once the package is in your possession, please contact me and I will inform the client.”

      THE PLAZA BAZAAR was two blocks south of the trendy boutique where Cara and Lucie purchased their new attire, so they walked to the open-air market that boasted a vast range of wares and supposedly the best bargains in San Luis. Cara had changed into a flowing, green cotton skirt, lemon-yellow blouse and cushioned green flip-flops. Lucie had chosen the same colors, but in reverse. She wore a yellow skirt, a green blouse and sandals in a soft yellow leather. She had removed her shoulder holster and placed it in the open-top shoulder bag she carried. As they weaved in and out of the crowd, stopping at various booths in the market, Jason kept a discreet distance, all the while staying in bodyguard mode. Anyone seeing him wouldn’t suspect he was tailing the two attractive American redheads in their bright attire and large sunglasses.

      “Look,” Cara said. “There’s a booth with nothing but hats. Maybe we can find what we’re looking for there.”

      Lucie followed her boss, who was acting more like a friend this afternoon, someone Lucie could learn to like a great deal. They had stopped at numerous booths—pottery, guitars, mirrors, rugs and wooden masks—but this was the first booth containing hats, and already Lucie saw the one she wanted. Yellow straw with a green grosgrain ribbon tied in a loose bow around the crown of the wide-brimmed hat. When they stopped at the booth, Cara reached up and grabbed the exact hat Lucie had chosen, plopped it down on her head and turned to Lucie for approval.

      “What do you think?” Cara asked.

      “I think it’s perfect. It matches your outfit and suits your coloring.”

      Cara studied Lucie for a moment, then reached up, pulled down an identical hat and placed it on Lucie’s head. “There. It’s perfect for you, too.”

      They both laughed as Cara turned to the vendor and asked the price. When he quoted the amount, not outrageously expensive, but apparently more than Cara thought they were worth, she began haggling with the vendor. Lucie grinned as she tried to keep up with the conversation taking place in a mixture of Spanish and English. Finally Cara and the vendor agreed on a price.

      The afternoon passed quickly while they explored the market, and by early evening they both carried large cloth sacks filled with a variety of purchases, everything from silver bracelets to heavily embroidered white blouses.

      “I’m starving,” Cara said. “Didn’t we pass a couple of restaurants about fifteen minutes ago, just before the pottery display?”

      “El Recoveco looked like a nice place,” Lucie said. “I think there was a buffet on the patio.”

      “Perfect, but first I need to make a stop at the ladies’ room. What about you?”

      “Yes, definitely,” Lucie replied.

      “I imagine Jason could use a short break, too.”

      “El Recoveco was an indoor-outdoor restaurant, with a buffet meal served on the patio, but they probably have an order-from-the-menu three-course dinner available inside.”

      “I vote to eat inside where it’s cool.”

      “Sounds good to me,” Lucie said.

      Jason followed them as they backtracked through the market until they reached the restaurant. Using her wireless communication device, Lucie contacted Jason to explain that she and Cara were going to the restroom, so he should take this opportunity for a break.

      “I’ll be waiting for you outside the restrooms,” Jason said.

      After ordering drinks and putting their names on a short wait list, Cara and Lucie asked about the restroom and were given directions. The men’s was on the left side and the women’s on the right, both marked with cute primitive drawings, one of a man and the other of a woman. The poorly lit interior of the restroom was like a stucco cave, the walls painted a cinnamon-red, the two stalls a dark green, and the ceiling a mustard-yellow. There was an out-of-order sign nailed to one of the stall doors.

      “You go first,” Lucie said, as she removed her sunglasses and hung them on the elastic neckline of her blouse.

      “No, go ahead.” Cara removed her hat, fanned herself and then shoved her sunglasses up on top of her head. Then she put her heavy bags on the floor, laid her hat on top of the bags and removed her cell phone from her purse. “I should call Suelita and let her know not to expect us for dinner. I’ve been having so much fun that I forgot about our host and hostess.”

      Lucie placed her shopping bags on the floor beside Cara’s, but she carried her purse with her as she shoved open the door of the in-working-order stall. “Don’t leave the restroom.”

      “I won’t,” Cara said, then Lucie heard her begin a conversation with Senora Delgado, explaining where they were and what they were doing.

      HECTOR AND PEPE entered the men’s restroom directly behind Cara Bedell’s bodyguard, the man who had done a good job of stalking his employer without being obvious about it. They each smiled and spoke to the American as they approached the urinals. After he finished and washed his hands, Pepe walked out of the restroom a couple of minutes ahead of his companion, just as they had planned. Their instructions had been clear. They had to do the job today.

      Pepe lay in wait for the bodyguard. When he saw the man exiting the restroom, he went over to him, keeping his broad, toothy smile in place.

      He tapped his naked wrist. “I do not have a watch. Do you know what time it is? My wife will be angry if I’m late.”

      Although it was obvious that the man was uncomfortable with Pepe’s friendliness and probably suspected him of being up to no good, he didn’t immediately reach for his concealed weapon. While Pepe tried to distract the bodyguard, Hector came out of the restroom, moved in behind the man with silent precision and before he could react, Hector drove his knife into the man’s back, puncturing a kidney. Pepe grabbed the man as he slumped forward, holding his body upright. Hector assisted Pepe and together they dragged the dying man out into the alley behind the restaurant.

      Chapter Six

      LUCIE CAME OUT of the bathroom stall and went straight to the single decorative sink to wash her hands. When she turned on the faucet, she discovered there was no warm water, so she hurried through the process. At least there was a stack of paper towels on the tiled shelf above the sink.

      “I spoke to Suelita to let her know not to wait dinner for us.” Cara hung the strap of her small leather bag over Lucie’s shoulder. “Keep that for me, will you?” Then she СКАЧАТЬ