Deny Tomorrow Page 20

  Giggling, she slugged him in the arm. “Shut up! You’re never going to let me forget I made that statement, are you?”

  Zach gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, “No, and I guess you see what happens when stubbornness meets an immoveable object.”

  “Yes, yes I do, and I think the immoveable object won. But Zach,” Arianna said, suddenly getting serious, “there is something that’s bothering me this morning.”

  Instantly concerned, he frowned. “What’s that?”

  “Here. Follow me.”

  He hesitated a moment but followed her into the kitchen.

  “Okay, guys. Listen up.” Turning toward Zach, she said, “Please tell everyone that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and that I can still work wherever I want to around here and… and that I don’t want any special treatment from them?”

  Zach was left to put two and two together. Obviously, word had gotten out that they were now a couple, so his employees likely were unsure as to how to treat her. A statement from him probably was in order.

  “Okay. You heard her, everyone. Carry on as before,” he said. “Any questions?”

  They all shook their heads and said, “No, sir.”

  Looking back at Arianna, he asked, “Anything else?”

  “Nope,” she said, surprised that he had actually done what she’d asked.

  He nodded slightly and turning, held the door open for her to go back outside. He took her by the hand and led her to the table, pulling a chair out next to his. Taking his own seat, he sat down, and spoke softly to her.

  “You know, you don’t have to change a thing for me. You’re free to spend your time as you like. But you need to understand, that despite what I just said, they’re going to make a fuss over you. It’s their way of letting you know how much they like you, while honoring me at the same time. I’m afraid you’re just going to have to get used to it.”

  Arianna fidgeted with the silverware, mulling the idea over. “Those people are like friends to me now. It seems odd for them to be treating me like I was someone special. As I told you last night, I’m not comfortable with this lifestyle.”

  Zach reached for his phone which had been vibrating off the holder on his waistband. He scanned the screen and frowned. “I suspect it will all… work itself out,” he said absentmindedly, still studying the message on the screen before snapping the phone back into the case.

  Rising suddenly, he said, “Sorry, Arianna, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take care of something.” He gave her a quick kiss and walked quickly into the house. As if there’d been a silent signal, Tony and Juan rose and followed closely behind him.

  “What’s up?” Tony asked as they rushed through the house and on out toward the stables where their weapons and military equipment were stored.

  “Kevin Baxter, Arianna’s partner, just landed in New York. He sent a text to Arianna, wanting to meet up,” Zach said. “Unless I miss my guess, I’m pretty sure this mole has a tracer on her phone, so he’ll be waiting to hear the details of where this meeting is to take place. We’ll make sure the meeting happens and that we’re there to give him a proper greeting.”

  Juan slid the door open to the back of the stable and punched in the code for the entrance to the security bunker that held all their weaponry and mission equipment. “Do we know if this mole even bought into the story we planted at the CIA of Baxter having pictures of us in Kervistan? If the story never got to him, or if he suspects it’s a trap, he’ll be a no show.”

  “Don’t know. But that’s out of our control. All we can do is be ready. The locals have a tail on Baxter, but this is our op to execute.” Zach picked up a Barrett M82 rifle and checked and rechecked the scope. With a range of five hundred meters or more, this guy would never see it coming. They could take the mole out and be gone without leaving a trace.

  “Roger that,” Tony said.

  “We need to have our gear packed and ready for transport by ten hundred hours. Veritas is sending a helo to pick us up here on the island. They’ll take us to a US base where we’ll hop a military plane bound for New York.”

  “Does Baxter know what’s going on?”

  “Negative,” Zach said as he threw more equipment into his duffel bag. “He’ll be kept in the dark just like Arianna and Lisa. He can never know of our existence or involvement in this.”

  “Speaking of kept in the dark, are you planning on saying good bye to Arianna?” Tony asked.

  Zach just stared at him, meaning the answer was no.

