Page 15 of Vistaria Has Fallen
Duardo moved forward. They were done with the General.Histurn next.
She trembled.
Remember this is not the man from your dreams. They’re not the same. Itwas a useless reminder. He had prompted the dreams that haunted her all day. She was helpless to prevent her response now.
Even Duardo squared his shoulders and lifted his chest. His head remained turned while he spoke to the officer in front of them in the line. In a moment he would turn to them.
He turned and smiled at Duardo. His glance did not even flicker toward her.
“Captain Peña, youmade it. All the way from Pascuallita and during fiesta, too. I am sure General Blanco appreciates your efforts.”
Her heart leapt. He spoke English! He would only do that if he had noticed her. Had he seen her before she had seen him?
“Señor, I would not miss this night for Chinese tea,” Duardo answered. He indicated Minnie on his left. “May I present to you Miss Minerva Benning, a friend ofmine.”
Calli watched his hand encase Minnie’s tiny one, the long fingers curling right around it.
“Minnie, this is Señor Nicolás Escobedo.”
Escobedo. The name throbbed in Calli’s mind. She recalled Uncle Josh’s words.Escobedo’s country.
“Hi there,señor,” Minnie offered in response as he shook her hand.
He smiled, humor lighting his face. “Hi there yourself, Miss Benning. I see you havemade an effective assault upon Vistaria’s military.” His gravelly voice was low and pleasant. “Are you enjoying your stay here?”
Minnie glanced up at Duardo. “I am now.”
Duardo glowed with pride and excitement, his gaze never leaving the man standing before him. Calli caught her breath, remembering now what Minnie had said: “Hewanted to see him again. That’s why he hurried to the police station,only by the time he got there,el leopardohad gone.”
The Red Leopard. Nicolás Escobedo.
Calli’s analytical mind had always driven Robert mad, while delighting professors with its clarity and precision. She daily grappled with slippery economic equations. Now she analyzed the facts with dispassionate ease--his significant name; that he stood in a receiving line with the top military personnelof the country. Nicolás Escobedo had to be a member of the presidential family. That would make him untouchable.
Her delight cooled and dispersed, swept away by the chill of reality. She remembered the miniscule shake of his head, his rejection. He had known then what she realized only now.
Duardo presented her.Hewas looking at her now. He gave not a single hint they had met previously. Hetook her hand and gave the same bow over it as the general. His warm fingers smoothed their way over the back of her hand, sliding across the flesh there. Despite the cold lead weight in her stomach, pleasure rippled from that tiny, unconscious caress. She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
“Señor Escobedo.”
“Miss Munro. When I studied in your country, people called me Nick. It wouldplease me if you would also call me Nick. Vistarians do not say it the way Americans do.”
“What did you study?” Minnie asked.
“Philosophy and politics,” he supplied. He glanced at Calli. She thought she saw a flicker of humor in his eyes. “I minored in Economics,” he added.
Then they had to move along.
“Enjoy yourselves,” he said, in parting.
* * * * *
Duardo escorted them to a large, roundtable where six fellow officers and three women sat. He introduced Calli and Minnie to them. Calli saw no sign of hesitation or discomfort in their welcome. Everyone at the table ensured both she and Minnie had glasses of champagne within minutes of being seated.
The women spoke no English, except for the one called Elvira, whose English was disjointed, hesitant, and her accent thick. The soldiershad varying degrees of broken English. Their smiles were friendly.
Soon a band began to play. It wasn’t the visceral, compelling music the small band had been playing last night, for this was a big ensemble. The noise level spiraled upwards. Couples danced as soon as the music started. There was no modest three or four tunes before someone shyly stepped onto the dance floor. Everyone scrambledto the floor as the first bars of music sounded.
It was a long time before Calli got the opportunity she waited for—Duardo on his own at the table, with only Minnie as witness.
