Shaking Off the Dust (27 page)

The villa was staffed with a cook and servants. They brought tea and toast in the morning. I stayed in bed to eat. Takeshi rose early and was doing Tai Chi or something similar on the porch. After, he left to discover what was on the agenda for the day.

My hair, wet when I was put in bed, had reached new heights of hideous, so as soon as I finished slurping my tea and soggy toast, I headed into the bathroom to wet it down.

My cell phone read no service. I needed to go hunting for online computer access to contact my folks before they got worried. Work was another issue with which I would have to deal. Obviously, I would be longer in Spain than the time I had off. I guess I could have sent along a picture of my face, but I didn’t want anyone else to see this particular look.

I took a last peek at myself in a mirror,
screw it, there’s nothing I can do about the face
. I headed out to explore my surroundings. The bedroom was on the second floor, but the place was huge with many twists and turns. A maid found me, or maybe I found her. Either way I was relieved to see someone.

“Can you tell me how to get to the…well, anywhere there are more people?” I waved my arms, which I suspect didn’t help.

She curtsied and spoke Spanish at inhuman speed.

I shrugged at her.

She bowed her head, motioning for me to follow. I hoped we’d find someone to translate. We passed through one beautifully appointed room after another until we reached a dining hall with food at a side table, buffet style. All of our group were sitting down to breakfast. Enrique thanked her for bringing me.

At least that’s what I thought, based on the one or two words in Spanish I knew. I did know thank you, and that’s what I said to her.

Sometime during the night or morning, Hector, Rachel, Jack and Mateo had arrived. The only one missing was Takeshi.

“Where’s Shimodo?”

“He went to bring you down.” Enrique looked well rested and marginally better than yesterday when he drove us here. “How are you feeling?”

“Peachy.” The smell of the food was compelling, but I was determined not to eat with an audience.

Enrique rang a bell at the sideboard table and another maid appeared. He spoke softly, and she nodded and disappeared.

“The cook prepared a special porridge for you. You must at least try it, Hannah.” Enrique was at the head of the table and I suspected this place was his home.

“Oh, that’s not necessary. I’d rather eat alone somewhere,” I insisted as Takeshi came back into the room.

I stood at the end of the table, trying to figure out how to get information without interrupting their meal.

Takeshi pulled out a chair for me and when I started to decline, he gave me a stubborn expression.

Coward that I am, I caved. He took the seat next to me.

A servant brought in two bowls of porridge and put them in front of Takeshi and me. He looked like he was expecting it. I was hungry after two days of not eating, and dipping my toast in the tea hadn’t filled my ravenous appetite. The thin oatmeal smelled like brown sugar and maple flavor, my favorite. I wanted to taste it, but was afraid I’d slurp or dribble. Everyone ignored me. Mateo discussed the Ramirez leads while Takeshi tried his porridge and started eating in earnest. Damn, I was hungry.

“You were right about the PDA. It had numbers to half the crime families in the city of Madrid and Barcelona. Their muscle for hire is used by all the kinds of people we keep tabs on. There was no direct number to Tomas Ramirez, but Vincent was listed. So were half-a-dozen other local mercenaries working for the cartels. We are trying to follow the phones and see where they lead,” Mateo reported. “I brought the DNA samples, at least everything we have. I was with Bill and Dr. Shimodo when Tom passed us information. I think we can continue our interviews with the other passengers using the professor as a liaison, until Hannah recovers.”

“Who talked to Ramirez on the phone, when he had us? I don’t know what you told him, but you kept his attention,” I said.

Bill spoke up. “That was Mateo. He’s pretty smooth. He led off with a story about you being touched by God and able to talk to ghosts, then told him all the information his sisters revealed about personal nicknames and pets.”

Takeshi leaned over to me. “Try the porridge. It’s very good.”

I put a dab on the spoon and it tasted wonderful, which was even more frustrating because now I did want it. I turned to Takeshi.

“Can I take this back up to my room to eat?”

“No one’s watching you. Eat your porridge and stop worrying about how you look.” He returned his attention to the others.

