“I don’t know,” Niki said. “Lay low and see what happens?” he suggested. “I need to figure out the best way to get Stacy back home safely.”
“Home, as in San Antonio?” Jason asked surprised.
“Does she have another home I don’t know about?” Niki asked, knowing full well what Jason was referring to.
Jason didn’t say anything.
“She has a life, Jason,” Niki said. “She can’t just let everyone think she’s dead. She has friends and family, she has a job. Hell, she may even have a dog, for all I know,” Niki said in frustration.
“What if she doesn’t want to go home?” Jason asked. “Have you ever considered that?”
“I’ve considered it in terms of my not wanting her to go,” Niki admitted.
“Stacy’s in love with you,” Jason said. “And Stacy does what Stacy wants.”
“Well, the second part’s true. I won’t argue with that,” Niki said.
“So is the first,” said Jason. “Stacy’s not going anywhere,” he predicted.
Chapter 20
Stacy woke up early and it was still dark outside. She rolled over and curled up into Niki’s pillow and lay there trying to decide whether to lounge in bed or get up and go for a walk on the beach. She decided she would get up and watch the sunrise and then go for a walk, so she brushed her teeth and headed toward the kitchen. The house was dark and quiet until she came to the living room where she was surprised to find Eli on the couch watching TV.
“What are you doing up so early?” Stacy asked him.
Eli jumped out of his skin. “I could ask you the same thing.”
Stacy came around to the couch and sat down on the edge beside him. “I went to bed at 8:00, remember? What’s your excuse?”
“How are you feeling,” Eli asked. He looked like he had slept on the couch all night.
“Better,” Stacy said. “You slept here all night didn’t you?”
“Yeah,” he said, yawning.
“I hate falling asleep on the couch,” Stacy said. “Right after my mom died, I’d fall asleep on the couch every night watching TV. It was the only way I could sleep.” She got up and went to the window. “Where’s the best place to watch the sunrise?”
“I’ll show you. But we need to make some coffee first.” Eli sat up and stretched. “It’s no good without coffee.”
They went to the kitchen and Stacy was rummaging through cabinets looking for coffee makings.
Eli moved her out of the way. “I’ll do it. I like it strong,” he said. He brewed the coffee and fixed them each a cup, then poured what was left into a stainless thermos. He looked at Stacy and smiled. “Follow me.”
Eli led Stacy through the kitchen, down a hall, and out through a room she had never been in. There was a spiral staircase going up two levels, and Eli went up and waited at the top of the stairs so he could see her reaction when she came up.
“Oh my God!” Stacy exclaimed. She looked around in awe. It was a round room completely encased in windows, with a 360° panoramic view of the island and the ocean, and a balcony that encircled the entire room. “It’s incredible!” she said, checking out the view from every direction.
Stacy laid back on a chaise lounge while Eli walked around and opened all the windows. “This is the coolest room I’ve ever been in!” she said. “I could live up here.”
“I thought you’d like it,” Eli said. He sat in a chair across from her and they drank their coffee waiting for the sun to come up.
“Have you ever been married,” Stacy asked.
The question took Eli by surprise. “No,” he said, then he answered her next question. “My lifestyle is not really conducive to marriage. Have you?”
“No. What about your brother?”
“No.”
Stacy was quiet for a minute, thinking. “Why did you turn out to be bad guys, Eli?” She sounded sad and Eli couldn’t help but smile.
“We’ve been bad guys as long as I can remember. We were the kids who stole out of the collection plate at church,” he laughed.
Stacy laughed, but only on the outside. “Every one of you guys could have done so much good, Eli. You’re all smart; you’re all ambitious; you’re all good looking. You’re all capable of being kind and generous – well, maybe not you, but the others are,” she added, smiling. “You could have been husbands and fathers but instead you’re thieves and kidnappers, and I really hate it that it’s like that!”
“You hate it that Niki’s like that,” he clarified. Eli looked at Stacy and smiled. “Do ya love him Loretta?” he asked.
