Deny Tomorrow Read online

  Moving back into the bedroom she threw open the drapes and was stunned to see the ocean in the distance. With sand, surf, and rows of palm trees, she realized she was in a tropical location—somewhere, but where?

  She slumped back onto the bed and sat there a moment with her head in her hands, massaging her temples, hoping to assuage her screaming headache. Exhaling deeply, she stood and slowly pulled her shorts on. Shaky or no, she had to go and search for answers.

  It was about ten o’clock in the morning as she came down into the lobby of what resembled a small, turn-of-the-century hotel. The only people she saw were a desk clerk and a young woman painting a mural on the far side of the room.

  “Umh, excuse me,” she said to a young man behind the desk. “I was wondering if you were on duty last night.” Actually she wasn’t sure when she would have checked in. Wasn’t even really sure what day it was. She could have been here for days as far as she knew.

  “No, Madam. I’m afraid I came on early this morning. May I help you with something?”

  “Uh, my room. Room 323. Well, I know this is an odd question, but what name is that registered under?”

  The clerk frowned and arched an eye brow.

  “No. No. It’s not what you think. You see I admit I was a little, well, shall we say, ‘under the weather’ when my, uh... uncle dropped me off, but really I’m here on vacation, partying, you know and….and I just wanted to know, uh, which uncle I needed to thank for taking care of me.” God! Such a lame excuse. It was all she could muster at the moment.

  The clerk had a skeptical look on his face, and replied, “Yes, Madam. Well, let me see then. Hmm! That’s curious. There is no name on the registration. You said room 323, right? It looks like someone evidently came in and paid in cash for three night’s lodging. I wonder why the night clerk didn’t post a name. This is highly irregular. I can call our manager. It’s his day off, but he might know what the situation is.”

  “No, that’s okay. Thank you anyway,” Arianna said. “I’ll speak with him later.”

  “Yes, Miss. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “Aspirin. Would you happen to have some aspirin and maybe a soda?”

  “Certainly. Please have a seat over there, and I’ll bring it right out. I think there may even be a pastry left from the breakfast bar if you’re hungry.”

  Arianna sat down on a sofa and rested her head in her hands. This was so crazy, she didn’t even know where to begin to start putting her life back together, and right now, her head hurt so much she could hardly think. Whatever she had been tranquilized with was extremely powerful.

  “Are you all right?” someone asked. The girl who’d been painting the mural spoke to her from across the room. “Is everything okay? You look a little pale.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Arianna said, trying to put her best face on. The clerk returned and handed her two Tylenol and a can of Coke.

  “Hang-over?” the girl asked.

  “No, I wish,” Arianna replied. “At least that would be easy to explain. Mmm, say. Can I ask you a question? One that you might think is stupid, but…” Her voice trailed off.

  “I’m sure it’s not stupid. What’s your question?” the girl asked.

  “No, that’s all right,” Arianna said, changing her mind. She popped two Tylenol into her mouth and washed them down with a swig of Coke.

  “Hey, are you in trouble?” the girl said, laying down her paint brush and coming over to where Arianna sat. “I don’t mean to pry, but you don’t look too good.”

  Arianna was sure that was true. Her hair was matted and tangled. She had no make-up on. Her eyes had dark circles under them, and here she sat, shoeless and wearing dirty crumpled khaki shorts. No, she didn’t look too good at all.

  “My name is Lisa Calder,” the girl continued. “I’m the interior designer for this place.”

  “Uh… Arianna. Arianna Garrett,” she whispered, then cleared her throat. “Ahem. My name is Arianna Garrett.” She looked at Lisa for a moment and then, said, “I don’t know where I am.”

  “Excuse me.”

  “I don’t know where I am,” Arianna repeated, watching Lisa’s reaction.

  Lisa frowned. “This is the Cass Hotel. Does that ring a bell?”

  Arianna shook her head. “No. I mean I don’t even know what city I’m in.”

  “You don’t know wha… what city you’re in?” Lisa said, trying to conceal the surprise in her voice. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Arianna shook her head.