Everyone seemed caught up in the conversation on where the plane crash investigation was going. I started taking tiny spoonfuls and I ate while they all talked. I listened and tried not to make a sound. I felt like a ten-year-old at the adult table. I finished half the bowl and was tired of working so hard to eat quietly, when I needed to slurp.

“See if there’s an online computer I can use. I have to get in touch with my parents before they get worried and my job to try to extend my time off. I need that job,” I whispered to Takeshi.

“My Hannah, afraid to speak up.” His voice was teasing.

“Just ask the question please. I don’t want to be seen by all these people, like this.” I pointed to my face.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

I scooted the chair back to leave, and he frowned and took my hand. “Wait, stay.” His fingers squeezed mine, to reassure me.

“Hannah was wondering if a computer is available that she might use to go online to email her family before they become worried. She also needs to contact her work. She is concerned she could lose her job.” Takeshi’s clear voice rang in the large room and they all turned in our direction.

Enrique nodded. “In the library there is one that you may use anytime. I’ll walk you there as soon as you are done eating.”

“I’m done,” I said quietly.

“You must eat more than that, Hannah. We want you healthy and strong. You’ll not heal if you don’t eat properly.” Enrique sounded concerned.

I stood. “I’m ready now, if you don’t mind.”

Always the gentlemen, Takeshi and Enrique rose also and led me to the library. It was about twice the size of our hospital library and exactly as I would imagine it should be, with dark wood and the walls

covered in leather-bound books. I knew where I’d be spending my days.

“This is your home, Enrique?”

“It is my family home, yes.” He bowed.

“What do your parents do?”

“They are deceased. After my father retired from his diplomatic career, they lived here and oversaw our family’s vineyards.”

“Your home is beautiful. Are you able to visit often?” Takeshi asked.

“I reside here one weekend most months. At times, I rent it out to corporate organizations for retreats.”

“Do you have brothers or sisters?” I walked around the library.

“No, I was an only child.”

I came back to face Enrique and touched his face where his stitches were placed. “You are not the spoiled type. You are far too serious. Does your daughter come to stay with you?”

“Yes, she does. She lives nearby, so I come here for our time together. She is five and much spoiled by the staff.”

“Her mother was foolish to let you go,” I said.

“Her mother is English, and was too young to marry when I met and fell in love with her. I realized very soon she didn’t know or understand me. She became disenchanted with the older man quickly. We separated a year after Esperanza was born and she met a man her age who suited her much better than I ever could. I am glad she found happiness. I think I fell in love with her youth and beauty. I thought she’d learn to know me better.”

“I’m sorry, Enrique. We all make mistakes in our younger days, but don’t give up hope. I bet I can find you someone perfect.”

“You should direct your thoughts to better things,” he advised. “This is the computer. It is set up for Spanish, but I can change it to English right now.” He pushed some buttons and the English came on the screen. “Now I will be taking Dr. Shimodo away for most the day. Tom will stay with us also, I hope.

We will find you for lunch.”

“I’ll take my lunch in my room or here, if you don’t mind.”

Takeshi took my hand. “Hannah, please don’t be this way. You are beautiful.”

I didn’t say a word.

Surprise passed over Enrique’s face. “Are you not wanting to join us because you think your bruises are disfiguring?”

“Look you two, I can’t open my mouth that wide right now because of the swelling. So it makes

eating…messy and noisy. It’s embarrassing and I’m sure disgusting to be around. Don’t make me humiliate myself in front of you and others.” Tears gathered in my eyes.

Takeshi pulled me into his arms and hugged me, but I refused to cry.

Enrique stared for a moment, then bowed. “My cook will bring you food throughout the day. She is famous for preparing healthy but delicious meals. I will tell her of your problem opening your mouth. Eat to your heart’s content in here then join our table for meals. Partaking of food is a social time of talk and laughter. You should always be there to hear what we are doing, but you do not have to eat. No one else need know why you are eating before us, but they would all enjoy your company.”

“That’s perfect.” Takeshi kissed my eyebrow. “You barely touched your porridge. I bet you’re starving.”

