Exotic #02 - The Hieroglyphic Staircase (26 page)
Dominic said, “I saw movement over there. Let’s look.”
All three shouted Elena’s name, over and over. The stones of the pyramids echoed with the sound. Dominic led the way to the wall where he saw the flash of movement. Maybe he had dreamed it. Maybe she had already left the Park.
Then he saw motion in the great plaza far below.
A slim figure moved from the shadow of a stone structure to the open space of the plaza, limping around fallen tree limbs and toppled stones.
Elena waved and shouted his name.
His prayers had been answered. His request granted.
“Dominic,” she said. “Here I am.”
His hand high over his head, he waved back.
And then she collapsed onto the ground.
Dominic sat at the kitchen table with a beer and a bag of potato chips, trying to fill the giant cavern in his stomach. His bare feet rested in a puddle of water, one of many on the floor in his house on Loma Verde Street.
The house had survived. But water had seeped through every aperture in the place. The journey back from the Hieroglyphic Staircase had taken the better part of the day. He couldn’t remember how he had gotten from the top of the pyramid to where Elena had collapsed. As he’d knelt by her side, feeling for pulse, checking her injuries, Elena had opened her eyes.
“Dominic,” she said.
He kissed her forehead. “You’re safe, dear Elena.”
One corner of her mouth turned up. “I know. You’re here.”
Paco reported that Jorge and José were both dead. The realization that he had caused someone’s demise sobered Dominic. But seeing how badly Elena was hurt took away any sympathy he might have felt for the dead men. He made Elena as comfortable as possible with what little he had in his backpack – acetaminophen tablets, three bars of chocolate split between the four of them, and one bottle of water. Miguel was physically unharmed, but he stayed pressed to Dominic, needing a reassuring touch. They rested, Elena at first too weak to walk the jungle trail, the only alternative open to town. Her second wind came after it finally sank in that the ordeal was over.
When he heard the bathroom door open, he called, “I’m in the kitchen.”
Elena appeared in the doorway in a clean white T-shirt and pair of drawstring shorts. They were the only things he could find in his wardrobe that came close to fitting.
She eased into the chair across from him. Her damp hair fanned over her shoulders.
“Hi,” she said.
He smiled and held up his bottle. “Want a warm beer?”
“I’d love one. Got anything to eat? My appetite is coming on like a hurricane.”
He squeezed her hand. “Since the power is still out, we’d better finish whatever is edible in the icebox. It won’t keep.”
He pulled a beer from the fridge, opened it and sat it before her on the table.
He couldn’t resist touching her hair. He brushed the back of his fingers across her puffy cheek.
“Does it hurt much?”
She shook her head. “No, it feels numb. Do you have any ice?”
Dominic opened the freezer and found tiny pieces in the ice tray. He put them in a paper towel and handed them to her.
“Here, this is all there is, but maybe it will help.”
“Thanks.” She placed the cool compress against her eye. “It’s not being able to see out of this eye that is the worst.”
He touched her hair again to confirm she wasn’t a dream.
“I’m sorry you had to go through this.”
“I’m glad it’s over. It is over, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I promise you it is.” He caressed her shoulder. The ordeal was over, but he wasn’t sure about the nightmares.
“Let’s get you something to eat.”
He warmed beans and tortillas on the gas stove and fixed a plate for each with salsa picante and slices of cheese on the side.
“A feast,” she said, happily. She took a careful bite of cheese. “Ow, it hurts to chew.”
“Take it easy,” he said, sitting at the table across from her.
“Have any butter for the tortillas?”
He laughed and fetched some from the butter-keep on the counter by the stove.
“Mmm,” she said. “Tortillas and butter, the best.”
Dominic fixed coffee after they finished.
“Do you have any cigarettes?” she asked with a hopeful raise of her eyebrows.
“No, darling, I do not.”
She sighed. “Too bad, I could use one right now.”
Dominic lit the votive candle on the refrigerator alter to the Virgin of Suyapa. He said a little prayer of thanksgiving to the Virgin for Elena’s safe deliverance. He had not forgotten his bargain with God. Elena was safe. He would again become a priest in the Episcopal Church. He always kept a bargain.