  “You’re not kidding, are you?” Lisa said, calmly. “Well, uh, you’re on the Caribbean island of Costa Luna.”

  Arianna was stunned. How had she come half way around the world and not been aware of it?

  “How… how is it you don’t know where you are?” Lisa stuttered, surprised at Arianna’s revelation.

  “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

  Lisa leaned forward. “You might be surprised. I have three sisters, so I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories.”

  “Well, I’m sure you haven’t heard this, but I’ll try. You see, I’m a journalist who until yesterday, well at least I think it was yesterday since I don’t know what day it is either.”

  Lisa’s mouth fell open. “Wow! This is wild. It’s Wednesday, Arianna.”

  “Wednesday? Oh, my God. I’ve lost almost two days,” Arianna said, shaking her head. She cleared her throat and began to pour out her story. “Lisa, as I said, I’m a journalist who was on assignment in Nabolis, Kervistan. Two nights ago I went to bed in that city, but about an hour ago I woke up here in this hotel, and I have no idea how I got here. I know all this sounds crazy, but it’s true. I haven’t been drinking or doing drugs. This is honestly what happened to me.”

  Lisa stared at her a moment. “Kervistan as in Eastern Europe next to Pakistan? I mean, you’re not pulling my leg, are you?” Lisa asked.

  “No. I can prove all of this except for the part about how I got here because I have no idea how I got here. I did find a bruise on my hip where I believe someone might have sedated me, but I have no idea who or why anyone would want to do that.”

  “Whew! This sounds like something out of a spy novel. What about calling the police?” Lisa asked.

  “I thought about that, but really what can they do? I don’t think they exactly have jurisdiction in Kervistan. It’s not like they can send someone to investigate and since I have absolutely no clue what happened, they would have no leads to work on. But more than that, I’m afraid they’ll think I’m some kind of nut case, or worse.”

  “Worse?”

  Arianna hesitated a moment, unsure if she should say any more or not. She really didn’t know this girl. Of course, she didn’t know anyone on this island, but right now she needed a friend. Lisa looked trustworthy, so she forged ahead.

  “Lisa, whoever abducted me left two thousand dollars in hundred dollar bills. To me that has hooker written all over it. If the police ever found that out, they’d dismiss me as a drugged up prostitute.”

  Lisa nodded her head. “You know, I think you’re right. So what do you do now?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t have any idea where to even begin to sort this out. My partner is back in Kervistan. Maybe he knows what happened if I can reach him. I really don’t know where to start.”

  They both sat there, silent for a moment. Arianna finished her soda and stood. “Lisa, if you’ll excuse me, I better get going. You’ve been very kind to listen to me.”

  “Sure,” Lisa said, standing and giving her a hug. “If I can do anything to help you, well, please let me know.”

  Arianna returned the much needed hug. “Thank you. I’ll keep your offer in mind.”

  BACK IN her room, Arianna stood motionless for a moment. She wasn’t sure of anything except that right now she wanted a long, hot bath. She filled the tub and stepped in. Sinking into the hot steamy water, she couldn’t remember when anything had felt so good in such
a long time. Grabbing the hotel shampoo and soap, she lathered up from head to toe and sank below the water to rinse off. Coming back up, she laid her head on the back of the tub and closed her eyes. She just wanted to soak and think for a moment. Her headache had subsided and for the first time since she’d woken that morning, she felt half way normal.

  Also, for a brief moment, she almost forgot her troubles. Whatever happened, she was still alive, and she hadn’t been raped or maimed. All she needed to do was to pick up a phone and get a flight home. Her abductor had even left her money to pay for a ticket. She could go home and life would go on as usual. Except it wouldn’t. You didn’t just walk away from an experience like this and go on without finding some answers.

  She pulled the plug on the tub, stepped out, and wrapped up in a towel. Feeling refreshed, she walked to the bedside and stared at the phone. She thought she should call someone, but who? Picking up the phone, she dialed her mom in Milwaukee.