Stacy gave him a feeble smile. “Moonstruck,” she said.
“If it’s any consolation,” Eli said, “you’re the only person we’ve ever kidnapped, and you’ve been such a pain in the ass that I guarantee we’ll never do it again.”
The sun made its appearance and Stacy and Eli went out on the balcony.
“It’s beautiful,” Stacy said.
Eli leaned against the railing and suddenly the wood snapped under his weight, sending a three-foot section down onto the roof of the second level.
“Shit!” Eli yelled, falling over the side. He grabbed onto the next section of railing, but he was dangling off the edge of the balcony.
Stacy screamed and dropped down on her stomach, holding the railing with one hand and reaching down for Eli with the other. “Take my hand!” she yelled.
“No. I’ll pull you off.”
“No you won’t. Give me your hand,” she said frantically.
Eli was laughing at her. “Get out of the way so I can swing my legs up.”
“It’s not funny, Eli,” Stacy said. She was close to panicking. She moved over to the other side and Eli swung a leg up onto the balcony and Stacy grabbed onto it and pulled it up further, then she leaned over and helped pull the other one up. She grabbed onto his waist and pulled, while Eli twisted himself around and maneuvered himself back onto the balcony. He ended up on top of Stacy, laughing hysterically.
“That was great!” he laughed. He was trying to get up, but his legs were tangled in hers.
“Get off of me!” Stacy said, punching him in the side.
“Ouch! I’m trying to,” he laughed. “Move your leg.”
Stacy shifted around and got out from underneath him and Eli sat down and leaned his back up against the wall, still laughing.
“What the hell is so funny?” Stacy fumed. “You could have been killed!”
Eli didn’t hear her. “What a rush!”
“You’re nuts,” Stacy said. She got up and went back inside.
“Don’t leave!” he called to her laughing.
“Goodbye, Eli.”
Stacy went downstairs to the kitchen and put on another pot of coffee and stuck some toast in the toaster. She was antsy. She was used to working five days a week and other than raking the beach, she hadn’t done anything productive since she’d been there. She wanted to run but she was still too weak.
“Good morning,” Carlos said, coming into the kitchen. “You’re up early.”
“Hi, Carlos,” Stacy said. “Can I get you some coffee?”
“I’ll get it,” Carlos said. “What’s the matter? You look preoccupied.”
“Oh, nothing,” she said, then she changed her mind. “Eli almost fell off the balcony outside that round room and it scared the shit out of me, and all he could do was laugh.”
“What do you mean he almost fell off?”
“I mean he was dangling over the edge after a section of the railing broke away. He thought it was hilarious.”
Carlos laughed. “He and Niki are both like that,” he said. “You’ve heard the saying that someone laughs in the face of danger? Well, they really do.”
“Great,” Stacy muttered under her breath. She buttered a piece of toast and handed it to Carlos. “I need to do something, Carlos.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I don’t know. Something,” she said. “I’m not used t
o having nothing to do. I’m going stir crazy.”
“Why don’t you act like you’re on vacation on a beautiful tropical island,” he suggested. “Lay on the beach, go snorkeling, drink a margarita. How long has it been since you took a vacation?”
“I can’t remember,” she said. “But I like work, Carlos. My brain stagnates if I don’t use it.”
“Somehow, I don’t think your brain stagnating is something you need to worry about,” Carlos laughed. “You haven’t given it a break since you’ve been here.” He put his arm around Stacy and kissed the top of her head.
Stacy rested her head against him. “Thank goodness you’re here Carlos. Imagine how loony I’d be if I was stuck here with just Eli.” Carlos laughed out loud.
Eli walked in and heard his name. “My ears were burning. What have you been saying about me?”
“Nothing good,” Stacy said dryly. She kissed Carlos on the cheek. “Thanks, Carlos.”
“Thanks for what?” Eli asked.
“None of your business,” Stacy said, picking up her mug and walking outside.
“Did she tell you what happened?” Eli asked. “The damn railing fell off!”
Carlos laughed. “She told me. I’m glad it was you and not her.”