  It was a good question though. He’d had several girlfriends, but none had been allowed to live here. They understood that he “traveled” a lot and had accepted his long absences as part of the relationship with him. There were no questions asked. No explanations given, and it had worked out well in the past. The same was true for the rest of the team- Juan, Tony, and Carlos. When they were home from a mission, girlfriends came for visits, but no move-ins were allowed. The men all lived a true bachelor existence. A couple of men on the team through the years had married and moved on, but for the single guys, separate residences was the rule. It seemed now with Arianna and Lisa forced to stay here, things might become a bit complicated… another reason to wrap this up quickly.

  Tony and Juan both shook their heads and smiled.

  “What?” Zach asked, seeing the smiles on their faces.

  “Something tells me,” Tony began, “Arianna’s not going to like that. Have you even had a chance to talk to her about any of this… how we live? How you’ll be coming and going? Sometimes gone for months at a time with no contact… anything?”

  Zach threw the last bit of gear into his duffle bag and zipped it up, not answering.

  “Jesus, Zach. She’s going to flip out,” Tony said. “There’s no telling how long we’ll be gone… and not a word from you. Not a clue where you’re at.”

  “Okay! I get it,” Zach snapped. “Look! This all happened so fast there’s been no time to talk any specifics. What I do for a living isn’t exactly pillow talk. She’s just going to have to deal with it for now. We’ve got a job to do, so grab your shit, and let’s move out.”

  Home sweet, home. That’s all Arianna thought about as she ran along the beach during her midday workout. The whole dynamic of her life here had changed now that she and Zach were a couple. But this change caused her to be extremely anxious for her life to go back to normal. She wanted to see her mom…wanted her to meet Zach. She wanted to work again, and shop, and travel and, and… have a normal dating relationship with Zach. Whew! She paused to catch her breath. Plain and simple. She wanted her former life back with Zach as a part of it.

  Lisa met her at the beach house and brought a picnic lunch Pilar had made for them. She poured a glass of merlot and helped herself to some humus and pita chips.

  “Any idea when Zach and Tony will be home?” she asked, sitting back and relaxing to the sound of the ocean.

  Lisa shook her head. “Tony gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left with Zach. Said he’d see me later, but didn’t say when later was.”

  Arianna filled her plate with some chicken Caesar salad and began to eat. “Zach had a gun with him last night. Being with him, I felt safe, and for a moment, I almost forgot about the situation I’m in. But sitting here now, a thousand questions are racing through my mind… things I want to ask him, such as why he carries a gun?”

  “Good luck getting answers,” Lisa said, nibbling on some fruit. “Every time I try to ask Tony something, he changes the subject or gives me some evasive answer.”

  Arianna moved to the edge of the porch and stood there sipping her wine. “I’m feeling very anxious all of a sudden, and I really want to go home. If Zach would just tell me the truth about what is going on, maybe I could help. After all, as a journalist, I’m used to snooping around and getting to the bottom of a story.”

  “I’d love to go home, too,” Lisa added, “but for now, I think we need to sit tight and let Zach and Tony hand
le this.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” Arianna said, as they packed things up to go back to the house. “Lisa, do you realize my life has been in upheaval for almost six months now? Ever since I was kidnapped and woke up on this island, one bad thing after the other has happened to me. And now that I have this new relationship with Zach, I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off. “I just want this over with. I want my old life back.”

  ARIANNA SPENT the afternoon working with the lawn crew and then, returned to her room to clean up for dinner. She showered and actually took some time to style her hair and apply a bit of make-up for a change. Looking good was a priority now, but the contents of her closet dismayed her. Whoever had grabbed her clothes from Lisa’s house had left all her better things behind. She had nothing nice to wear. Shallow, but this was yet another reason to get back to her normal life.

  At about five, she came into the kitchen where she found Pilar preparing dinner. She looked out on the veranda, hoping to see Zach, but the patio was empty.

