Murdered in Argentina: A Jack Trout Cozy Mystery (2 page)

“Lisa, give it to Carola now, or I’ll take it from you and give it to her, and that might not look good for either of us,” Ray snarled. She reluctantly handed her passport to Carola.

Twenty minutes later when they were back in the car and approaching the checkpoint maintained by Argentina, Carola returned their stamped passports to them and said, “We’re good to go as far as Chile is concerned. Now all we have to do is deal with the Argentine border guards. Let me give you a word of warning about them. They can be tough, but I think we’re in luck again. Looks like not too many people are here today.”

Jack turned off the SUV’s engine and said, “Carola will need those receipts for the reciprocity fee that I instructed you to pay online before you left on your trip. Argentina requires all Americans to pay the fee in advance. It can’t be paid here at the border. It’s too bad you have to pay it at all, but Argentina imposed the fee on Americans, because the United States government charges a similar fee against Argentine citizens that come to America. That’s why it’s called a reciprocity fee. Without proof that you’ve paid the fee, the border guards won’t let you enter Argentina. Please give Carola the receipts.”

“Lisa, you were going to pay the fee and get the receipts. I gave you all the information about how to do it online,” Ray said. “Jack wrote me about what we had to do, and I told you.”

She visibly paled and became very quiet. Carola turned towards her and said, “Lisa, I need those documents now.”

“Uh, I didn’t get around to getting them,” she said.

“You what?” Ray yelled. “I told you to get them.”

“I forgot, and anyway, I’m sure you can just slip some money to someone and make the problem go away. I’ve heard that’s how things work in these countries.”

“Afraid not, Lisa,” Carola said. “Jack, turn around and go back to the Chilean checkpoint. Over the years I’ve gotten to know the border patrol guards.” Grim-faced, Jack made a U-turn and headed back. A few minutes later Carola said, “Good. It looks like some of them are on their lunch break. Maybe I’ll get lucky, and one of them will let me use his computer. It’s worth a try.”

“I can’t believe it,” Jack said. “This may mean a huge delay, and it might mean we won’t even be able to get into Argentina at all.”

“Ray,” Lisa said, “stop glowering at me. Anyone can make a mistake. I just didn’t get around to getting the stupid papers.”

“You’re a real piece of work, sweetheart, but for whatever reason, I guess you’re my piece of work. For your sake, you better hope Carola can work a little magic.”

“You three wait here and say a prayer,” Carola said as she opened the door and got out of the SUV.

“Want me to go with you, honey?” Jack asked.

“No, I want you to stay here and make sure Lisa doesn’t try and pay someone off, and then we all land in a Chilean jail. I’ve seen them and believe me, that’s not something I care to do.”

Carola was gone for nearly twenty minutes and the remaining three were very quiet while they waited for her to return, each one looking out the window, lost in thought. Even Cayo seemed to sense something was wrong, as they heard soft mewling coming from his cat carrier.

When Carola returned she said, “Jack, just act very natural and drive to the Argentina checkpoint. Fortunately, Enrico, you know, the guard you always trade fishing pictures with on your iPhone, let me use his computer. Lisa, Ray, here are your necessary receipts for the reciprocity fee. They cost $160.00 each, but they’re good for the rest of your life.”

“I could care less about that, because there’s no way I’d take a trip like this one again,” Lisa snipped. Jack glanced in the mirror and looked at Carola, each thinking that wouldn’t be a problem, because there was no way they would accept her as a returning client.

“Thanks, Carola. I’m sorry we had to put you out,” Ray said, looking angrily at Lisa who continued to stare out the window of the SUV, refusing to turn around and meet his gaze.

CHAPTER 2

“Mitch,” Nina Graham said, “are you sure you have to go on that dumb fishing trip to Argentina? Our 30
^th
anniversary will be while you’re gone, and the kids told me they’re planning on throwing a big party for us. They’re really excited about doing it, but before they send out the invitations, they want to make sure you’re going to be in town. It’s almost like Ray knows when it’s our anniversary, because this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Please don’t go. Missy and Brad will be so disappointed, and quite frankly, so will I.”