  “Mom,” she said, when Kathryn Garrett answered. “This is Arianna.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to identify herself. She was an only child, so no one else would be calling her mother, mom.

  “Oh, thank God, it’s you. Honey, where are you?”

  “Well, Mom, it’s kind of complicated, but I’m on the Isle of Costa Luna in the Caribbean.”

  “Where? Costa Luna? You mean you’re not in Kervistan? Oh, that is such good news.”

  “What do you mean?” She couldn’t figure out why this would be good news. She doubted her mom even knew where Costa Luna was.

  “Haven’t you heard? War has broken out in Kervistan.”

  “What?”

  “Some warlord, Ala Hamra Fadi, or something like that was assassinated and the Northern rebels are blaming the South and are ready to attack them. The U.S. and the British are backing them, so we’re sending troops to the area. I’m not sure what is going on, but I’m so happy to hear that you got out of that place. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know you’re safe.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Arianna replied, stunned with the news. Fasi assassinated! She wondered if her situation could possibly be related, but how? She didn’t know any assassins or of any anticipated assassination plans, but things were getting weirder by the minute.

  “Well, anyway, Mom. I just wanted you to know I’m fine. I’ll call you again later. I love you.”

  “Yes, I love you, too. You take care now.”

  “I will, Mom. Bye.”

  She didn’t see any sense in worrying her mother by telling her what had really happened to her especially in light of what she’d just learned about the current upheaval in Kervistan. She’d give her all the details later when she had some answers.

  She reached for the remote and snapped on the TV. The story was on every news channel. Fasi had been assassinated and the minister of defense for Kervistan was claiming the U.S. was responsible. The U.S. State Department on the other hand was vehemently denying any connection to the assassination. Fasi’s rebels in the North had moved troops to the South and had attacked a small outpost. In the meantime, the U.S. had positioned two aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean, ready to launch air strikes.

  Kevin. Oh, no! He was right in the middle of that. Please, God! Let him be okay.

  She picked the phone up and tried to remember the number to Starline Productions, the small independent film company she and Kevin worked for. She had the number in her purse, which of course along with every other piece of information about her, was long gone. She had to talk to her boss, Harold Major. Maybe he’d heard something. After getting the number from the operator, she dialed Starline and waited for Harry to pick up.

  “Arianna! Where the hell are you? Are you still in Kervistan?”

  “Harry, you’re not going to believe this, but I’m in the Caribbean resort of Costa Luna, but I don’t know how I got here, and I don’t know what’s happened to Kevin. I was hoping you had heard from him.”

  “What the hell? You’re where, and what do you mean you don’t know how you got there? My God, all hell’s broken loose over there. If Kevin’s still there, then he’s in serious danger.”

  She did her best to explain, but it didn’t make sense even to her.

  “Look, kid. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I do know I put everything I had into this assignment. Now, I find one of you is missing, one of you is on some damn island in the Caribbean, and all my camera equipment and start-up money are down the fucking drain. I’m practically bankrupt. None of that equipment was insured, you know?”

  “Oh, Harry. I’m so sorry. I know we let you down. I just don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything. I guess it’s just the hazards of the business. I’ll try to do what I can to see if I can find Kevin, but I don’t know where to begin... with no money and no contacts, it seems hopeless. What a frickin’ mess, but I gotta go. Let me know if you hear anything. Glad you’re ok, kid,” Harold said and hung up.

  Could things get any bleaker, Arianna thought as she hung up? Here she was in a strange place with nothing... no identification, no shoes, and barely any clothes. And now, it appeared she had no job to return to. She looked over at the cash on the nightstand. With no other options available to her, she was consoled by the thought that at least she had the means to get a flight home.

  She picked up the phone and dialed the airline for tickets but hit a snag immediately when the agent asked for a credit card. “Uh, it was stolen. My purse and all its contents have been stolen. I’ll be paying cash,” she said. Stolen. Lost. Two thousand miles away. Whatever. They were gone.