  “I thought Zach might be back by now,” she said to Pilar. “Do you know when he’s due back?”

  Pilar looked up at Arianna and sighed. “I’m afraid he won’t be back for a couple of days. Tony, too,” she added, seeing Lisa come in behind Arianna. “He had some pressing business to take care of.”

  “Pressing business? What kind of pressing business?”

  “He didn’t say. I just know he’ll be gone for a few days.”

  “So, how do you know this?” Arianna had a dubious look on her face. “Did he call?”

  “Maybe, but not me,” Pilar said as she tossed the dinner salad. “Carlos told me.”

  “Carlos? So what, Carlos can’t tell me? He has to make you the messenger? Zach can’t call me himself?” Arianna began to pace back and forth, obviously troubled by this bit of news. She stopped pacing and stared at Pilar who was pulling a pork tenderloin roast out of the oven.

  She handed Arianna an electric knife. “Here, would you please carve this for me?”

  Arianna took the knife, but hesitated. She wanted to carve something right now, and it wasn’t this roast. She felt like she didn’t matter. That she was just a pawn in a game whose rules she didn’t understand. Did no one trust her? People came and went. Didn’t talk to her. Didn’t answer questions. Kept her in the dark. She felt her life was totally out of control, and she hated it.

  “I don’t get it. Lisa, did you hear from Tony?”

  Lisa shook her head. “But I’m not as shocked you. Tony told me that sometimes when he works, they go places where there’s no internet or cell service.”

  “Oh, that is so lame! You mean, we’re supposed to believe these guys are off in some jungle or third world country somewhere with no way to contact us. He was able to contact Carlos. Why not me? I don’t get it. I don’t like this.” Arianna was becoming more and more agitated as she talked.

  Pilar came over and took the knife from her and set it down. She looked her directly in the eye and held both of her arms. “Arianna, listen to me. I know you do not understand this, but do you trust me?”

  ‘Nothing is normal around here, I…”

  “Arianna, do you trust me?” Pilar squeezed her arms, as she looked her in the eye. “Calm down, and listen to me.”

  Arianna was silent and looked at Pilar.

  “You need to relax. Zach would not leave unless it was important. He would call if he could. He will explain everything when he returns. If you trust me, then trust him, and be patient until he comes home.”

  Arianna let out an exasperated sigh. Pilar was right. She needed to relax and stop worrying. Nothing else was normal in her life so why not this.

  “Thank you, Pilar. You’re right. I need to calm down. My nerves have been shot lately.”

  ARIANNA SLEPT restlessly and woke the next morning feeling anxious. Just when she thought her life was moving smoothly in a new direction with Zach, things had taken a disappointing turn. Of course, she knew he hadn’t disappeared for good, but still, his sudden departure and silence was just another aspect of this saga that was beginning to get to her.

  She remembered the first day she arrived here when Pilar had asked her to make Zach’s bed and how she had informed Pilar she was not about to lift a finger around here. Time changes everything as they say because now, working and staying busy was the one thing helping her keep her sanity.

  Today, her job was to mow the lawn. Jostling along on the riding mower was a menial task that allowed her time to think. In fact, she was so lost in thought, trying to figure out her future she almost missed it. The front gate. It stood wide open with no guards in sight. Surely, this could not be. She circled the mower closer and closer, continuing to watch for any sign of a guard. No one appeared.

  Her heart beat faster, and she became more and more excited as she stared at the open gate. She knew leaving was risky, but the prospect of freedom was a huge magnet. She could go where no one could find her. What would be the harm? Zach could continue his pursuit of whoever was supposedly trying to kill her, and when it was safe, they could get back together again. Also, if she had the freedom to move about, she might even be able to help solve this case herself.

