Merry Jones - Elle Harrison 02 - Elective Procedures (8 page)

And then I’d lost my chance. Emily started talking again. “You see,” she went on, “you’re our only link. You saw her last.”

“Our sister wasn’t like us,” Rose explained. “Emily and I got married young and had families.”

“You were young. I was twenty-four.”

“That’s young.”

“You were only twenty. That’s young.”

“There’s not that much difference.”

“Anyhow, we both live normal lives.”

“Boring lives.” Rose nodded.

“But Claudia was different.”

“She was the strong one. A risk taker.”

“She traveled all over the world. She had romances.” Emily smiled.

Rose laughed. “Lots of romances.”

“She got these operations to increase her appeal.”

“As if she needed to.”

They reflected for a moment.

I didn’t know what to say. Said nothing.

“The point is that Sergeant Perez asked if our sister might have harmed herself. We know that she never, ever would have,” Emily said.

“Not ever.”

“We know that she didn’t go over that railing on her own.”

“No. Claudia loved her life.” Rose dabbed her nose.

“She loved herself.” Emily’s chin quivered.

“She wasn’t the depressed type, but if she’d have been depressed—”

“She’d have called us.”

“That’s right. No question.”

“She was our baby sister.”

“We were always close.”

“So we’re positive. Whatever happened to Claudia—”

“It wasn’t suicide.”

“No. Someone killed her.”

They faced me with twin expressions of painful certainty mixed with suspicion. I told them I was sorry but I had no more information. Sergeant Perez watched as I wished them well, took their hands in mine, and repeated my condolences. Then, I nodded at Juan Alonzo, gave Sergeant Perez a long hard look,
and skedaddled out of that small close room, not stopping until ocean air flew into my lungs and sunlight hit my face.

I went all the way to the edge of the property, finding a secluded spot under a thatched umbrella. Rose and Emily were on my mind. I spread out my towel, slapped on sunscreen, stretched out, closed my eyes, and listened to the water, trying to fall asleep, but their questions—their sadness clung to me. And I had some questions of my own. Such as, why hadn’t Sergeant Perez warned me of the meeting? Did he have some hidden agenda? Was he hoping to implicate me in Claudia’s death?

No, he couldn’t—I’d had no motive. Still, I should talk to Susan about it. But Susan was busy at the clinic with Jen; it could wait until later. After all, it wasn’t anything urgent. The talk with the sisters had most likely been just a courtesy to the bereaved. Nothing more.

I closed my eyes, but their faces haunted me, their questions persisted, and I kept revisiting the railing, the last moments of Claudia’s life. I turned over, made myself think instead about something else. Like Jen and her surgeries.

The morning had been frenzied. Jen had been anxious to get to the clinic, had made Susan leave a full hour before her scheduled appointment. Jen had fidgeted and complained while Susan had dashed around the suite, searching for her phone, tossing her computer, a banana, a granola bar, a notebook into her bag. We’d exchanged hurried hugs, and they’d gone, returning only seconds later because Susan had forgotten her room key. I’d offered again to go along, but Susan had again turned me down, insisting that she’d be working and I’d be of no use.

I’d said that I wanted to go anyway, to be there for moral support, but Jen had cut me off.

“J fucking C, Elle,” she’d tsked. “Cut the drama, would you? It’s not like I’m having heart surgery. It’s no big deal, okay? I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Just go to the damned beach or something.”

I hadn’t moved. Had felt a pang.

She’d rolled her eyes, then reached out and hugged me. Her eyelashes had tickled my cheek. “I don’t mean to be a bitch. I fucking love you, okay?” She pulled back, looked at me. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

When they’d gone, I wandered the suite, my mind thick and addled, sleepless for two nights. I made instant coffee, ventured outside onto the balcony to drink it. Down at the pool, the staff was busy, preparing for the day. At seven a.m., they were testing the water, trimming hedges, hosing down the deck, restocking fresh towels and glassware. Beyond them, across the fence, the ocean glowed with golden light, offering peace and comfort. Come down, it seemed to say. I’ll soothe you to sleep.

And so, I’d gotten into my bathing suit, grabbed my hat and beach bag, and headed for the elevator. Which had opened to reveal Becky.

“Elle?” she’d stepped out, looked me over. “You’re going to the beach? Where’s Jen?”

I’d told her.

“They left so early? Why didn’t anybody call me?”

I’d had no answer. It hadn’t occurred to me to call.

“Damn. I wanted to wish her luck.” Her hands had been on her hips. She’d glared at me, looking rumpled. Her hair had been mussed, and she’d been wearing last night’s clothes. “You should have let me know they were leaving early. How was I supposed to know?”

The elevator doors had closed; the car whirred away.

I’d felt bad. “Sorry. They just got up and went.”

Becky had pouted. “You’re mad, aren’t you?” She’d looked at me. “Because of Chichi.”

What?

“Because I’m off with him instead of spending time with you guys. That’s why you didn’t call me, isn’t it?”

I’d sighed, shaken my head. “I’m not mad at you. Nobody is.”

“Try to understand, Elle. This isn’t just a fling. Chichi’s different.
I know it’s sudden and you’ll think I’m crazy, but I think he might be the real thing.”

I’d looked at her, thought she was crazy.