  “Everything?” the agent asked. “You know the new security regulations require you to have two pieces of ID for all international flights. You’ll never be allowed to board a plane without some form of picture ID and your passport. You need to postpone your travel plans until you can replace your identification.”

  Of course, the agent was right, Arianna thought as she hung up the phone, but didn’t they have some kind of system for emergencies such as hers? It seemed not. She felt helpless and out of options.

  She sat there, staring at the floor, not sure what she would do next. Then, it suddenly dawned on her that maybe she wasn’t supposed to go home yet. If she ever hoped to find out what had happened to her, the answers were here on this island. If she went home, she’d never know how she got here, and it would bug her for the rest of her life. The not knowing would consume her. After all, she was an investigative journalist who had experience in finding information. She ought to be able to solve the mystery of how she got here.

  Yes, that’s it! She could. She just needed a plan and some help. She threw on the only three items of clothing she owned and started to reach for the cash, but paused. Running into the bathroom, she tore open two of the sealed water glasses and brought the plastic baggies back to the nightstand. Using the hotel pen, she slid the top and bottom hundred-dollar bill into one bag and the hotel room key into the other.

  Fingerprints! Unless they’d been obliterated from her touching them earlier, she thought she might just get lucky and have her abductor’s fingerprints. At least it was a start. She scooped up the rest of the money and headed downstairs. She would not be defeated. She would find out what had happened to her if it was the last thing she did.

  Excuse me,” Arianna said to Lisa as she crossed the lobby.

  “Oh, hi Arianna,” Lisa replied, turning and smiling. “You’re looking much better than the last time I saw you.”

  “Same clothes, of course,” Arianna said with a sheepish grin, “but I did get a shower and so I feel a lot better. Say, I was wondering. You wouldn’t happen to know where I could rent a room here on the island, would you? Something really cheap.”

  “Costa Luna is a popular vacation retreat, so finding something reasonable might be difficult. I went through this myself about six months ago.” Lisa paused, and then added, “You know, I have an extra room I could rent to you if you’re interested.�
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  “You do? That would be wonderful, but are you sure? I mean you hardly know me, and I do have this crazy drama going on. Also, my funds are limited. I’m not sure how much I could pay.”

  “Understood, so how about this? Let’s give it a two-week trial… a hundred dollars a week, and if it’s a bad fit, we shake hands and go our separate ways. How’s that sound?”

  “Sounds great,” Arianna said, offering her hand. “It’s a deal.”

  “Well, then, let’s go get you settled in.” Lisa started packing up her equipment.

  “What about your painting?” Arianna asked.

  “Oh, it can wait. I’m the designer, the painter, and the clean-up person. A real one-woman show,” Lisa chuckled. “The one perk I have is that I can set my own hours, and right now, I say it’s quitting time.”

  Arianna smiled. “Well, okay, then. After you.”

  Lisa led the way outside to her vintage, yellow Volkswagen convertible. “Hop in. I’ll give you a tour of the island on the way home.”

  As they cruised down Oceanside Drive, Arianna laid her head back on the seat, relishing the warmth of the sun on her face. Pent up anxiety flew away with the wind that blew through her hair, and she began to relax for the first time since she’d awakened that morning.

  “What a beautiful beach,” she sighed, looking out at the crystal blue water. “And look at all these cute little shops and restaurants. Such a big contrast to where I came from. The country of Kervistan is quite bleak and has little modernization. Waking up here makes me feel like I’m in some kind of time warp.”

  “Lots of tourists come here to vacation and scuba divers love to explore the reef and sunken Spanish galleon off the coast,” Lisa said, as she stopped to let some beach goers cross the street. “Also, we have several yachts that anchor out and bring their guests ashore for dining and gambling. By nine o’clock tonight, this entire strip will be jumping with people hitting the local nightclubs. That’s about all there is on the island—tourism. There are some cattle ranches and banana plantations on the far side of the island, but those residents stay pretty much to themselves.”