The Tangled Web: an international web of intrigue, murder and romance (35 page)

Hardly able to contain his elation, Pavel watched the mist of his breath drift into the chilled air. She had stirred him like no other woman during their brief encounter. But strong as that feeling had been, it was nothing compared to the rush he was experiencing now as he hurried his pace along the cobblestone street of Prague. She was the ultimate trophy, the perfect portrait of the paradox that was his life. To say she had fallen into his lap was an understatement. It was a remarkable twist of fate. He glanced at his watch doing a mental calculation of the time difference between Prague and Colombia. He would check to see what it really was on his computer when he got home, though he estimated it was about six hours. It was now after 10 p.m. Prague time, probably not yet dinnertime in Colombia, but he had all the time in the world.

Pavel took the short tram ride and after hopping off, continued walking for a few paces until he reached a club not far from his home. He paused at the entrance, deliberating whether or not to stop for a quick drink. Deciding he’d rather go home and see what time it was in Colombia, he braved the cold once again and walked the short distance along Navratilova to his apartment. He unlocked the heavy wood front door and bounded up the stairs. The words of a song of long ago hummed incessantly in his mind.
Maria! I’ve just met a girl named Maria,
and suddenly that name will never be the same to me
. “Yes indeed! Maria, that name will never be the same,” Pavel chortled as he rushed to his computer.

It was a sublime seventy degrees Fahrenheit in Cali as Maria stretched like a contented cat and picked up the phone by her bed. Her voice was not yet quite awake as she answered huskily, “
Si
?”

Pavel recognized her voice immediately and again, his heart skipped a beat. Assuming a British accent with the ease of a seasoned actor, the predator moved in for the kill. “Hello, Miss Echivarría, this is Paul Morrison. I don’t know if you remember me,” he said by way of introduction, his air of professionalism softened ever so slightly by a deliberate hint of intimacy.

Maria did little to hide her delight. “Of course I do,” she cooed, “How could I forget? What an unexpected pleasure!”

“When we met in London, you suggested I visit Colombia some day. I’ve been thinking I’d like to do that.”

“Oh?” Maria said with mild surprise.

“Yes, I’d love to get some shots of the bull fighting festival there for my next exhibition. I could shoot you at the same time, kill two birds with one stone so to speak.”

Maria adjusted her mountain of pillows while she considered Pavel’s proposal and the barely hidden implications behind it. Cali had not much in the way of excitement to offer and she welcomed this unexpected diversion.

“When were you thinking of coming?” she asked with quickened breath.

“Whenever it’s convenient for you,” Pavel replied smoothly. “I’m so anxious to see you, nothing would stop me jumping on a plane right now.”

“
Adoraría verlo en cualquier tiempo
.”

Pavel hesitated. “I’m sorry, my Spanish is a bit rusty. But I look forward to being the student of such a lovely lady.”

“What I said was, I would love to see you any time. But there are many things aside from Spanish I would relish teaching you,” she breathed into the phone. “We’ll start with a bullfight since you’re particularly interested in that. But there’s so much more for you to see,” she suggested, running her fingers slowly along a smooth thigh. “And I can’t tell you how excited I am that I’m going to be shot by a famous photographer. I can’t wait!”

Pavel smiled. Neither could he.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An advertising professional, J.P. Lane has criss-crossed the globe, bringing a wealth of international experience to her writing. Before moving to north Florida, she lived in London, Southeast Asia, Puerto Rico and Miami where she was an award-winning writer for The Miami Herald’s marketing team. She has been published in other leading Florida publications, including
Florida Design Magazine
. Lane, who was born and raised in Jamaica, is currently working on a historical novel based on the sugar barons of the early 19
^th
century sugar industry. The Tangled Web is her first work of fiction.

Visit the author at www.jp-lane.com