  On one level it made perfect sense, though a tiny, little voice inside her kept saying that somehow Zach wouldn’t think her leaving was such a good idea. But really, what was not to like about it? As long as she was safe, why would he care whether she was here or somewhere else? He was gone... he’d left without saying a single word to her. Maybe it was time to step back and take a fresh look at things. Take some of her independence back. Time away from him with time to think, could give her a fresh perspective on things. She was going to go for it.

  To get off this island, she needed her passport and picture ID in her room. It had arrived with her purse and clothing brought from Lisa’s house. She steered the mower around to the side entrance and rushed down to her room. Scooping up the contents of her purse, she stuffed everything into her pockets and hurried back outside.

  Back on the mower, she started riding toward the front gate. A guard was talking to a man by a delivery van up by the front entrance to the house, but the gate was still wide open. She parked the mower behind some tall bushes and shut it down. Sneaking up through the shrubs near the entrance, she turned and slipped out the gate. Once outside, she dashed into the tree line and ran quickly down the side road until she came to the main highway leading back into the city. It didn’t take long before she saw a pick-up truck approaching. She waved her hands, and the driver stopped and rolled down his window.

  “I work at the casino in town,” Arianna said to the young kid driving the truck. “My car wouldn’t start. If I miss work one more time, I know they’re going to fire me.”

  “Oh, we can’t have that,” the kid said. “Hop in.”

  Thanking him, she jumped into the truck, keeping one hand on the door handle in case this guy turned out to be an ax murderer, and she needed to leap to safety. “Mind if I use your phone?” she asked, seeing his cell phone lying on the seat.

  “Sure. Help yourself,” he said, smiling broadly, checking her out.

  That he found her attractive was both a good and a bad thing, she thought. It could work to her advantage or really cause her problems. She wasn’t sure about this hitchhiking thing, but what choice did she have?

  “Meet me in front of the Poseidon in about fifteen minutes,” she told a shocked André when he answered his phone. “I can’t talk now, but I’ll answer all your questions when I see you.”

  She needed André’s help to get off the island, so she was very thankful to find him waiting for her when she arrived at the club. Thanking the driver, she jumped out of the truck and into André’s car.

  “Thanks for meeting me,” she said, giving him a big hug. “I need your help.”

  “Arianna, what in the hell are you up to?” André asked. “Does Zach know where you are?”

  “No, but look. I had a chance to leave so I
took it. I decided to go home.”

  “Okay. What’s going on? I notice you just got out of a pick-up truck. What? Zach’s too poor to offer you a ride? And what about that boyfriend who was stalking you? I take it he’s out of the picture, now. Otherwise I know you wouldn’t be wandering around like this by yourself, right?”

  “Oh, André, there’s so much I’d like to tell you, but I just can’t right now. Please don’t ask a lot of questions. Just help me, okay?”

  “You know I will, darlin’, but I think I liked it better when you were nestled away at Zach’s estate.”

  “Oh, you worry too much. I’ll be fine. You see, Zach and I kind of got involved, and I think I fell in love with him. Well, he fell for me too, but he left for a few days, and I have no idea when he’s coming back. Anyway, on top of everything else, I think it’s just best if I get away and think things through. Everything is happening so fast.”

  “You and Zach? Man, oh man. Some girls have all the luck,” André said.

  “You weren’t listening to me, André. I said he left and didn’t tell me where he was going.”

  “Well, duh! Maybe he had a good reason. You mean that’s why you just decided to take off? Arianna Garrett, when are you ever going to learn? Please tell me that’s not the only reason you’re skipping out of here.”

  “No, of course not. There are other reasons. I haven’t seen my mom in ages and other stuff.”

  André had a strange look on his face. “Sure. Other stuff. Right, so that’s why you arrived in a pick-up truck, with no extra clothes, luggage... nothing, and asking for my help. Yeah, uh huh. All of this would be too much for Zach to help you with, of course. I believe this like you can believe I’m going to screw the town whore tonight.”

  Arianna giggled.

  “Hey, it’s not funny,” he said. “Is it even safe for you to be traveling around by yourself?”