Icy Betrayal (25 page)

Such requests were very common, and when asked, a parish priest almost always offered a room to a fellow traveling priest. Many American clergy had discovered the beauty of Puerto Peñasco and visited each year. Father Fidel enjoyed the company.

“You’re from Colorado, you said? Well, that’s fine. We will see you tomorrow then.”

“Niños, vengan acá. Tenemos un invitado especial,” Natalie said as she gathered the kids around in a circle. Jack awkwardly sat in a tiny chair. Natalie chuckled at her father as he tried to get comfortable, with his knees nearly touching his chest. A little boy plopped himself down on her lap and looked shyly at Jack. Natalie instinctively put her arm around the child, offering comfort while at the same time working to settle the other kids. It didn’t take long. The kids clearly loved Natalie.

“Ninos, quiero presentantarles a un famoso policía de los Estados Unidos, el señor Jack Keller,” Natalie said, introducing him to the class.

“Señor Keller, would you like to read a book to the kids?” Natalie asked her father with a sly grin.

“Natalie, it’s been a long time since my high school Spanish class. I’m not sure I could pull off story time en español.”

The kids giggled and Natalie smiled, too.

“But I’ll give it a go.”

After their time in the classroom, Natalie took her father to lunch at Juan’s Cafe, where she introduced him to Juan and all the regulars.

After lunch, Natalie returned to her classroom, and Jack met up with Frito for an afternoon of fishing. With Captain Dave at the helm, the trio had a great time on the water, landing a couple of nice sized Dorados, commonly known as Mahi-Mahi. Captain Dave let Jack know the chef at the Marbella could make a fabulous meal from the catch. Frito told the two that he’d be taking his catch home to his wife, adding that he’d put her mariscos up against the Marbella’s chef’s anytime.

On the way back to port, the three shared stories, jokes, and ice cold horchata. Once docked at the pier, the pair thanked Captain Dave for the afternoon of fishing and walked back to the parking lot where Miguel was waiting with the SUV.

“Nice ride, amigo,” Frito said, nodding at Jack.

Jack looked at him, offered a shrug and a smile, and climbed in the back seat. “Thanks for coming, Frito,” Jack said. “I’ll call you mañana.”

FORTY-THREE

M
ick and Mia marched into the house with boxes filled with campaign materials—buttons, signs, and bumper stickers—all the things they carted from one campaign stop to the next. The two had spent the afternoon shaking hands at the mall and then visiting a large manufacturing plant. By the end of the day, they were exhausted and ready for a glass of wine and a nice dinner.

They dumped the boxes in the front hallway and headed for the kitchen. “Hey, Dad, we’re home. Something smells good!”

“Hi guys. I picked up some pizza,” Chuck said with a grin. “Keeping it warm in the oven. Why don’t you open a bottle of wine?”

Mick’s cell phone buzzed. “McCallister,” he said. “That’s great news! Thanks for letting me know, Mark. Okay, talk to you soon.”

“What gives?” Mia asked as Mick ended the call.

“That was Mark Archer. Tomorrow morning Sheriff Connelly is going to announce that he’s endorsing me for sheriff. Mark says Connelly wanted to wait until it was close to the election for maximum impact.”

“Wow, that’s fabulous, Mick, congratulations!” Mia responded excitedly.

“And there’s more. Archer says he talked to Anita Sanchez from the paper. They conducted a telephone poll and the numbers have us up by six points, plus or minus three,” Mick grinned.

Mia handed a glass to each of the men in her life, and raised hers. “Here’s to a new sheriff in town!”

“Your chef is amazing,” Jack said to Peter as they relaxed after dinner on the balcony of Jack’s suite. 

“I think a little credit should go to our fisherman, don’t you, Natalie?” Peter said.

“Here, here,” she added, holding up a glass of wine in a toast to her father. “The mahi-mahi was delicious. But if you gentlemen don’t mind, I’m going to slip inside and do some work I need for school tomorrow. Can you manage without me for a little while?’

“Of course. Jack and I will be just fine.”

Natalie gave each a quick kiss and went inside. Peter watched as she disappeared into the suite.

“Jack,” he said quietly. “I’m glad we have a few minutes alone. I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”

“What’s on your mind, Peter?”

“As you know, Natalie is a very special woman, and I love her very much. I never thought I would find anyone after my wife passed, but I have. I intend to ask her to marry me, and I’d like your blessing.”