I didn’t say anything, but nodded. “Before you both leave, could you show me the nearest bathroom, so I don’t get lost trying to find one?”

Enrique bowed again and led me several doors down, then brought me back to the library.

“Enrique.” I touched his hand. “You are the boss in all things, aren’t you?”

“In some small things only, Hannah. You send your emails and eat until you are full. In a few days, the swelling will be much less and you’ll feel more normal.” He bent and kissed my hand.

Takeshi acted like he’d linger, but kissed my forehead and followed Enrique out.

I got online and was soon sending emails. I pretty much fabricated a story about staying with friends in Florida and that I’d lost my cell phone. I sent an email to my boss and told her I was in Florida recuperating, but that a local doctor recommended another two weeks off. I told her I’d send along a written statement from him in the next couple of days. I figured I would recheck my mail later in the day and see if anyone responded.

I started going through the shelves and within an hour the cook arrived with a tray of food and a bottle of water. There were bite-sized scones and butter and jelly, rice with finely chopped onions and chicken in it. I tried to smile at her.

She bowed her head.

“Thank you so much,” I gushed.

“You are welcome. The young master says you are to be treated very special, that the same one who hurt him, hurt you. Anything you need you ask for me, Maria, or you write it down and send it to me. I speak and read English very good. I will fix you food that will not hurt your mouth. The scones will melt in your mouth for desert.”

“You are too kind. Enrique is too kind, but I appreciate it. I hate looking like this. I think I would scare small children.”

“That I do not believe.” She left me alone and I ate every last drop of the food. When I finished, I found an entire section of English literature. I sat down on the couch to read and promptly fell asleep.

A small face was perched close to mine. I rubbed my eyes and groaned, “Ouch,” when my hand rubbed against by bruised cheek.

“Hello.” I spoke to a dark-haired child of five or six years old. She was kneeling next to the couch watching me.

“This is my room,” she declared with an aristocratic English accent.

“I’m sorry, but I was told I could stay in this room by, I think, your father.” I cocked my head as I sat up.

“I play on the ’puter whenever I am here,” she announced.

“Then by all means play away.” I pointed to the desk on which it rested. “My name is Hannah. What’s yours?”

“Esperanza Eneas. My father doesn’t know I am here yet. Senora Maria said I was to play quietly until she told him.”

“The computer is the perfect place for you to play.”

“I thought so too.” She sighed unhappily. “I was told not to come in here and bother the lady who is sick. Are you sick?”

“I had a nasty fall and hurt my face.” It was the best answer I could come up with on the spot. “It’s not very pretty, is it?”

“It is very purple and makes your face look like it hurts. But purple is my favorite color, so I don’t mind.

One day I want a tattoo all in purple.”

“I think you will have to wait until you are much older for that.”

“You have a tattoo on your ankle. I saw it. Only it’s black, not purple. Did it hurt when they put it on you?”

“No, it is not a forever tattoo. A very close friend of mine painted it on for me. He has one on his wrist.”

“Is he here too or are you here with my papa?”

“Your father invited us and some other friends so there are several people visiting. Do you stay for a few days?”

“No, Mama leaves me here sometimes when she has to go to Madrid. Senora Maria always looks after me. She’s making me some cake to eat after lunch today. What are we having for lunch?”

“I don’t know, Esperanza. What is your favorite?”

“Anything that Senora Maria cooks.”

The library door opened and Takeshi and Enrique entered, but stopped short when they saw I had company. Esperanza turned and, seeing Enrique, squealed, running to him. He bent down and scooped

her up. She threw her arms around him, hugging his neck fiercely. She touched his face, tracing her fingers over every stitch.

“Papa, did you fall down too, like Hannah fell? It must have been very slippery,” she said in awe.

He hugged her again, mouthing a thank-you. I walked to Takeshi, taking his hand.

“What are you doing here, Eszie?” He tweaked her nose.

“Mama asked Senora Maria to watch me for the afternoon, so she could go into the city for some errands. She said I am too full of energy to obey today.”