Mitch walked over to his wife of almost thirty years and put his arms around her. “Nina, believe me, going on this trip is the last thing I want to do. I’d much rather be here with you and the kids, and I promise I’ll make it up to you. I really think Ray’s getting close to stepping down and appointing me as the new president of the company. If I don’t go, he may bypass me and name Brad or Dean, or possibly even Janelle. No, honey, I’m sorry, but I really do have to go.”

“How much longer is this charade going to continue, Mitch?” she asked in an exasperated tone of voice. “For the last ten years Ray has toyed with you and kept hinting he was going to be retiring soon. If you want my opinion, I don’t think he’ll ever do it. I mean what else has he got? I can’t see him staying at home all day with his wonderful wife, Ms. Plasticity. At some level he’s got to realize the only reason she stays with him is for his money and status, and no matter how much he’s saved and invested over the years, I doubt if his investments alone will come anywhere close to what he’s making now from his salary. In other words, he can’t retire because he needs the money from his salary.”

“Yeah, I’ve thought the same thing, but I honestly don’t know what I can do to speed up the process. I really think I’m the best qualified person to be president of the company. He kind of dangles it in front of me like a toreador does with a red cape in a bullfight, but he never sets a date for his retirement. It’s getting downright embarrassing. I’m the heir apparent, but the king isn’t stepping down from the throne, so what does that make me? I feel like I’m being played for a fool and maybe I am. I’m starting to get angry about it. It’s gone on way too long.”

“Oh Mitch, don’t worry” she said, “you’ll think of something. You always do. I take back everything I said. Blame it on being disappointed. Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure the kids understand what going on this trip means to your career. They can schedule an anniversary party for us a couple of weeks after you get back. It’s really not that big of a deal. People do it all the time.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. At 5’2” he was a foot taller than his petite wife.

“Nina, I don’t know what I ever did to deserve having a wife like you, but when we met during the first day in that Introduction to History class in college, it had to have been the best day of my life. I know the only reason I’ve gotten as far as I have is because of you. I promise I won’t let you down. One way or another, this is the last time we’ll be apart on our anniversary. That I swear to you.”

“Darling, it is what it is. We have each other, and that’s all that really matters. Anyway, anniversaries are just dates in time. We can make our own anniversary date. Try not to think about it when you’re on the trip. It really is a wonderful opportunity for you, plus I imagine you’ll have some quality time with Ray. Maybe he’ll finally realize the time has come for you to take over the company.”

He buried his face in her long auburn hair and thought
I really can’t do this to her again. I’ve got to find a way to convince Ray it’s time for him to retire. I owe it to Nina.

CHAPTER 3

“Well, Ray, now that we made it into Argentina,” Jack said, “you’re about to have the experience of a lifetime, fly fishing in the Patagonia region of Argentina. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s a perfect place to use that split bamboo fly rod you’ve been carrying and some of those antique hand-tied flies you inherited from your father.”

“I know it sounds strange, but I’m really excited about using that rod. I don’t know if I ever told you the story about how my dad got the rod and the flies. It’s pretty interesting,” Ray said.

“No. The only thing you told me was that you inherited them from your dad. I’d love to hear the story,” Jack said as he drove down the isolated highway towards the small town of San Martin de Los Andes.

“My grandfather was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and was a good friend of Dwight Eisenhower,” Ray began. “My family originally came from Abilene, Kansas, before they moved to the San Francisco area. My grandfather and Ike went to West Point together. Their friendship continued through the years, since they were both nuts about fly fishing. When Ike became president, whenever it was possible, my grandfather would travel back East and fish with him. Occasionally they’d meet halfway and fish in Colorado. Over the years, several people who wanted to curry favor with the President of the United States gave Ike rare and highly collectible fly rods and flies.

