Page 22 of Look for Me

* * *

After his lone beach walk, Martin walked back to his hotel room behind the coconut grove to find a woman waiting for him outside his door.

“Martin MacFarland?” She handed him a plastic business card that looked more like a credit card.

Martin studied it, wondering if it could be an marketing idea for MacMuscles. They could have theirs cut out in the shape of a muscle car, for example.

Finally, he read the words.

Private Investigator Pilar Santiago.

“You’re the associate in Miami.” Martin stretched out his hand.

Pilar didn’t shake his hand. “Ming Wei sent me.”

“Yeah?” Martin didn’t believe her. After all, Ming had said he wouldn’t get back to him until Tuesday. “Call Ming right now on your phone and let me talk to him.”

So she did, and put Ming on speakerphone. “Mr. MacFarland here wants to verify that you sent me.”

“Hey, Martin!” It was Ming. “Why are you interrupting my Saturday morning coffee?”

“She said you sent her. But it’s not Tuesday.”

Holding the phone, Pilar chuckled.

“I texted you, dude,” Ming said.

Martin checked his own phone. Sure enough, there was a long text from Ming saying that Pilar was going to take it from here. “I see. I was out walking. Didn’t hear a thing.”

“Too much ocean?” Ming asked, but didn’t wait for Martin to respond. “I have an emergency job I have to do this afternoon. I will be gone for at least a month.”

“Something more important than my situation?” Martin asked, almost sarcastically.

“In a word, yes. I can’t go into details, but you’ll be happy to know I’m picking up Pilar’s tab.”

“Good.” Martin still didn’t like it.

“Emergency rate,” Ming said, as if driving in the point.

“How much?” Might as well ask.

Ming told him.

Martin’s eyes widened. “By the hour?”

Pilar nodded. “I’ve been here for an hour, waiting for you to finish your morning walk on the beach. Add fifteen minutes of your questioning who I am… Let’s just say the clock is ticking fast.”

“Wow. Thanks, Ming.” Martin sat down.

“I’m sorry for the sudden change of plans, but Pilar’s got it.”

“What’s the plan, Ming?” Martin asked.

“Tell me you’re not outdoors somewhere, calling me in an open space with WiFi everywhere.”

Martin reached for his hotel room key. “We can talk inside.”

After Pilar stepped into his hotel room, Martin locked it.

---