Pearls (12 page)

They parked and walked toward the little coffee house in Sabana Grande where they’d agreed to meet Raúl. As they approached, Isabel stopped and clutched at Manuel’s arm. “You can’t leave me alone with him,” she blurted. He felt her fingernails dig into his flesh through his cotton sleeve and realized how difficult this meeting would be for her.

He gently pried her fingers loose and moved her hand into his. Entwining his fingers with hers, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I promise, I’ll stay with you the whole time. It’ll be all right, Isabel.”

For a moment, she followed along like a scared child clinging to a parent for support. Then, as if she realized her lapse of courage, she snatched her hand away from his and crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “I just don’t want to be alone with him. I’m not sure he’s accepted our break up, and he may try to charm me out of my convictions.”

“Charm is prohibited,” Manuel repeated to let her know he’d heard and understood her concerns.

“Yes. No touching, either. You’ll run interference for me, won’t you?”

“Interference at your service, ma’am.” He grinned and offered her a wink.

Isabel stopped walking and propped her hands on her hips. “This is serious, Manuel. If you’re going to treat it like a game, then I’m leaving.”

“You can’t leave. I drove you here, remember?”

Defiance flashed across her features, and she turned on her heel and started away from him. He reached out and grabbed her elbow before she could escape. “Isabel, I didn’t mean to anger you. I was just trying to lighten the mood. You look like you’re on the edge of an anxiety attack.”

She stared at the pocket on his shirt. “I thought I could handle this, but now I’m not sure.”

Manuel stood beside her, caressing her arm while she gathered herself. “Raúl can’t hurt you unless you let him. I’ll do what I can to keep the pressure off you. If the meeting becomes too difficult, just excuse yourself and go to the ladies’ room. I can handle Raúl myself.”

She released a long breath and nodded. “Thanks, Manuel. I owe you one.”

He placed a finger beneath her chin and urged her to look at him. “We’re friends, Isabel. It’s no problem.”

The interior of the coffee house boasted modern decor in subtle neutrals, and the low lighting provided a relaxing atmosphere. Polished chrome countertops lined the coffee bar, and tall potted plants added color and warmth to the setting. Raúl waved to them from a booth near the back, and they headed his direction. Manuel sensed Isabel’s tension as they neared the table.

Raúl stood to greet them, his gaze sweeping over Isabel, taking in the breezy summer dress she wore. “Isabel. How lovely you look.” When he bent and tried to kiss her cheek, she stepped backward, bumping into Manuel’s chest. Manuel reached out to steady her, placing a hand on each shoulder.

When she didn’t move away from Manuel’s touch, Raúl frowned. “Come,
mi amor
. Sit by me.”

Isabel glanced to the booth then turned and rolled her eyes at Manuel. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”

As she hastened away, Manuel glanced at his watch and chuckled.
She lasted all of thirty seconds. That didn’t take long.
He sat down, fully aware that Raúl hadn’t bothered to acknowledge him yet.

Raúl stared after Isabel’s retreating form, wearing a look of frustration. When she disappeared behind the restroom door, he stalked to the coffee bar.

Manuel sighed, thinking maybe he was crazy. No amount of money was worth the hassle these two were sure to cause him.

He waited several minutes in solitude until Isabel finally returned.

“Scoot over,” she hissed, urging him to make room for her beside him. “I don’t want to sit by Raúl.”

Obliging her, Manuel shifted to make room. As soon as she took her place beside him, Raúl appeared, carrying two steaming mugs of cappuccino. He set one cup in front of Isabel and grazed her cheek with his fingers before taking his seat opposite her. “I bought you a hazelnut—your favorite, Isabel.”

“Where’s Manuel’s coffee?”

Raúl shrugged, not even looking Manuel’s direction. “I didn’t know what he liked.”

Isabel’s gaze turned hard, and she pushed the mug toward Manuel. “I quit drinking coffee, Raúl. Manuel can have mine.”

Amusement turning his lips, Manuel lifted the mug and tasted the bittersweet brew. “Mmm. Thanks, Raúl. Hazelnut is my favorite too.”

Raúl made eye contact with Manuel, staring as if he were an apparition that suddenly appeared at the table. Manuel couldn’t resist the urge to wink. His carefree attitude only increased Raúl’s frustration, and for some reason, seeing irritation plastered across Raúl’s face gave Manuel great pleasure.

As they sat in awkward silence, Manuel couldn’t help but appreciate the comedy of the situation. Raúl had come solely to pursue Isabel. Isabel, in turn, sought protection and support from Manuel, which he gladly provided. Yet Manuel couldn’t bring himself to release her from the painful obligation of dealing with Raúl because they needed the money. Together they formed a ludicrous love triangle.

My life has turned into a soap opera
, he thought with resignation. Sighing, he took another swig of the coffee.

Isabel did not intend to sit in the booth suffering Raúl’s unwanted attention a single moment longer than necessary. The sooner they talked business, the sooner she could leave. “Raúl, Manuel and I have finished translating the journal, and we have an update for you. Would you like to hear it?”

“Of course,
mi amor
. We can discuss whatever you like.”

His tone suggested he only intended to humor her, and Isabel bristled at the condescension. “Manuel and I have translated all but a few Indian words. We couldn’t find definitions for all of them, but it’s clear that Rodrigo Velasquez did not directly reveal the whereabouts of his treasure.”

Raúl nodded, and Isabel felt certain he faked the look of disappointment.

“However, we found that Rodrigo and Karwa lived for long periods in three different locations. He included enough description of these places to allow us to identify them with reasonable certainty.”

“Why does it matter where they lived?” Raúl asked.

Isabel looked to Manuel, deferring to him to make this explanation.

