earlier dreams seemed empty and meaningless without her at my side.
Karwa seemed to understand my predicament. She stepped forward and placed her hand on my arm, fixing me with a look of trust. Knowing I could not allow her to fall into the hands of the enemy, I pursued my shipmate and took his life in order to save hers. Dios, have mercy on my soul, for I do not feel guilty about the sin I have committed.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Isabel released a long, low whistle as she finished reading the journal entry. “I wasn’t expecting to read about murder, but I guess something had to motivate him to get off the island.”
Manuel nodded. “And this entry explains why the captain’s log I told you about stated two crewmen were missing. The captain assumed they were in cahoots, but really, Rodrigo Velasquez acted alone. The other missing man was the one he killed.”
Isabel wrinkled her nose. “Puts a bit of a damper on the romantic story he had going. I think I’ve lost my enthusiasm for translating today.”
“I don’t mind stopping either.”
Isabel stood and lifted her arms over her head, stretching with the grace of a dancer. “Let’s go ask Maria for some fruit juice and sit on the porch for a while. It’s stuffy in here.”
Ten minutes later, they’d settled into the wicker furniture on the screened porch, and sat sipping their drinks and talking aimlessly. During the last few weeks of working together, Isabel had grown comfortable with his company, so that hanging out with him now gave her the same feeling she got when she slipped into her favorite pair of old blue jeans. Soon the topic of the fire came up.
“Hard to believe the stuff they’re saying about that fire at your building.”
Isabel sat up straight. “What do you mean? Who are ‘they’ and what are they saying?”
“You mean you haven’t heard?” Manuel cocked his head and gave her a puzzled stare.
“Manuel, I’ve been here for a week. We don’t listen to the radio much, and we don’t receive a newspaper. Here at the hacienda we’re isolated from the rest of the world. It’s not like city life.”
“That’s for sure.” He sighed, looking as if he did not miss modern society in the least.
“Manuel, the fire?”
He shifted in his chair. “The investigators are saying it’s a case of arson.”
“Who would deliberately set a fire like that?” Isabel wondered aloud. “They killed four people, and they could have burnt down half the city and injured dozens more. The buildings are so close in my part of town, and the people so tightly packed together.”
Silent, Isabel pondered the cruelty behind the unnecessary disaster. “Have they released the names of the victims yet?” She had become acquainted with many of the people in her building and dreaded finding out one of her friends had perished in the fire.
Manuel shook his head. “No. They’re holding back most of the information while they investigate and put together a list of suspects. I’m surprised they haven’t contacted you, Isabel.”
“Me? I never even considered they might want to talk to me. They might presume I died in the fire. I don’t suppose anyone would know where I’m staying. Maybe I should call them.”
“Wouldn’t hurt,” Manuel agreed. “The newspaper said they’re interviewing the former residents, looking for information.”
“I’d like to take care of this as soon as possible. Excuse me, Manuel.”
Isabel went inside the house and called the police from the phone in the living room. After explaining her situation and awaiting a transfer to the correct extension, Isabel talked with one of the detectives on the case.
“Miss Palmer, we’ve been hoping to speak to you. Are you available to meet with us?”
“I don’t know what I could possibly tell you that you don’t already know, but of course, I’d be willing to answer any questions.” She gave them her grandmother’s address.
“Would tomorrow after lunch work with your
Karwa seemed to understand my predicament. She stepped forward and placed her hand on my arm, fixing me with a look of trust. Knowing I could not allow her to fall into the hands of the enemy, I pursued my shipmate and took his life in order to save hers. Dios, have mercy on my soul, for I do not feel guilty about the sin I have committed.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Isabel released a long, low whistle as she finished reading the journal entry. “I wasn’t expecting to read about murder, but I guess something had to motivate him to get off the island.”
Manuel nodded. “And this entry explains why the captain’s log I told you about stated two crewmen were missing. The captain assumed they were in cahoots, but really, Rodrigo Velasquez acted alone. The other missing man was the one he killed.”
Isabel wrinkled her nose. “Puts a bit of a damper on the romantic story he had going. I think I’ve lost my enthusiasm for translating today.”
“I don’t mind stopping either.”
Isabel stood and lifted her arms over her head, stretching with the grace of a dancer. “Let’s go ask Maria for some fruit juice and sit on the porch for a while. It’s stuffy in here.”
Ten minutes later, they’d settled into the wicker furniture on the screened porch, and sat sipping their drinks and talking aimlessly. During the last few weeks of working together, Isabel had grown comfortable with his company, so that hanging out with him now gave her the same feeling she got when she slipped into her favorite pair of old blue jeans. Soon the topic of the fire came up.
“Hard to believe the stuff they’re saying about that fire at your building.”
Isabel sat up straight. “What do you mean? Who are ‘they’ and what are they saying?”
“You mean you haven’t heard?” Manuel cocked his head and gave her a puzzled stare.
“Manuel, I’ve been here for a week. We don’t listen to the radio much, and we don’t receive a newspaper. Here at the hacienda we’re isolated from the rest of the world. It’s not like city life.”
“That’s for sure.” He sighed, looking as if he did not miss modern society in the least.
“Manuel, the fire?”
He shifted in his chair. “The investigators are saying it’s a case of arson.”
“Who would deliberately set a fire like that?” Isabel wondered aloud. “They killed four people, and they could have burnt down half the city and injured dozens more. The buildings are so close in my part of town, and the people so tightly packed together.”
Silent, Isabel pondered the cruelty behind the unnecessary disaster. “Have they released the names of the victims yet?” She had become acquainted with many of the people in her building and dreaded finding out one of her friends had perished in the fire.
Manuel shook his head. “No. They’re holding back most of the information while they investigate and put together a list of suspects. I’m surprised they haven’t contacted you, Isabel.”
“Me? I never even considered they might want to talk to me. They might presume I died in the fire. I don’t suppose anyone would know where I’m staying. Maybe I should call them.”
“Wouldn’t hurt,” Manuel agreed. “The newspaper said they’re interviewing the former residents, looking for information.”
“I’d like to take care of this as soon as possible. Excuse me, Manuel.”
Isabel went inside the house and called the police from the phone in the living room. After explaining her situation and awaiting a transfer to the correct extension, Isabel talked with one of the detectives on the case.
“Miss Palmer, we’ve been hoping to speak to you. Are you available to meet with us?”
“I don’t know what I could possibly tell you that you don’t already know, but of course, I’d be willing to answer any questions.” She gave them her grandmother’s address.
“Would tomorrow after lunch work with your
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