When Ike got too old to fish, he called my grandfather and asked him to bring my father to see him. Long story short, he gave my dad a split bamboo Winston rod from the early 1900’s and a full box of flies tied around the same time. Not only were they really expensive and rare, but the fact that a president of the United States owned them and fished with them makes it almost impossible to put a value on them, at least that’s what I’ve been told. They’re beyond value, really priceless, and even though I have them insured, no one can say with any certainty what they’re worth. I keep them under lock and key in a glass case in my home, and like Lisa said earlier, adding to the collection has become my hobby, however, everything I’ve ever bought is way down the ladder value-wise from the Eisenhower fly rod and flies. I decided when I came on this trip I’d use the rod and the flies for the first time.”

“Wow! I can’t wait to see them, but I’ve got to tell you you’re really putting pressure on me to make sure you get into some fish while you’re using that special rod and the flies,” Jack said laughing. “Trust me, I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.”

“Ray, for Pete’s sake, that rod is just a stupid old piece of bamboo, and those dumb flies are just some feathers and hair glued together to look like some kind of a strange bug. Sure doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to me,” Lisa said, tossing her head back and frowning.

Jack and Ray exchanged glances and even Carola, although she didn’t fish, knew what Lisa had just said was probably one of the dumbest comments she’d ever heard. To Jack and Carola, it was pretty apparent they were witnessing a marriage that had become totally dysfunctional, and there certainly was a question in each of their minds whether or not the marriage had ever been functional.

About an hour later, Jack said, “We’ll be having lunch in the next town we come to. There’s a special restaurant where I stop every time I come to this part of Argentina.”

“What’s so special about it?” Ray asked.

“Well, it’s got some flies displayed in glass cases that were tied by some very famous fly fishermen as well as photos of huge rainbow trout caught in the local area. That’s in addition to the best steaks and chimichurri sauce I’ve ever had in my life. We’ve gotten to know the owner and a lot of the waiters. Each time we come they give us a bottle of chimichurri sauce to take home with us. While you three go in and get seated, I’ll double check and make sure the information center where Ray needs to get his Argentina fishing license will be open when we’re finished with lunch.”

Jack turned off the highway and drove to the center of the small town of Rica Hueney, stopping in front of a large restaurant. “Go on in. I’ll be back in a minute. You can order me a beer,” he said over his shoulder as he quickly strode to the information center located in the next block.

Lisa, Ray, and Carola walked into the nearly empty restaurant. The owner hurried over to Carola and kissed her on both cheeks. “You’re just in time,” he said as he turned the open sign on the restaurant door over to show that it was now closed. “Follow me. I’ve set a table up in back for you. I was worried you’d gotten tied up at the border and would have to skip lunch.”

“No, the border just took a little longer than we thought it would,” Carola said, deliberately not looking at Lisa who appeared to be oblivious to the fact she was responsible for the delay. They walked over to the table the owner had set for them and were immediately given menus by the attentive waiter.

A few minutes later Jack sat down at the table and said, “We’re in luck. The information center doesn’t close for siesta time, like so many of the local places do, so when we finish here we’ll get Ray’s fishing license.” Each of them read the extensive menu and then placed their orders with the waiter.

Two waiters brought their food, and Jack and Carola eagerly waited to see what Lisa and Ray’s response would be to the food. Ray was the first to speak, “I know we’re in cattle country, and I figured I’d be eating a lot of meat, but I had to try this lemon trout, and from the looks of it, I think I’m going to be very happy I did.”

“This is ridiculous,” Lisa said, looking at the huge steak that nearly covered her entire plate. “I don’t know why they would serve such a large steak. I mean, who could possibly eat it? It’s a joke, and in my opinion, a really bad joke. What a waste. I’ve probably gained ten pounds just looking at it.”

“I’ll tell you who can eat it,” Carola answered. “I ordered the same thing you did, and I can and will eat all of it. Hands down, although this restaurant is located in a small village, it’s one of the best in Argentina. The food is always perfect.” With that said, Carola picked up her steak knife and cut into the perfectly cooked steak. “As many times as I’ve been here, I’ve never been disappointed.” True to her word, a half hour later there wasn’t a piece of steak left on her plate. And true to her word, Lisa had only nibbled at hers.