“You think I’m being impulsive. I know you do. You think I fall in love every six minutes.”

No. More like every three
.

“But this isn’t like that. It’s like Chichi and me—like we’ve known each other forever. Like we’re connected.”

Probably Chichi connected to a new woman every week. “Great, Becky. I wish you the best.” I’d pushed the elevator button again.

“Was Jen upset I wasn’t here? Did she say anything?”

Had she even noticed? “She understood.”

“I’ll send some flowers over later.”

“Good idea.”

“I’ll write a note, saying I was here, but missed her because she left early.” Becky had always been a little cowed by Jen’s temper. Tried not to irritate her.

“That’ll be great.”

I’d asked her to come to the beach, but she’d had plans for breakfast with Chichi. And then planned to join him at the pool for water polo—or had it been water putting? Water something. She’d invited me to join them.

The elevator doors had opened then, and I’d waved to her as the doors had closed.

And then, on my way out to the beach, Juan Alonzo had stopped me.

Again, I saw Emily and Rose. They could have been twins.

I lay back, warmed by the soft tickle of an ocean breeze, the sun reflecting off the sand. Images of the sisters faded. Tension in my shoulders eased. Thoughts floated out of reach. Voices murmured in the distance, and the gentle rhythm of waves lulled me until I let go and drifted.

But I jolted upright in alarm the moment I realized that the
insistent repetitive sound I was hearing wasn’t the white noise of the ocean or distant voices: It was my name.

The face was blank, backlit by the sun. Even blinking and squinting, though, I knew who it was.

Damn it. “Melanie?”

She had hold of my left shoulder, seemed surprised at my reaction.

“Oh, sorry. Were you sleeping?”

Seriously?

“How was I supposed to know?” She finally removed her hand.

“Because my eyes were closed?”

“Elle, everyone closes their eyes when they lay out in the sun.”

She offered no apology.

I lay back down, closed my eyes, hoped she’d leave.

She didn’t. She sat on the foot of my lounge chair, cowering next to my legs. “He’s still doing it,” she lowered her voice. “Elle, I’m beyond freaked out.”

I opened one eye. “What’s he doing?”

“He’s just everywhere I go. He follows me. Watches me. I’m totally weirded out. See? I’m shaking.”

I looked at her outstretched hands. The fingers trembled.

“So, can I hang out with you? Honestly, I’m scared to be by myself.” Her sunglasses made her look bug-eyed. And her skinny frame hunkered almost in a fetal position, revealing her spine. I wondered if she had an eating disorder.

Not my business. I didn’t know her, didn’t feel like changing that. Couldn’t think up an excuse.

“I’m actually kind of tired, Melanie. I was hoping to catch some sleep.”

“Go ahead. I’ll just hang here.”

“I mean, I’m not real talkative—”

“No problem. I have a magazine.”

What could I say? Go away? She was afraid and turning to me for comfort. Whether I liked it or not. I couldn’t turn Melanie away.

I motioned to a nearby beach chair. “Have at it.”

“Thanks, Elle.” She dragged the lounge chair over, pushed it up right up to mine. “You’re great. You won’t believe it, but at first, I was worried I’d be imposing.”

Really? Imposing? “Don’t be silly.”

“But as soon as I met you, I felt comfortable with you. Like we were old friends. You know what I mean?”

I was trapped. I gazed up the beach, into the distance. A woman waded ankle-deep in water, her face shielded by a scarf. Oh God. I closed my eyes.

Melanie jabbered on.

“Buenos dias, señoras, look what I have for you,” I heard a vendor approach, looked up to see a man dressed in white, carrying heavy cases of silver. “A bracelet, maybe, señora? A ring?”

We shook our heads, no, gracias. He trudged away, back down the beach.

I looked the other way, saw no sign of the woman with the scarf. Not in the water, not on the sand. Melanie was talking.

“—that he sends them over. He pays them to check on me—look.” She nodded toward the vendor. Sure enough, he’d made his way to the snack shack, was talking to some men; Luis was one of them.

Melanie turned away. “I don’t want Luis to see me looking at him,” she said. “He’ll take it as encouragement. Is he looking this way? Don’t stare. Just be casual.”

I’d already been staring, so I looked away. “He’s looking around, up and down the beach.”

“I can’t take it.”

“Tell his boss.”

“I have no proof. What can I say? He follows me? I’d sound crazy.”

I glanced back at Luis. He was looking our way. “He’s looking
at you.”

“Son of a bitch,” she said. “What am I going to do? I’ve got to shake him.” She grabbed my hand. “Let’s go in the water.”

She was on her feet, dragging me. How the hell had I acquired this woman? Well, there was no point arguing with her. Besides, it was hot; the water would feel good. We grabbed boards from the rack and splashed into the water, rode waves. Laughed. Occasionally, I thought of Jen and Susan, wondered how the operation was going. But mostly, I didn’t think about anything except timing, waiting for a good wave, feeling the exact moment to let the ocean grab me. The sun got higher in the sky. Other than that, I lost all sense of time until my stomach demanded food.

Back on the beach, drying off, I looked around for a waiter to order lunch on the beach. Melanie was there, watching out for Luis again, talking. I tuned her out, thinking about shrimp salad and lemonade. Then I saw the woman again.