He retrieved a candelabrum from the dining room, put it on the kitchen table, and lit the candles. The gloom of the evening vanished in the soft glow of candlelight.
“When do you think the power will come back?” asked Elena.
“Might be a while. That was a pretty bad storm.”
“Is Miguel asleep?”
“Yes. He’s as exhausted as we are. Why don’t you lie down on my bed in Miguel’s room?”
“Where will you sleep?” she asked.
“The couch.” He smiled. “I don’t mind.”
He reached across the table and took her hand in his. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to take her into his arms and hug and kiss her into oblivion. But he didn’t move. She was vulnerable. And so was he. Lord only knew where that might lead.
So they held hands in the silence of the candlelight, each with their own thoughts.
“I think someone’s knocking at the door,” said Elena.
He listened and heard the rapping.
When he opened the door a breath of warm, humid air pushed in. The shapes of Felicia and Susanna loomed in the darkness.
“Thank heaven, you’re all right,” said Susanna. “Elena? Do you know where Elena is?”
“She’s here. Come in. She’s had a terrible ordeal.”
The two women entered both looking like fashion statements, not like they had weathered a major hurricane in a small out-of-the-way Honduran town. Elena appeared in the doorway to the living room in the big T-shirt and drooping shorts.
Susanna rushed over and hugged her. “How glad I am you’re all right.”
Elena tried to laugh, but it came out as a wince. “You look like you were at a party instead of a hurricane.”
In the dimness of the room, Susanna hadn’t noticed Elena’s face, but now that she was closer, she looked with horror on her daughter’s injury.
“What happened to you?” her mother asked. “Did something hit you in this storm? Why were you outside?”
Elena said, “Too many questions at one time. Come into the kitchen. We have candles there. I’ll tell you the story.”
Over coffee and candlelight Elena told her story with many exclamations and interruptions by Susanna.
“You mean it was that man I befriended, Jorge, who did this to you?” asked Susanna. Her face had grown paler and paler, the worse the story got.
Elena reached out and took her mother’s hand.
“It’s over now,” Elena said. “The man is dead. He can’t hurt us anymore.”
Susanna’s eyes filled. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I had no idea or I would never have encouraged his friendship. I am so sorry, dear.” She held Elena’s hand. “Is there anything I can do for you? Why don’t you come back to the hotel? I have plenty of clothes. They have an emergency generator. The meals are good. The hotel itself sustained very little damage.”
“Amazing,” said Elena. “Only my mother could luck out in a hurricane. Thanks, but I have some things at the medical clinic to retrieve.”
Dominic didn’t like the way Susanna and Felicia exchanged glances. He braced himself.
“The clinic roof is gone,” said Susanna. “Everything is soaked and blown about inside.”
Dominic groaned. Months of work blown away.
“Oh, Dominic, I’m sorry,” said Elena. “You put so much work into the clinic.
Felicia, who had remained quiet, spoke up. “I think the two of you should come to the hotel with us.”
“Well, there’s Miguel, too,” said Dominic. “He’s asleep. I’ll stay here with him. But, Elena, I encourage you to return to the hotel with your mother. You’ll be more comfortable there.”
Elena shook her head. Her eyes were puffy and heavy lidded. “I can’t walk that far. Not after today. What I really want is sleep. If you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on your offer of the bed in Miguel’s room.”
She rose and kissed her mother. “We’ll talk in the morning.” Saying goodnight to all of them, she slipped from the room.
“What an ordeal she’s been through,” said Felicia, seeming as distressed as any of them. “I had no idea all this was happening right here in Copan Ruinas.”
Dominic lowered his voice. “Inspector Connie Lascano is coming tomorrow to question Elena. There’s a bunch of people in this ring. Jorge and José were just two of the culprits. Paco, who brought us back, is the good cop. Apparently, he’s one of the few in the department. That’s why Connie was sent here -- to clean up the police department and catch the smugglers. She still doesn’t have the ring leaders.”
“This is really terrible,” Susanna said. “Elena’s been through too much. I’m taking her home on the next available plane.” She stopped to think. “But when will that be?”
* * * * *
In the morning Connie Lascano stopped by as Dominic was fixing breakfast for Miguel. Elena had not yet risen, and he had no intention of disturbing her.