Jack didn’t know what to say, his emotions mixed; he certainly wanted the best for his daughter, and while he had some concerns about Peter and his business dealings, he did seem to treat her well. At the same time, he was concerned about her past life and what would happen if Peter ever learned of the events that transpired in Colorado. He knew it wasn’t his place to tell Peter about her past, but if marriage was in their future, perhaps it would be best if Natalie did. It was a conversation he would need to have with his daughter.

“Peter, I know you two have grown close over the past several months, but I didn’t see this coming.”

“Your daughter means the world to me and you have my assurances that I will be a wonderful husband to her. So do I have your blessing?”

Jack didn’t respond. In addition to his concerns about Peter, he was also worried about the attention a high-profile marriage would bring to his daughter. Being married to a man like Peter would likely put her in the spotlight.

“Jack, am I to interpret your silence as a ‘no’ to my question?”

Jack took a deep breath and realized there was little he could do.

“Of course you have my blessing, Peter. I can see Natalie loves you very much, and I wish the two of you nothing but the best. I know you will be a great husband to her.”

“Wonderful,” Peter said, relieved, and reached over to shake Jack’s hand. Both looked inside to be sure Natalie wasn’t in view.

“I take it she doesn’t know?”

“No,” Peter answered, “I’d like to ask her tomorrow night. I’m planning a little get together at the beach house.”

“Works for me,” answered Jack.

“I want to pop the question at the place we first met.”

“Nice touch, Peter,” Jack said.

“Thank you, Jack. I’m so glad you can be a part of it. And thank you for your blessing. It means a great deal to me.”

“My pleasure, Peter. But I do have one request.”

“Anything, Jack.”

“Please don’t take offense. I’m very grateful for your hospitality here. The Marbella is amazing, but I’m just a simple guy and if you don’t mind, tomorrow I’d kinda like to go back to my place. I miss it a little.”

Peter chuckled. “No offense taken, Jack. But I should warn you, Natalie’s planned a little something for you for tomorrow afternoon here at the Marbella.”

“Like what?”

“Don’t let on I told you. You’ll have to act surprised.” Peter laughed.

“Okay, Peter, what am I doing tomorrow?”

“You, sir, are booked for a spa day.”

Jack lay on the king size bed in the giant master suite struggling to sleep. His arms ached from battling the Dorado and his mind raced contemplating Peter’s marriage proposal. While Jack was happy his daughter had found a new life, he knew the old one could come back to haunt her at any time.

Peter had the means to give Natalie the world. Jack could only offer fatherly advice from an imperfect father.

FORTY-FOUR

C
olorado seniors Nick Fetzer, Nate Goldstein, and Buck Wells had broken off from the rest of the
Young at Heart
group and were enjoying lunch and a few beers at Juan’s Café. They were scheduled for an afternoon fishing trip and were busy discussing a wager. As they were setting the ground rules, Natalie walked in.

“Geez, look at that, will ya… She’s gorgeous,” Buck whispered to the other two, as they quietly watched Natalie order her lunch at the front counter.

“It’s simple,” Nick told them. “Everybody throws in twenty bucks and the biggest fish takes it all.”

“What does second place get?” Nate asked.

“Nothing, ya putz,” Nick responded. “There’s only three of us.”

The seniors struggled to focus as Natalie passed their table carrying her lunch on a tray.

“How are you today, young lady?” Nate asked.

“Good, thanks,” Natalie said, pulling out a lesson plan to study in hopes of sending a message that she was too busy to talk. The message wasn’t received.

“Excuse me, miss,” Buck said, “but you sure look familiar.”

Nick elbowed him. “What kinda line is that?” he whispered under his breath.

Nate added, “No, he’s right. You do look familiar, miss. You’re not from Colorado, by chance? We just got in from Pueblo.”

Natalie’s heart stopped. “No, sorry,” she said, shaking her head to emphasize the point.

“I could swear I’ve seen you before,” said Buck. “I wouldn’t forget someone as pretty as you.”

“You’re embarrassing this poor woman, leave her alone,” Nick chided, finishing off the last of his third beer.

“Well, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you from?” Buck asked her, turning his chair toward Natalie.

Natalie suddenly struggled to get a breath. She panicked and just wanted to get out of there.

“Um, I’m from Missouri. Sorry, I just realized I’m late for an appointment.”

“I’ve been to Branson, are you from there?” asked Nate.

“No, sorry,” Natalie said as she stood from the table. Her bag caught the tip of her chair, spilling the contents on the floor.

“Let me help you,” Nick offered.

“No, thank you, I’ve got it. Sorry. I’m really late.”

Natalie shoved everything back into her bag and rushed from the café, leaving her lunch behind.

“Jesus,” Nick said. “Neither of you morons know how to talk to a pretty woman. That was an embarrassment.”