Carlos and Eli went outside and joined Stacy. She was standing at the edge of the balcony looking at the ocean. Eli sat down and Carlos went over and stood beside Stacy.
“Why don’t we take a walk on the beach,” Carlos suggested.
“Good idea,” she said. “Let me get a refill and I’ll be ready.” She stopped behind Eli and pulled his head back by his hair so that she was looking down at his face. “You coming?”
He smiled at her upside-down. “Oh, you’re speaking to me again?” She gave a quick yank on his hair and let go. “Ouch!” he said, rubbing the back of his head.
“I’ll be right back.”
The three walked all the way down to the boat dock and were on their way back to the house. Stacy was tired and she had stopped to rest on the pier.
“What time does the boat pick up Consuela?” Stacy asked.
“It’s usually around 9:30 or 10:00,” Carlos said.
“Can I go with her?” she asked.
Carlos looked at Eli, and Eli shook his head. “It’s not a good idea, Stacy,” said Carlos. He could tell she was disappointed. “We need to wait until Niki and Jason get back and see what happened on their end. It might be dangerous.”
Stacy didn’t argue. “Do you have a laptop I can use?” she asked Eli.
“For what?” he asked skeptically.
“To write an article.”
“What kind of article?”
She threw up her hands. “What difference does it make!” she said, irritated. “Do you have one or not!”
“Yes, I have one,” he said, laughing at her.
“Well can I use it or not?” she asked, then added, “I swear Eli, you just try to piss me off!”
“I’m sorry,” he said, laughing. “You just make it so easy.”
Carlos came to her defense. “Leave the girl alone,” he told Eli. He turned to Stacy, “I’ll beat him up if you want me to.”
“I’d get more pleasure out of it if I did it myself. But thanks for offering.” She looked over at Eli. “If you must know,” she said, “I write a monthly article for a marketing and advertising publication, and I’d like to get started on it.”
“You can’t be publishing articles, Stacy. The world thinks you’re dead,” Eli said, and Stacy lost it.
“Well I hate to disappoint you, Eli, but I’m not dead. And sooner or later the world will find that out. And in the meantime, I’m going to work on my fucking article! Do you have a problem with that?” she said, glaring at him.
“Not at all,” he said, attempting to defuse her before she exploded.
“Good!” Stacy threw up her hands. “My life is a fucking mess!” she yelled. She got up and stormed off toward the house and Eli ran to catch up with her.
“Hey, come on, Stacy.” He grabbed onto her elbow to get her to stop, but she pulled it away from him.
“Just leave me alone, Eli.”
“Stacy, stop.” He put his arm around her shoulder and turned her around.
Stacy stopped and looked up at him. “What?” she said wearily.
“I’m sorry.”
“Great, here it comes . . . my fucking daily cry!” she said, as the tears built up in her eyes.
“Please don’t cry,” Eli said, horrified. Eli looked back over his shoulder at Carlos and mouthed, “Shit!”
Carlos smiled. It serves you right, he thought.
“You’re right, Stacy,” Eli said. “You need to keep up with what you would be doing if we hadn’t screwed your life all up.” He looked down at her and lifted her chin. “Or should I say your fucking life?” he said, and he made her smile.
They started back to the house. “So what’s your article on?” Eli asked.
“I don’t know yet,” she said. “Y’all must think I’m the biggest cry baby,” Stacy said embarrassed.
Eli stopped and looked at her. “I can think of a lot of other words we would use to describe you before we’d use that one.”
“Well, it’s freaking me out,” she said. “I’m crying at the drop of a hat. I’ve never been like this.”
“Yeah, well you’ve never been shot and kidnapped before, have you? I think you’re entitled.”
Consuela was in the kitchen when they got back. She took one look at Stacy and turned on Eli, speaking to him in Spanish. “Why are you making her cry?” she asked.
“Why do you automatically assume it’s me?” Eli said, defensively.
