why he had trouble with Anna. It was the challenging attraction of the rebel, the anti-hero type who defied good manners and soft ways. She must be careful to recognize it for what it was.
A yellow bus approached and he waved it down. It was overcrowded, yet they squeezed in, Hugo placing her one step above him while he stood in the open door, indifferent to the pavement streaking just beyond his feet. The protective gesture was reassuring, advancing him one notch upward in Perri's estimation.
As they entered the hotel lobby, he stiffened slightly, muttered a quick, "I'll see you around," and left with a flick of his hand.
"Thanks for the meal," she responded, but even as she spoke he was turning to go. She knew she hadn't been a good companion, going all emotional as she had.
It was probably just as well, Perri realized, as she waited for the elevator. She couldn't afford to get anyone else involved in helping Owen. It could be dangerous... although Hugo looked able to take care of himself.
"Hi." Anna walked up, looking curious. "I saw you with Hugo. Did you go out with him, after all?"
"Yes." And I bet he saw you, too. "But I don't think I made much of an impression." The doors opened and they entered, Anna punching the floors for them both.
"Did you want to? He's the rudest person I've ever met."
Anna looked disgruntled and Perri decided that Hugo's ploy had worked. "His manners aren't all that polished ...but he did know a good place to eat."
"A free meal—like I suggested? Was it worth it?"
"A question I asked myself," Perri said with a laugh. "But I don't think he'll be hanging around. I sort of dampened things down."
"Serves him right. See you." Anna stepped off and Perri continued to her room, a smile on her lips as she recalled the unconventional "date."
Hugo intrigued her — his lazy manner and dark glasses hiding a personality the power of which she had briefly glimpsed.
Hugo. She liked the name; probably because her mother had often talked about a man called Hugo Donnelson...the one who had given her the ivory pendant. Perri had never met him, but her mom had described him, saying he had the most beautiful gray eyes she had ever seen on a man.
Hugo’s were dark brown. And his voice...did he practice talking like that or was it natural?
Shrugging off her wandering thoughts, Perri changed leisurely into her champagne-colored full length dress, sleeveless and draped from the shoulders. With time to spare, she pinned up her hair. It made her look older, although still not her age.
How had Hugo guessed she was older than "Junior?" Even the age-guessers at the county fairs never came close.
Tonight was the night. Tonight she would meet her contact and find out about Owen.
She could hardly wait. Although it was early, she went down to the lobby, checking at the desk for messages. There was one, an envelope with her name on it.
Hurriedly she tore it open. It was unsigned, but the handwriting was Walt's.
Perri. Urgent you return home immediately.
Confusion encompassed Perri as she stared at the message. Had Owen made it back by himself? Why didn’t it say so?
She laid the letter on the countertop alongside the envelope and studied it again. The wording of the message made her uneasy. Why was it so brief?
She could call the airlines and have them contact her credit card company for the fare, but that still left her without taxi money. It would be fastest to telephone Walt and have him wire her some. She wasn't going anywhere on three dollars and twenty-two cents.
Taking out her cell phone, she texted Walt, wondering why he hadn’t sent her a text. When there was no reply this time, she left him her room number.
Hanging up, she re-examined the envelope. There was no postmark, no return address. All it had on it was her name and room number. So he already knew that.
Puzzled, and beginning to worry, Perri showed the two clerks the envelope. "Do either of you know how this was delivered?"
One of
A yellow bus approached and he waved it down. It was overcrowded, yet they squeezed in, Hugo placing her one step above him while he stood in the open door, indifferent to the pavement streaking just beyond his feet. The protective gesture was reassuring, advancing him one notch upward in Perri's estimation.
As they entered the hotel lobby, he stiffened slightly, muttered a quick, "I'll see you around," and left with a flick of his hand.
"Thanks for the meal," she responded, but even as she spoke he was turning to go. She knew she hadn't been a good companion, going all emotional as she had.
It was probably just as well, Perri realized, as she waited for the elevator. She couldn't afford to get anyone else involved in helping Owen. It could be dangerous... although Hugo looked able to take care of himself.
"Hi." Anna walked up, looking curious. "I saw you with Hugo. Did you go out with him, after all?"
"Yes." And I bet he saw you, too. "But I don't think I made much of an impression." The doors opened and they entered, Anna punching the floors for them both.
"Did you want to? He's the rudest person I've ever met."
Anna looked disgruntled and Perri decided that Hugo's ploy had worked. "His manners aren't all that polished ...but he did know a good place to eat."
"A free meal—like I suggested? Was it worth it?"
"A question I asked myself," Perri said with a laugh. "But I don't think he'll be hanging around. I sort of dampened things down."
"Serves him right. See you." Anna stepped off and Perri continued to her room, a smile on her lips as she recalled the unconventional "date."
Hugo intrigued her — his lazy manner and dark glasses hiding a personality the power of which she had briefly glimpsed.
Hugo. She liked the name; probably because her mother had often talked about a man called Hugo Donnelson...the one who had given her the ivory pendant. Perri had never met him, but her mom had described him, saying he had the most beautiful gray eyes she had ever seen on a man.
Hugo’s were dark brown. And his voice...did he practice talking like that or was it natural?
Shrugging off her wandering thoughts, Perri changed leisurely into her champagne-colored full length dress, sleeveless and draped from the shoulders. With time to spare, she pinned up her hair. It made her look older, although still not her age.
How had Hugo guessed she was older than "Junior?" Even the age-guessers at the county fairs never came close.
Tonight was the night. Tonight she would meet her contact and find out about Owen.
She could hardly wait. Although it was early, she went down to the lobby, checking at the desk for messages. There was one, an envelope with her name on it.
Hurriedly she tore it open. It was unsigned, but the handwriting was Walt's.
Perri. Urgent you return home immediately.
Confusion encompassed Perri as she stared at the message. Had Owen made it back by himself? Why didn’t it say so?
She laid the letter on the countertop alongside the envelope and studied it again. The wording of the message made her uneasy. Why was it so brief?
She could call the airlines and have them contact her credit card company for the fare, but that still left her without taxi money. It would be fastest to telephone Walt and have him wire her some. She wasn't going anywhere on three dollars and twenty-two cents.
Taking out her cell phone, she texted Walt, wondering why he hadn’t sent her a text. When there was no reply this time, she left him her room number.
Hanging up, she re-examined the envelope. There was no postmark, no return address. All it had on it was her name and room number. So he already knew that.
Puzzled, and beginning to worry, Perri showed the two clerks the envelope. "Do either of you know how this was delivered?"
One of
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