“Yeah, whatever, Casanova. I’m getting another round,” answered Nate.

“All right guys, biggest fish wins, twenty bucks a man, pony up.”

Just around the corner, inside one of the many shops along the busy malecón, Muriel Hardaway and Carol Freel bartered with the shopkeeper over the purchase of some Mexican pottery.

“Por favor, dos dollars, American,” Muriel said loudly.

The shopkeeper, who spoke perfect English, played along.

“Por todo?” he asked, swirling his finger around the stack of bowls.

“Sí, for all of them.”

As the bartering continued, Natalie rushed into the small shop, quickly grabbing an oversized straw hat and a large pair of sunglasses. She moved to the counter, hoping to pay for the items and get out quickly.

“Veintiocho,” the shopkeeper told the tourists.

“Disculpe, señor,” Natalie interrupted, holding up the hat and glasses with one hand and offering a twenty-dollar bill with the other.

“Sí, gracias,” the shopkeeper responded, taking the cash happily.

“Do I know you?” Carol asked Natalie. With her heart racing, Natalie quickly put on the glasses, responded with a “No, sorry,” and rushed out of the shop.

“Did you see that woman, Muriel? She looks like someone I know. I just can’t place her.”

“You’re right. She looks like someone from back home,” Muriel answered.

Carol stuck her head out of the shop, looking down the malecón, then glanced back at Muriel.

“Where have I seen that woman before?”

Natalie rushed back to the mission school and locked herself in the staff bathroom, closing the stall door behind her. Just as she sat on the toilet seat a buzz came from the cell phone in her bag. With trembling hands she pulled out the burner phone, but saw there was nothing displayed on the screen. She dug through the bag again, searching for the smartphone she used locally. On the screen was a text from Peter.

“All set 4 tonight. Can’t wait…luv u,” it read.

Peter, my God, she thought… What if he found out, what would he do? Natalie suddenly felt more trapped than when she was in Colorado. In the span of an hour, she felt as though she had completely lost control. She always knew there was the possibility someone could recognize her, but fear and reality were starkly different. Where could she go, she thought? She had to do something, maybe her father…

Natalie grabbed the burner phone and dialed. “Please pick up,” she whispered to herself.

The call went to Jack’s voicemail. She hit redial again and again but got his voicemail each time. One more time, she thought, and dialed the number.

“Please pick up.”

At Spa Marbella, Jack leaned back into the shampoo basin. He was scheduled for a haircut, manicure, and massage and while he knew this was supposed to be relaxing, he really just felt silly.

“Relax, señor, we’ll take good care of you, just lean back,” the beautician told him.

His reticence about the procedure faded rapidly as the woman began to massage his scalp.

“Is okay, señor?”

“Ah, yes. Gracias.”

Down the hall in the men’s locker room, Jack’s burner phone buzzed again and again inside locker 16.

Father Jon’s trip to Puerto Peñasco took nearly twelve hours, and it was late afternoon by the time he arrived at the mission church. Father Fidel welcomed him warmly.

“I’m so glad you could pay us a visit. I always enjoy it when American priests come down for a little getaway. Let me show you to your room where you will be staying.”

“That sounds great, Father Fidel. Thanks again for putting me up for a couple of days.”

“My pleasure, and please, just call me Fidel.”

“Thank you, I will do that. Actually, once I get settled in my room I was hoping you could give me a little assistance. I’m hoping to meet up with an old friend here in town. I have an address, and I was hoping you could give me directions.”

“Got a minute, Captain?” Mark Archer asked, poking his head in Mick’s office.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“I just wanted to stop by and wish you luck on the debate tonight.”

“I was just going over my notes preparing for it. I spoke with Tracy Ladd this morning and she outlined the format they plan to use. She said they will have three reporters asking questions and a phone operator taking questions from people watching from home.”

“Yep, that’s the plan,” Archer said. “Keep your answers short and to the point. You’ve got a lot of experience on TV, so this should be a cakewalk. Got any questions for me?”

“I think I got it, Mark, thanks. Oh, I’m curious, what’s your take on the News-Press poll?”

“Anita Sanchez tells me they did a pretty big sampling. You never know, but with a six point lead and an error rate of three points either way, I’d say you’re in pretty good shape. Unless, of course, you screw up this debate, then it could go either way.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’ll keep that in mind if I actually win this damn thing. I’ve always thought your office should be down in the dungeon. You know that space next to the shooting range?” the Captain teased.

“Duly noted. You’re gonna be fine.”

“Thanks again, Mark.”