“Because I know you, Eli,” she said, shaking her finger at him. “You love to torment her! But she’s been through too much. More than anyone should ever have to go through. You men should be ashamed of yourselves for what you’ve done to this beautiful child.”
Eli was speechless. He looked at Carlos. “She’s an impostor!” Eli said.
“No,” Carlos laughed. “She’s under the influence of Stacy Trent.”
They were speaking Spanish, talking too fast and Stacy couldn’t catch what they were saying, but she could tell that Consuela was really pissed about something and that it had to do with her.
Carlos continued in Spanish, “Don’t worry Consuela, we’re going to take care of Stacy,” he assured her.
Consuela couldn’t be mad at Carlos, but she looked at Eli and narrowed her eyes. “You be nice to her, Eli,” she said, and it was meant as a warning.
Eli picked Consuela up and squeezed her. “Okay, Consuela, or whoever you are.” He switched back to English. “Stacy, I have to give it to you. In six days, you’ve managed to turn this entire household upside down,” he laughed.
“What was that about?” Stacy asked.
“She doesn’t like the way I treat you,” Eli said.
Stacy turned to Consuela and hugged her. “Thank you, Consuela,” Stacy said. She whispered in Consuela’s ear, “He’s really not that bad,” then she smiled and winked at her.
Consuela laughed and patted Stacy on the cheek, then gave Eli another dirty look and left the kitchen.
“I can’t believe it!” Eli said. “You turned Consuela against me! What did I do?”
“Let’s see, how does it go?” Stacy said, “It’s nothing you do on purpose. It’s just the way you are?” she mimicked.
Eli pointed at her. “Oh, you’re good.”
Between working on her article and cleaning the beach, Stacy passed another day on the island. By the end of the day she was exhausted, both mentally and physically, but at least she felt like she had accomplished something. She and Eli had spent the last two hours working on the beach and all but a small section between the house and the pier had been cleaned. Stacy sat down on the ice chest to rest.
“It looks good, doesn’t it?” she said, looking from one end to the other.
“It looks immaculate,�
� Eli clarified.
“Do you think Niki and Jason will get back tonight?” Stacy asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I doubt it. They can’t land in the dark.”
Stacy forced a smile. “I’m beat, and I smell awful,” she said. “I need a shower.”
“Yeah. Let’s call it a day,” Eli said.
They were walking back up to the house and Eli could tell Stacy was bummed. He put his arm around her shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll be home tomorrow,” Eli said encouragingly.
Stacy smiled and put her arm around his waist and squeezed his side. She leaned her head against him but brought it back up immediately. “Ugh. You smell worse than I do!” she said, pushing Eli away.
“Hey, I resemble that comment!”
They walked together through the kitchen and to the bottom of the stairs. “I’ll see you back down here,” Eli said, heading up the stairs. He turned around and added, “Unless you want to come up here and shower with me.”
“Goodbye Eli,” Stacy said, without looking back.
He watched her walk down the hall, then climbed the stairs and went to his room. Stacy Trent, you are something else.
Chapter 21
The plane landed just before dusk.
“It always feels good to get back here, no matter how long we’ve been gone,” Jason said. He got behind the wheel of the Land Rover and they headed to the villa.
Niki’s mind was on Stacy. He couldn’t believe how much he had missed her and he couldn’t wait to see her.
They got to the villa and Eli and Carlos met them at the door. Carlos clasped his arms around Niki and slapped him on the back, then he did the same to Jason. “It’s good to have you back,” he said.
Eli shook Jason’s hand. “You look like shit,” Eli said.
“No worse than I feel,” said Jason.
Eli turned to Niki and punched him hard in the arm. “Hey asshole,” Eli said, smiling.
Niki put an arm around Eli’s neck and ground his knuckles into his head. “It’s good to see your ugly face,” he said. Niki looked around, “Where is she?”
“In the shower,” Eli said. “She’s been cleaning the beach. You look like you could use a drink.”
Carlos showed the pilot to a guestroom and met the others in the living room. Niki had poured himself a Crown on the rocks and was filling them in on the trip.
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