He had collapsed on the couch after Susanna and Felicia left, rising at first light to sweep water across the terrazzo floors and out the door. Miguel found him in the kitchen making coffee. Despite everything the youngster looked better with a decent night’s sleep. His complexion was rosy and his eyes bright and clear. He was hungry, of course.
As Dominic scrambled eggs and heated tortillas, he wondered what Elena would do. Would she leave, would he ever see her again? He’d stay to put the clinic back together and help those who had fared badly in the hurricane. But what would Elena do? He was pondering all this when Connie arrived.
“
Hola, amigos
,” she said with a cheery smile. “I wanted to commend you on rescuing Elena and bringing those two guys to justice.”
Dominic frowned. “I don’t believe in the death penalty. I’m sorry they died, but I’m thankful it is over. How are you? We’re just having breakfast. Can I scramble some eggs for you? Coffee?”
“Of course,” said Connie. “Black coffee for me, no milk.”
“Coming right up,” said Dominic. He poured and handed her a cup.
“How are you, Miguel?” said Connie.
“The food is delicious,” he said, “and I have a nice place to sleep.”
“Life is good,” said Connie. “You have good friends, too.”
“
Sí,
and good friends.”
“What’s the town look like?” asked Dominic. “Have any lives been lost?”
“None reported so far, but we’ve had little news from the outlying villages. Amazingly enough, the municipal water supply still works because they have generators. We’ll ration water and allow use in morning and evening. Power is a problem. That may be out for days. How is Elena?”
“She’s sleeping. Her face looks awful where the guy hit her with the gun. She has a bad bruise on her leg where he kicked her, and I treated a bad cut on her knee.”
She shook her head. “I’m so sorry the three of you got caught up in this. Paco filed a full report. I’ll need your corroboration. He’s the only one I trust in the department. It’s a strange feeling to keep looking over your shoulder. And we are so short handed. But people are pitching in to clean up. They are already on the streets, picking up litter and repairing their houses. You heard about the clinic?”
He nodded. “I’m going over as soon as we’ve finished here.”
“I am going, too,” said Miguel. “I will help clean the clinic. I am good at sweeping.”
Dominic smiled at Miguel. “We’ll need your help for sure.”
Connie rose. Her skirt and blouse uniform was wrinkled and her hair fell loose from her pony tail, but she had a smile on her face, and her step was light. He had to admire her upbeat attitude. She wasn’t having an easy time of it herself with a department of crooks.
“I won’t disturb Elena now,” said Connie. “But please, will you tell her that I need to hear her side of the story and have her sign a statement. Miguel, too, but he can come with Elena.”
“I’ll tell her.”
Dominic cleaned up and helped Miguel dress in shorts and T-shirt. He walked softly to Elena’s bedside where she was sleeping. Her hair swept across the pillow, and her breathing was soft and even. He pulled the cover over her arms, left a note in the kitchen that they’d be at the clinic, she was to take it easy, and they’d be back in the afternoon to check on her.
People everywhere were trying to straighten out the tangle the storm had made of their lives. At the clinic the small door was open. He looked inside. The roof was nowhere in sight, just open sky. What little they had was wet. Papers were blown about and stuck wherever they landed. Where were they going to get the money to repair the roof? They had used all the capital funds to complete and furnish the clinic.
Miguel took his hand. “It’s not so bad. We will clean up in no time, you will see.”
Dominic was thankful for the boy’s words of comfort. He was a sensitive, endearing child.
“You’re right, Miguel. Where shall we start?”
“I will find the broom and start sweeping and picking up trash.”
“Good idea. When you find clinic papers, let’s stack them here on the table. Maybe we can dry them out.”
Together, man and boy started the task of putting the medical clinic back together.
* * * * *
Connie Lascano had her own problems. She had a corrupt police department. Her mandate was to clean it up, solve a murder and stop the theft of national treasures.
As she sat across the table from Elena Palomares she wondered if this battered yet resilient woman was going to have the answers. She had finished the retelling of her horrendous experience at the hands of that madman Jorge Gomez.
Connie wished she could figure out who in her department was involved besides José. She had interrogated every one of them, including the infamous former inspector Oliveros. But nothing. She did not detect one twitch of the eye that would give the guilty ones away. They were good at what they did -- deception.