Manuel set his coffee down and leaned his elbows on the table. “Past finds of buried treasure have taught us that people usually hide their valuables in a place intimately familiar to them. Rodrigo did not mention the hiding place of his treasure. However, it stands to reason that he would have left it in one of three locations, possibly with the intention of returning and recovering it later after his treason was forgotten. Then he could safely use the pearls for trade.”

“This doesn’t seem like much to go on.” Raúl sounded skeptical.

“There’s more. The final line of the journal states that he buried his treasure in his home. We don’t know which of the three places he’s referring to, but it’s possible that if we find and explore the areas they lived in, we will uncover the treasure or at least other clues. With the modern technology used in archaeology today, we could fully explore the areas with a minimum of bother and expense.”

“What will this adventure cost me?”

Seeing Raúl’s skepticism, Isabel jumped back into the conversation, knowing she stood a better chance of convincing him than Manuel did. “We’ve been gathering figures and putting together a cost sheet. We can rent most of the equipment for a more reasonable price than if we purchased it. And Manuel and I are prepared to forego the luxuries and make do with simple accommodations. Equipment rentals, camping gear, and basic supplies add up to about twenty grand for a two-month search.”

Isabel held her breath while Raúl sat in pensive silence. If he said yes, she and Manuel could have their gear packed and ready to go by the end of the week. She needed to put some distance between herself and her problems, namely Raúl. Time apart would be good medicine for them both.

Raúl reached across the table and took Isabel’s hand before she had a chance to pull it away from him. “I would not deny you anything you asked, Isabel. Do you want to search for the pearls? Would it make you happy?”

His touch unsettled her, but she forced herself to endure it. Now that she’d distanced herself from him emotionally, she saw him much more clearly. She’d once admired his elegance and influence, but now he appeared base and conniving. The games he played to control her and his need to maintain a position of superiority irritated her.

Now he was turning his unscrupulous behavior on her. Well, if he wanted her to ask for his assistance, she could do that. A simple request for help seemed a small price to pay to rid herself of him for two months. She pushed back the inner turmoil and forced herself to give a polite answer. “Yes, Raúl. This project is very important to me. I’d like very much to proceed with our plans.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll have a contract delivered tomorrow, and the funds will be available by the time you sign it. I only ask that you keep receipts and records for my financial reports.”

Isabel flipped her hand over and grasped his in a businesslike handshake. “Great! We can handle that. Now, Manuel and I have some work to do, so we need to go.” She slid out of the booth, hoping Manuel would take the hint and follow.

Manuel moved slower than she would have liked, but he did rise. Standing by the table, he paused and offered his hand to Raúl. “I appreciate your support, Raúl. If you leave us instructions, we’ll be happy to contact you with updates on our search.”

Raúl’s eyes held a cunning glint. “That won’t be necessary, Manuel. I’ll be coming with you.”

Isabel’s mouth dropped open with surprise. “What?” she exclaimed.

“I have a vested interest in this project in more ways than one.” His eyes flashed over her with possessive intent. “I intend to accompany the two of you and oversee my investments.”

Isabel’s stomach seemed to fold in on itself.
He laid the trap and we walked right into it.
She tried to gauge Manuel’s reaction, but he’d masked his response with a carefully neutral expression.

“We’ll be in touch,” Manuel said. Suddenly in a hurry to leave, he propelled her toward the door with a firm hand on her back. When they were out of Raúl’s earshot, Manuel expelled a noise that could only be described as a growl.

“My sentiments exactly,” she agreed. The car ride home was long and quiet.

He didn’t want to make the call, but he knew that if he didn’t, he’d have even more trouble on his hands. Forcing himself to the task, he dropped a coin into the payphone.

A gruff voice answered the other end of the line.

“Listen, I’m calling to let you know I’ll be out of touch for a while.”

“You’re not trying to escape your commitments, are you?”

“No, of course I wouldn’t try anything so foolish.” A sweat broke out on his forehead.

“Good because your grace period is almost up. When can I expect a payment?”

“As soon as this bit of business is complete, I’ll have your payment in full, I swear.”

“I certainly hope so, for your sake.” The line clicked, cutting off the connection.

He stared at the phone, willing his panicking heart to slow to a normal rhythm. “Yes, I understand. My life depends on it.”

“So, you will be going away soon?”

Isabel smiled. Doña Montez never bothered with trivial small talk. Somehow Isabel had guessed that her grandmother had a mission when she had suggested a walk in the garden. With arms linked, they strolled the flagstone paths, enjoying the sweet fragrances and vivid colors of the tropical blooms. “Yes,
Abuela
. Just for a month or two.”

“Your decision to interrupt your schooling surprised me.”

Isabel patted her grandmother’s arm. “The university will be there when I return. Right now, I need a change.”

“Something has been bothering you, I think.”

“That business with Raúl was pretty upsetting to me.”

“I think something was disturbing you before that.”

Isabel sighed. Her grandmother was so perceptive—sometimes too perceptive for comfort. “You’re right. I’ve struggled with discontent for years. I’ve never really felt like I belonged anywhere, you know? I’m always an outsider.”

Her grandmother nodded. “Every heart needs to find a place of belonging.”

“So, you understand,
Abuela
?”

“More than you know.”

The old woman’s cryptic smile puzzled Isabel. “I think you’re talking riddles again.”

Doña Montez winked. “Do you think you will find what you are searching for on this journey?”

“I hope so. Are you worried about me?”

Her grandmother cocked her head to one side, her face pensive as she considered her answer. “I trust Manuel to keep you safe.”

“What about Raúl? I’m sure he’ll look out for me too.”

Her grandmother snorted, as if the idea was preposterous. “He will have enough trouble taking care of himself. You will depend on Manuel for support if you are smart.”