AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He left her with the cats and Fatima for company and hoped it wouldn’t be the last time he saw them all.
There was no parking garage for Alejandro’s studio. He parked on a side street and loosened his tie as he walked toward the corner. When he heard footsteps rapidly closing in behind him, he shot a glance over his shoulder. It was all he needed to recognize the burly man from the hospital. Rather than risk fighting such a muscular brute hand-to-hand, he had to move fast. While it had been years since he’d studied karate, he’d learned his lessons well. He jumped into a flying turn and sent a savage kick into the man’s knee.
The man howled as he fell and struck his head hard on the concrete walk. Knocked out, he lay sprawled where he’d fallen, and his knife slipped from his grasp. Alejandro took a moment to catch his breath, and then pulled off his tie to secure the fallen man’s hands behind his back. He picked up the knife with his handkerchief, surprised by its weight. Jungle Warrior was stamped on the nine inch black blade. The wicked weapon looked to be the perfect for a jungle’s hazards, if not a quiet Barcelona street. He’d relied on instinct and struck first. It had saved his life.
He called Montoya before anyone walking by on the main street noticed a man down. “I’ve got him, and he needs an ambulance.” He gave his location and leaned against the ficus tree shading the sidewalk for support. He heard sirens in the distance and fought not to shake uncontrollably while he waited for the police to arrive. Rather than being frightened, however, he was enraged by how easily death could have overtaken him.
Montoya flew out of his car. Paramedics were working over the injured man and after ascertaining he was alive, Montoya crossed the sidewalk to Alejandro. “Clearly his plans didn’t coincide with ours.”
Alejandro handed him the knife. “Keep the handkerchief. He dropped this when I kicked him. He meant to attack me from behind. Fortunately, I heard him coming.”
Montoya frowned as he studied Alejandro closely. “Do you have a black belt in karate, Mr. Vasquez?”
Still shaken, Alejandro wisely kept the tree at his back. “My father feared I’d get into trouble on the docks and insisted I learn to defend myself. I didn’t earn a black belt, but mastered enough to survive today. If I’d been talking on my phone, or lost in thought, he’d have caught me.”
“Probably meant to cut your throat,” Montoya mused aloud. He called to a policeman to ask for the man’s wallet, but no identification had been found in his pockets. The officer approached to hand Alejandro his tie.
“Thank you. This is one of my favorites.” He rolled it up and shoved it into his pocket.
Montoya kept a firm hold on the knife. “He’s most likely René Charles. We didn’t release details on Jaime Campos’s murder, but this matches the murder weapon. When Charles comes to, he may implicate Lamoreaux, but even if he doesn’t, we’ll have him for Jaime’s murder and an attempt on your life.”
“See if he’ll tell you why he wanted me dead. There’s no link between Jaime and me, or Lamoreaux, for that matter.”
Montoya laughed softly. “How can you misunderstand? Miss Santillan is the link, but I try not to anticipate how a criminal will justify his misdeeds. You needn’t remain here. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll arrange a time for you to give us a written statement.”
Alejandro glanced away. “Ana won’t want to hear this was about her.”
The lieutenant nodded thoughtfully. “True, but you tell her the truth, don’t you?”
Alejandro sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll wait until Charles, or whoever he actually is, tells his story.”
“A delay might be wise. I’ll speak with you tomorrow.”
The paramedics were hoisting the unconscious man’s stretcher into the ambulance. Satisfied he was no longer in danger, Alejandro struck off for home. As soon as he’d locked his door behind him, he called Ana.
“The police arrested the man they were after near my building, so there’s no reason for you to worry. I’m fine, but I’d rather not go out to dinner. What would you like me to bring tonight?”
“You’re sure you’re fine?”
He’d not seen the knife before he’d kicked Charles with brutal force. Had he known what he’d intended, he might have aimed higher and broken the fool’s neck. He’d never killed a man, and didn’t wish to begin. Still, whatever damage he’d done had been self-defense, and Montoya knew it.
“It hasn’t been a pleasant afternoon, but I’m fine. There’s not a mark on me. I promise. Montoya will let us know what he learns from René Charles, or whoever he is. Let’s forget him. Do you know a place with really good squash?”
“Squash? Do you remember the first time we went to dinner? They have excellent squash. All their vegetables are good, and you could order a steak for yourself.”
He didn’t give a damn about squash—he’d simply wanted to steer the conversation away from that afternoon. “Yes, I remember where it is. I’ll check the menu while I’m there.” He told her good-bye and laid his phone on his worktable. He looked for the kittens before remembering he’d taken them home to Ana’s. He stretched out on the futon and replayed his encounter with René. He’d reacted quickly, without wasting a second to think and thank God, it had worked. He’d thank his father for the foresight to send him to karate instruction, but the man was no longer alive to hear it.
Ana had changed from the outfit she’d worn that morning into her gold top and skirt. “Does it bother you when I say you’re beautiful?” Alejandro asked. “Have I said it too often?” He carried the take-out bags into the kitchen and pulled plates from the cupboard.
She remained by the door. “I haven’t heard it too often from you. Are you embarrassed when I compliment you?”
He swept her with a warm glance. “You don’t do it often.”
“I don’t? I’m sorry, I should. You’re a very handsome man, and you don’t gloat the way Gian Carlo does over his looks. I wonder if he’s still staying at Lourdes’s place.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you care?”
She hopped up behind him, slid her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his shoulders. He was deliciously solid. “No, not at all.”
