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Arriving in the capital city at noon, she rented a hotel room to drop off her gear, and then went shopping. She needed to distract Tim, or he’d smell the lies on her from a mile. In order to divert his attention, she wanted to look good. She chose a red, fitted silk dress with cross panels and a slit on the side. It would show off her generous breasts and lots of leg. After a visit to the hairdresser to have her dreadlocks undone, she got dressed at the hotel. Once she was sure her cover was still good, she’d come back to the hotel for more bugs. For the moment, she only slipped a magnetic button microphone into her evening bag, together with her flip-knife.
The dinner started with cocktails at nine. At eight-thirty, her phone rang. A very agitated Tim was on the line.
“Maya? Are you all right?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” She slipped a red evening shoe on one foot.
“Where are you?”
“On my way.”
“I have to leave for the hotel in ten minutes.”
“I know. I’ll meet you there.”
He blew out a sigh. “That wasn’t our agreement. I thought you’d be at my house when I got home from the office.”
“I was running late. I got sidetracked while shopping.”
“Tell me where you are. Lee will fetch you and drive you to the hotel.”
“You’re like an overprotective bear. Just shut up and wait for me at the dinner.”
“If you need Lee—”
“I know. Don’t worry. If I need Lee, I’ll call.”
She hung up and regarded her image in the mirror. Her long hair was twisted into silky black curls that fell down her back. She hoped Tim was going to like it. Distraction was the weapon she chose to mask her deceit.
On purpose, she arrived ten minutes late. The dinner was being held at Grano de Oro, one of the most prestigious hotels in the country. Cocktails were set up outside on the lawn. Guests stood around with glasses of champagne, and waiters moved between them with trays of hors d’oeuvres. Tim was nowhere to be seen, but Frida stood near the main entrance, talking to a short, big-bellied man with a white suit and a Stetson hat. A tall blonde in a black evening dress was draped over his arm. Maya recognized the Malloys from Tesoro del Mar.
She tried to sidestep them, but Frida looked up just as she reached the door. The secretary wore a white dress that draped low over her back. Blue eye shadow made her eyes pop out, and her full lips were accentuated with a pale lipstick. She looked like a queen. She lifted her eyebrows as her gaze traveled over Maya.
“Miss Martin,” she said, “allow me to introduce you to good friends of Mr. Fardel. This is Mrs. and Mr. Malloy.”
Malloy ogled Maya’s breasts. “Call me Billy.” He turned to his wife. “This is Ann.”
Ann gave Maya a quick once-over. Her voice was frosty. “How do you know Tim?”
“I’m his date. Are you donors?”
Ann narrowed her eyes a fraction.
“Yes.” Billy chuckled. “It seems I got arm-wrestled into this charity.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Frida said. “Think of all the children who are going to benefit.”
“Tim is such a good-hearted man to organize this event for the orphans.” Ann lowered her voice. “I know he has a special affinity for kids without parents because of what happened to him.”
Maya didn’t want to hear about Tim’s pain from Ann Malloy or discuss him behind his back.
“How much money does the event raise?” she asked Frida.
Frida’s claws suddenly came out. “Isn’t that something you should know? I thought you’d be interested in his passions.”
“That’s not the kind of business we discuss when we’re together, if you know what I mean,” Maya said with a wink.
Bill whistled. “Lucky bastard.”
The comment earned him Ann’s elbow in his side.
He grunted. “Must make quite a bit. He’s getting half a million from me alone. By the looks of some of these guys,” he looked around from under the brim of his hat, “he makes a packet more. All audited of course. Building a new school this year, isn’t he, Frida?”
“That’s right,” a male voice said.
Maya turned and almost froze. Ilano stood next to them. For the first time, she got a good look at him in person. His gray hair was combed back, accentuating his square jaw. He wore an off-white tux with elegant ease.
“Good evening, Ann, Frida, Billy,” he said, but his eyes were fixed on Maya. “And who is this lovely young lady?”
“This is Miss Martin. She’s the new scuba dive instructor at the Tree House Lodge,” Frida said.
Ilano took Maya’s hand. She practiced self-control not to jerk her fingers from his clasp when he brought them to his lips.
“Am I to call you Miss Martin, or do you have a first name, darling?”
