That took Santos by surprise. “What?”
“We both want what’s fair,” said Cindy, meeting his eyes directly. Maybe what they thought was fair was different, but Cindy knew that if something wasn’t fair in Santos’s eyes, he wouldn’t allow it. “It wasn’t fair that Shane died, was it?” Cindy went on. “It wasn’t fair that Kara disappeared!”
Santos’s lower lip jutted out.
“You didn’t want it to happen, you didn’t approve it!” Cindy was on a roll.
Santos held up his hand then to stop her. “You’re not only beautiful but you’re smart,” he uttered. “Too smart. That’s what I like, a very smart woman. But don’t be too smart. Too smart gets you in trouble. You hear me?”
“Help me out, Santos,” Cindy pleaded again.
“I will, I am.” The smile on his round face returned slowly. “I have to go now, but a friend of mine, Felix, is coming in a few minutes. I gave Felix a present for you.”
Cindy’s heart began to pound. Who was Felix? What kind of present?
“Remember, this is a present from Santos,” he repeated, as he turned and walked to the door.
“Thank you, Santos, thank you,” Cindy murmured, wanting to run after him and give him a hug.
Santos spun around suddenly. “It’s okay, you deserve it,” he said. “But no matter what you do, don’t tell anybody where it came from. Nobody! Understand?”
“I understand,” Cindy promised.
“Good,” said Santos. He turned and threw her a quick glance. “I’ll see you later then,” he said and left.
Cindy stayed in the empty room a few minutes, wondering when Felix would arrive and what Santos had given him for her. She didn’t have to wonder long. Suddenly the door opened and an extremely thin Caribbean man slipped into the room, disappearing into the shadows in the back.
“Felix?” Cindy asked.
He nodded quickly and remained silent, looking at her strangely in the dim light.
Cindy decided to remain silent and let him make the next move.
Felix seemed to appreciate that. After a few moments, when he felt comfortable, he took a few quick steps toward Cindy and thrust a large piece of glossy paper in her hand.
Cindy took it quickly and moved into the light. On the paper was a photo of a young woman, doubled over, in a small room. Immediately, Cindy knew that it was Kara! She was still alive.
“It’s Kara, it’s Kara, isn’t it?” Cindy called out.
Felix remained totally silent.
“Speak to me, Felix, tell me the truth. Is this Kara? Is she being held somewhere for ransom?”
Felix eyes stayed glued to Cindy, though he did not utter a sound.
“Is her husband, Rowley, involved in this?” Cindy kept plying him with questions. But no matter how much she begged for an answer, Felix had nothing further to say. Finally, Cindy grew quiet and soon after, Felix left.
Cindy stood there alone with the photo staring at it. It was impossible to make out the young woman’s features or where the room possibly could be. Cindy decided to wait for Santos to return and see if he would tell her. In the meantime, she sat dwelling upon the photo, practically begging the young woman in it to get up and speak to her. Please, Cindy said to her silently, tell me where you are and how I can set you free.
A long while passed and no one came back into the room. Cindy finally realized that she had the gift that Santos was going to give her. There was nothing further she was going to get from him now.
*
After she left the casino, Cindy immediately put in a call to Alfred, to tell him about the photo she’d received. To Cindy’s amazement, Alfred took it in stride.
“Great,” he said as if he’d been expecting it.
“You’re not surprised? You’re not amazed?” Cindy couldn’t believe it.
“I know all about Santos.” Alfred’s voice grew lower. “I know you went to see him. And I know Santos likes who he likes.”
“I’m not calling you about Santos, I’m calling about the photo,” said Cindy, exasperated. “I’m sure it’s Kara. I’m sure she’s alive and being hidden.”
Alfred grew very silent.
“Should I come right over and show the photo to you?” Cindy asked.
“No,” said Alfred, “not right now.”
Cindy was completely startled. “Why not? What’s going on?”
“Didn’t Santos tell you to keep this quiet?” Alfred asked then in a very hushed voice.
“Yes, he did,” Cindy suddenly remembered, “but how do you know that?”
“I told you, I know about Santos,” Alfred spoke more definitively then. “If he gives you a hand and he tells you to keep it quiet, then that’s what you do! You do what he says. That’s how it works.”
Cindy felt chilled to the core. Alfred knew more about Santos than she did. For all Cindy knew Alfred had even spoken to him.
“Santos gave you the photo, not me,” Alfred went on, grudgingly.